Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld

Biography

Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld was born on June 29, 1911, in the city of Jena, then part of the German Empire. As the nephew of the last Prince of Lippe, Leopold IV, he held the title Prince of Lippe-Biesterfeld from childhood, starting in 1916. Following his marriage to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in 1948, he received the title Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Throughout his life, he engaged in various activities including activism, environmental activism, and lobbying. In addition, Bernhard was a pilot, officer, and military commander. He also pursued photography as an amateur artist and photographer. He became the first president of the World Wildlife Fund. Bernhard lived across different political entities including the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, reflecting the political changes in the region during his lifetime. He passed away on December 1, 2004, at the Medical Center of Utrecht University in the city of Utrecht.