Too sad, although he was 93 years old, i really liked him... Liked his stories, and his way of living.. Bye Bernhard.

Prince Bernhard dies

1 December 2004

AMSTERDAM — Prince Bernhard, the father of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, has died. The 93-year-old prince was recently diagnosed with inoperable cancer.

Dutch television and radio stations broke with regular programmes at 9.30pm on Wednesday evening to announce Prince Bernhard's death. The time of death was not immediately known.

Commercial station SBS 6 interrupted its programming to play the Dutch national anthem and show a portrait of the prince before commencing its report of the prince's death.

Earlier in the evening, the Government Information Service (RVD) said on Wednesday that Prince Bernhard's condition was gradually deteriorating.

He was admitted to the UMC hospital in Utrecht in the evening because his condition worsened.

He had been receiving visits from family members at his home in the last few days.

"The prince has developed more complaints due to his medical condition," the RVD said.

Prince Bernhard — the husband of the late Queen Juliana who died on 20 March 2004 — had been suffering shortness of breath in recent weeks. He had fluid in his chest cavity due to the spread of an inoperable tumour and was also been diagnosed with an intestinal tumour.

The German-born prince met the then Princess Juliana in 1936 during the Winter Olympics in Garmisch Partenkirchen, Germany, and their engagement was announced seven months later. They were married on 7 January 1937.

The couple's first daughter, Queen Beatrix, took the Dutch throne when her mother abdicated in 1980. The royal couple also had three other daughters: Irene, Margriet and Christina.

Upon her death in March of this year, Queen Juliana, 94, was interred in the royal family tomb in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft. Despite initial concerns about his health, Prince Bernhard was fit enough to attend the funeral.

[Copyright Expatica News 2004]
[Edited 12/1/04 13:18pm]

Oops. meant to post it in general discussionns, so wrong forum, I know...sorry about that!

Lennon said:

no sweat. sorry about the sad news.

Lennon said:

Bernhard was a very cool man.....and a medical-wonder: this guy has been operated at least 50 times, and beat the odds many times.

A very exciting life he lived.

Prince Bernhard, R.I.P.

abierman said:

Hey Abierman...No Lennon likes Prince???

Lennon said:

we all liked Bernhard, didn't we?

abierman said:

Yes, I think so... He had spmething really special