{{Short description|Dutch princess (born 1943)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{family name hatnote|van Lippe-Biesterfeld|van Vollenhoven|lang=Dutch|nd=y}} {{Infobox royalty | name = Princess Margriet | full name = Margriet Francisca van Oranje-Nassau, van Lippe-Biesterfeld | image = Margriet der Nederlanden (2019).JPG | caption = Margriet in 2019 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1943|01|19|df=y}} | birth_place = Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada{{efn|Princess Margriet was born in an area temporarily declared extraterritorial for the moment of her birth by Canada.}} | house = {{ubl|Orange-Nassau (official)|Lippe (agnatic)}} | spouse = {{marriage|Pieter van Vollenhoven|10 January 1967}} | issue = {{Plainlist| * Prince Maurits * Prince Bernhard * Prince Pieter-Christiaan * Prince Floris }} | father = Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld | mother = Juliana of the Netherlands }} {{Dutch Royal Family}}
'''Princess Margriet of the Netherlands''' (Margriet Francisca; born 19 January 1943) is the third daughter of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. As an aunt of the reigning monarch, King Willem-Alexander, she is a member of the Dutch Royal House and currently eighth and last in the line of succession to the throne.<ref>[http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/english/Monarchy/Succession_to_the_throne/Current_line_of_succession.html Current line of succession] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110125170708/http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/english/Monarchy/Succession_to_the_throne/Current_line_of_succession.html |date=25 January 2011 }} – Official website of the Dutch Royal House</ref>
Princess Margriet has often represented the monarch at official or semi-official events. Some of these functions have taken her back to Canada, the country where she was born ''de facto'', and to events organised by the Dutch merchant navy of which she is a patron.
==Birth and Canada== {{main article|Extraterritoriality of Princess Margriet's birth}}
Margriet was born to Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Her mother was heir presumptive to Queen Wilhelmina.<ref>[http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/globale-paginas/taalrubrieken/english/members-of-the-royal-house/princess-margriet/ Princess Margriet] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212052342/http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/globale-paginas/taalrubrieken/english/members-of-the-royal-house/princess-margriet/ |date=12 December 2013 }}. koninklijkhuis.nl</ref>
The Dutch royal family went into exile when the Netherlands was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1940, and went to live in Canada. Margriet was born in Ottawa Civic Hospital, Ottawa. The maternity ward of the hospital was temporarily declared to be extraterritorial by the Canadian government.<ref>{{cite news|title = Proclamation|url = https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=cangaz&IdNumber=7865&new=-8585539630388797523|newspaper = Canada Gazette|date = 26 December 1942|access-date = 18 March 2022|volume=76|issue=232, Extra}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=23 January 1992 |title=1943: Netherlands' Princess Margriet born in Ottawa |url=https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1403696302 |accessdate=2 February 2024 |publisher=CBC}}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=January 2025|reason=CBC says that the room was declared extraterritorial, not the maternity ward. The article Extraterritoriality of Princess Margriet's birth states that it was a "mobile extraterritorial bubble" instead.}} This ensured that the newborn would not be born in Canada, and not be a British subject under the rule of ''jus soli''. Instead, the child would only inherit Dutch citizenship from her mother under the principle of ''jus sanguinis'', which is followed in Dutch nationality law. Thus, the child would be eligible to succeed to the throne of the Netherlands. This would have applied if the child had been male, and therefore heir apparent to Juliana, or if her two older sisters died without eligible children.
It is a common misconception that the Canadian government declared the maternity ward to be Dutch territory. That was not necessary, as Canada follows ''jus soli'', while the Netherlands follows ''jus sanguinis''. It was sufficient for Canada to disclaim the territory temporarily.
Princess Margriet was named after the ''marguerite'', the flower worn during the war as a symbol of the resistance to Nazi Germany. She was christened at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Ottawa, on 29 June 1943. Her godparents included US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, Queen Mary (Queen dowager of the United Kingdom), Märtha, Crown Princess of Norway, and Martine Roell (lady-in-waiting to Princess Juliana in Canada).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20091013011225/http://www.canadascapital.gc.ca/bins/ncc_web_content_page.asp?cid=16297-16298-10118-10120&lang=1&bhcp=1 The Gift of Tulips]. canadascapital.gc.ca</ref>
Princess Margriet has continued to visit Canada over the years in an official capacity, as recently as 2017 (Stratford, Ontario and Goderich, Ontario) and 2026 (Ottawa).
==After the war== thumb|upright|Margriet in 1964 It was not until August 1945, when the Netherlands had been liberated, that Princess Margriet first set foot on Dutch soil. Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard returned to Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, where the family had lived before the war.
While she was studying at Leiden University, Princess Margriet met her future husband, Pieter van Vollenhoven. Their engagement was announced on 10 March 1965, and they were married on 10 January 1967 in The Hague, in the St. James Church.<ref>[http://www.britishpathe.com/video/orange-wedding Orange Wedding 1967] (video). britishpathe.com</ref> It was decreed that any children from the marriage would be titled Prince/Princess of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, with the style of ''Highness'', titles that would not be held by their descendants. Together, they had four sons:
* Prince ''Maurits'' Willem Pieter Hendrik of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven (born on 17 April 1968, Utrecht, Netherlands). He married ''Marilène'' (Marie-Helène) Angela van den Broek (born on 4 February 1970, Dieren, Rheden, Netherlands) on 30 May 1998. They have three children: ** Anastasia (''Anna'') Margriet Joséphine van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 15 April 2001). ** ''Lucas'' Maurits Pieter Henri van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 26 October 2002). ** ''Felicia'' Juliana Bénedicte Barbara van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 31 May 2005). * Prince ''Bernhard'' Lucas Emmanuel of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven (born on 25 December 1969, Nijmegen, Netherlands). He married ''Annette'' Sekrève (born on 18 April 1972, The Hague, Netherlands) on 8 July 2000. They have three children: ** ''Isabella'' Lily Juliana van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 14 May 2002). ** ''Samuel'' Bernhard Louis van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 25 May 2004). ** ''Benjamin'' Pieter Floris van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 12 March 2008). * Prince ''Pieter-Christiaan'' Michiel of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, (born on 22 March 1972, Nijmegen, Netherlands). He married ''Anita'' Theodora van Eijk (born on 27 October 1969, Neuchâtel, Switzerland) on 27 August 2005. They have two children: ** ''Emma'' Francisca Catharina van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 28 November 2006). ** ''Pieter'' Anton Maurits Erik van Vollenhoven, (born in The Hague on 19 November 2008). * Prince ''Floris'' Frederik Martijn of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven, (born on 10 April 1975, Nijmegen, Netherlands). He married ''Aimée'' Leonie Allegonde Marie Söhngen (born on 18 October 1977, Amsterdam, Netherlands) on 20 October 2005. They have three children: ** ''Magali'' Margriet Eleonoor van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 9 October 2007). ** ''Eliane'' Sophia Carolina van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 5 July 2009). ** ''Willem-Jan'' Johannes Pieter Floris van Vollenhoven, (born in Amsterdam on 1 July 2013).
The Princess and her husband took up residence in the right wing of Het Loo Palace in Apeldoorn. In 1975 the family moved to their present home, Het Loo, which they had built on the Palace grounds.
==Interests and activities== [[File:Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands in Ottawa-2-2.jpg|thumb|upright|Princess Margriet arrives in Ottawa to attend the Canadian Tulip Festival in May 2002.]]
Princess Margriet is particularly interested in health care and cultural causes. From 1987 to 2011 she was vice-president of the Dutch Red Cross, who set up the ''Princess Margriet Fund'' in her honour. She is a member of the board of the International Federation of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.
From 1984 to 2007, Princess Margriet was president of the European Cultural Foundation, who set up the ''Princess Margriet Award for Cultural Diversity'' in acknowledgement of her work.
She is a member of the honorary board of the International Paralympic Committee.<ref>{{cite web|title=Honorary Board|url=http://www.paralympic.org/TheIPC/HWA/HonoraryBoard|publisher=IPC}}</ref>
==Titles and styles== {{see also|List of honours of the Dutch Royal Family by country}} * 19 January 1943 – 10 January 1967: ''Her Royal Highness'' Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld<ref>[https://www.angelfire.com/ne2/wetgeving/nederlands/besluitnaamkinderenjuliana.html Royal decree of 8 Januari 1937: Besluit betreffende den naam, te dragen door de kinderen van Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid Prinses JULIANA]. angelfire.com</ref> * 10 January 1967 – present: ''Her Royal Highness'' Princess Margriet of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld, Mrs Van Vollenhoven
===National honours === * Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion * {{ill|Royal Silver Wedding Medal of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard, 1962|nl|Herinneringsmedaille 1962}} (7 January 1962) * {{ill|Royal Wedding Medal 1966|nl|Huwelijksmedaille 1966}} (10 March 1966) * {{ill|Queen Beatrix Investiture Medal|nl|Inhuldigingsmedaille 1980}} (30 April 1980) * {{ill|Royal Wedding Medal 2002|nl|Huwelijksmedaille 2002}} (2 February 2002) * {{ill|King Willem-Alexander Investiture Medal|nl|Inhuldigingsmedaille 2013}} (30 April 2013)
===Foreign honours=== {{Div col}} * {{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown * {{flag|Cameroon}}: Grand Cordon of Order of Merit * {{flag|Chile}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit<ref>[http://gpdhome.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c648253ef01156fb58598970c-pi State visit of Chile to Netherlands]</ref> * {{flag|Finland}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anp-archief.nl/page/2202482/nl |title=ANP Historisch Archief Community – Amsterdam, 24 oktober 1972 |website=anp-archief.nl |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923172659/http://www.anp-archief.nl/page/2202482/nl |archive-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> * {{flag|France}}: Grand Cross of the Order of National Merit * {{flag|Germany}}: Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany * {{flag|Italy}}: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic<ref>[http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=34927 S.A.R. Margriet Francisca Principessa dei Paesi Bassi]. Quirinale.it. 23 October 1973</ref> * {{flag|Ivory Coast}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Ivory Coast * {{flag|Japan}}: Grand Cordon (Paulownia) of the Order of the Precious Crown * {{flag|Jordan}}: Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Photo (front row, l to r): Pieter van Vollenhoven, Princess Margriet, Queen Rania, King Abdullah II and Queen Beatrix. |url=https://www.who2.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/rainiaalabdullah-16.jpg |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Who2}}</ref> * {{flag|Luxembourg}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau<ref>Getty Images, [http://www.gettyimages.com/detail/57409766 State visit of Luxembourg to Netherlands, 2006]</ref> * {{flag|Luxembourg}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown<ref>[http://www.geheugenvannederland.nl/?/zoom/index/&language=nl&i=http%3A%2F%2Fresolver.kb.nl%2Fresolve%3Furn%3Durn%3Agvn%3AANP01%3A13383253%26size%3Dlarge www.geheugenvannederland.nl]</ref> *{{flag|Luxembourg}}: Commemorative Medal of the marriage of TRH Prince Henri and Princess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg * {{flag|Mexico}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Aztec Eagle * {{flagicon|Kingdom of Nepal}} Nepalese Royal Family: Member 1st Class of the Order of the Three Divine Powers<ref>[http://www.anp-archief.nl/page/48763/nl Group Photo of the members of the Nepalese and Dutch Royal Family during the state visit]</ref> * {{flag|Norway}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav * {{flag|Portugal}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Christ * {{flagicon|Romania|1965}} Socialist Republic of Romania: Grand Cross of the Order of 23 August * {{flag|Senegal}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion * {{Flag|Spain}}: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013 |title=Photo: (standing, in black) Pieter van Vollenhoven and Princess Margriet; (front row, l to r): King Willem-Alexander, Queen Sophia, King Juan Carlos I, Princess Beatrix. |url=https://c7.alamy.com/comp/gyxnmd/dutch-queen-beatrix-r-spanish-king-juan-carlos-and-his-wife-queen-gyxnmd.jpg |access-date=15 June 2024 |website=Alamy}}</ref><ref>[http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1980/04/25/pdfs/A08994-08994.pdf Boletín Oficial del Estado]</ref> * {{flag|Suriname}}: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Yellow Star * {{flag|Sweden}}: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star * {{flag|United States}}: Honorary Fellow<ref>{{cite web|url=https://guides.libraries.wm.edu/wm/honorary-degree-recipients|title=Honorary Degree Recipients - William & Mary History|publisher=College of William & Mary|access-date=May 5, 2025}}</ref> of the College of William & Mary * {{flag|Venezuela}}: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Liberator {{Div col end}}
==Ancestry== {{See also|Dutch monarchs family tree}} {{ahnentafel | collapsed = yes | align = center | boxstyle_1 = background-color: #fcc; | boxstyle_2 = background-color: #fb9; | boxstyle_3 = background-color: #ffc; | boxstyle_4 = background-color: #bfc; | 1 = 1. '''Princess Margriet of the Netherlands''' | 2 = 2. Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld | 3 = 3. Juliana of the Netherlands | 4 = 4. Prince Bernhard of Lippe | 5 = 5. Armgard von Cramm | 6 = 6. Duke Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 7 = 7. Wilhelmina of the Netherlands | 8 = 8. Ernest, Count of Lippe-Biesterfeld | 9 = 9. Countess Karoline von Wartensleben | 10 = 10. Baron Aschwin von Sierstorpff-Cramm | 11 = 11. Baroness Hedwig von Sierstorpff-Driburg | 12 = 12. Frederick Francis II, Grand Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin | 13 = 13. Princess Marie of Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt | 14 = 14. William III of the Netherlands | 15 = 15. Princess Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont }}
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Princess Margriet of the Netherlands}} * [https://www.royal-house.nl/members-royal-house/princess-margriet Biography on the website of the Royal House of the Netherlands] * [https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1403696302 CBC Archives] – A look at Princess Margriet's birth in Ottawa (from 1992).
{{s-start}} {{s-hou|House of Orange-Nassau|19 January|1943|Living||House of Nassau}} {{s-other|line}} {{s-bef|before=Countess Leonore<br />of Orange Nassau}} {{s-ttl|title=Line of succession to the Dutch throne|years=8th position}} {{s-non|reason=Last in line}} {{s-end}}
{{Dutch princesses}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Margriet of the Netherlands}} Category:1943 births Category:Living people Category:People from Ottawa Category:House of Orange-Nassau Category:Princesses of Orange-Nassau Category:Dutch people of German descent Category:Dutch people of Russian descent Category:Protestant Church Christians from the Netherlands Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Christ (Portugal) Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the Crown (Belgium) Category:Grand Cordons of the Honorary Order of the Yellow Star Category:Commanders Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star Category:Grand Crosses 1st class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany Category:Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Category:Grand Cordons of the Order of the Precious Crown Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of the House of Orange Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic Category:Recipients of Supreme Order of the Renaissance (Jordan) Category:Leiden University alumni Category:Daughters of queens regnant Category:Canada–Netherlands relations Category:Dutch expatriates in Canada