Royal Profile: Princess Margriet of the Netherlands

Princess Margriet Francisca of The Netherlands was born on 19 January 1943 at the Civic Hospital in Ottawa (Canada) as the third daughter of Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands {Source}. She has three sisters, two older and a younger sister, as well as brothers-in-law, and several nieces and nephews and their families{Source}:

1. Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands (1938)
1. Prince Claus of The Netherlands
1. King Williem-Alexander of The Netherlands
1. Queen Maxima
1. Princess Catharina-Amalia of Oranje (2003)
2. Princess Alexia of The Netherlands (2005)
3. Princess Ariane of The Netherlands (2007)
2. Prince Constantijn of The Netherlands
1. Princess Laurentien of The Netherlands
1. Countess Eloise of Oranje-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg (2002)
2. Count Claus-Casimir of Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg (2004)
3. Countess Leonore of Oranje-Nassau,, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg (2006)
3. Prince Friso of The Netherlands
1. Princess Mabel of ORanje-Nassau
1. Countess Emma Luana of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg (2005)
2. Countess Joanna Zaria of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouwe van Amsberg (2006)
2. Princess Irene of The Netherlands (1939)
1. Prince Carlo, Duke of Parma (1970)
1. Princess Annemarie, Duchess of Parma (1977)
1. Carlos Klynstra de Bourbon-Parme (illegitimate, 1997, stepson of Annemarie)
2. Princess Luisa of Bourbon-Parma (2012)
3. Princess Cecilia of Bourbon-Parma (2013)
4. Prince Carlos Enrique, Hereditary Prince of Bourbon-Parma (2016)
2. Princess Margarita Maria Beatriz of Bourbon-Parma, Countess of Colorno (1972)
1. Edwin Karel Willem de Roy van Zuydewijn (m 2001-2006)
2. Tjalling Siebe ten Cate (1975, m. 2008-)
1. Julia Carolina Catharina ten Cate (2008)
2. Paola Cecilia Laurentien ten Cate (2011)
3. Prince Jaime Bernardo of Bourbon-Parma, Count of Bardi (1972)
1. Princess Viktoria of Bourbon-Parma, Countess of Bardi (197)
1. Princess Zita Clara of Bourbon-Parma (2014)
2. Princess Gloria Irene of Bourbon-Parma (2016)
4. Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon-Parma, Marchioness of Sala (1974)
1. Albert Alphons Ludgerus Brenninkmeijer (m. 2012)
1. Alaïa-Maria Irene Cécile Brenninkmeijer (2014)
2. Xavier Albert Alphons Brenninkmeijer (2015)
3. Princess Christina of The Netherlands (1947)
1. Bernardo Federico Tomás Guillermo (1977)
1. Eva Marie Valdez Guillermo (1979, m 2009)
1. Isabel Christina Guillermo (2009)
2. Julián Jorge Guillermo (2011)
2. Nicolás Daniel Mauricio Guillermo (1979)
3. Juliana Edenia Antonia Guillermo (1981)

In June 1943, while she and her family were exiled in Canada, she was baptized{Source}. Among her godparents were {Source}:

1. President Franklin Roosevelt of the United States
2. The Dutch merchant

After the liberation of The Netherlands in August 1945, she and her family returned (or in her case went to for the first time) to The Netherlands {Source}.


She studied in The Netherlands, and France {Source}. She was educated primarily in The Netherlands, where she received her high school diploma in 1961{Source}. After completing her high school years, she began attending the University of Montpellier, where she studied French literature, history and art history {Source}. After that, she attended University of Leiden, where she studied law and social science {Source}. After that, she trained as a helper First Class of the Red Cross in a hospital in Amersfoort Lichtenberg {Source}.


While she was studying at the University of Leiden, she met the man who would become her future husband, Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven{Source}. Their engagement was announced on 10 March 1965{Source}. They were married almost two years later on 10 January 1967{Source}. Together, they have four sons, four daughters-in-law, and several grandchildren{Source}:

1. Prince Maurits of Oranje-Nassau (1968)
1. Princess Marilène of Oranje-Nassau (1970, m. 1998) 
1. Anastasia (Anna) Margriet Joséphine van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven (2001)
2. Lucas Maurits Pieter Henri van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven (2002)
3. Felicia Juliana Benedicte Barbara van Lippe-Biesterfeld van Vollenhoven ( 2005)
2. Prince Bernhard of Oranje-Nassau (1969)
1. Princess Annette of Oranje-Nassau (1972, m. 2000)
1. Isabella Lily Juliana van Vollenhoven (2002)
2. Samuel Bernhard Louis van Vollenhoven (2004)
3. Benjamin Pieter Floris van Vollenhoven (2008)
3. Prince Pieter-Christiaan (1972)
1. Princess Anita of Oranje-Nassau (1969, m. 2005) 
1. Emma Francisca Catharina van Vollenhoven (2006)
2. Pieter Anton Maurits Erik van Vollenhoven (2008)
4. Prince Floris of Oranje-Nassau (1975) 
1. Princess Aimée of Oranje-Nassau (1977, m. 2005) 
1. Magali Margriet Eleonoor van Vollenhoven (2007)
2. Eliane Sophia Carolina van Vollenhoven (2009)
3. Willem Jan Johannes Pieter Floris van Vollenhoven (2013)

One of Princess Margriet's main focus is healthcare. She holds a number of positions in health care and social work fields {Source} In 1966, Princess Margriet began her volunteer work for the Red Cross as a helper First class {Source}. From 1987 to 2011, the year that marked the end of her last term, Princess Margriet in this governing body fulfilled the position of deputy chairman {Source}. As thanks for her commitment to the Dutch Red Cross was founded in 2011 to Princess Margriet Fund, a fund that aims to better prepare people to natural disasters {Source}. She has been an active member of the International Red Cross since 1967, and served as the Chairman from 1995-2003 {Source}.From 2005 until the end of 2013 was Princess Margriet board member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies {Source}. She participated in many international conferences, often as head of the Dutch delegation, as well as board meetings and managing meetings {Source}. She is also active in cultuaral affairs {Source}. From 1984 to 2007, Princess Margriet Chairman of the European Cultural Foundation (formerly the European Cultural Foundation) {Source}.


She serves as patron, or honorary chair of a number of organizations {Source}:

1. Honorary chairman of the Dutch Red Cross
2. Patroness Foundation National Union of Volunteers;
3. Patroness Federation of Riding for the Disabled;
4. Patron Society of Friends The High Street (rehabilitation);
5. Patroness National Rehabilitation Fund;
6. Patroness SOS Children's Villages;
7. Patroness Royal College Zeemanshoop;
8. Patron Friends of the Marine Band;
9. Patroness Netherland-America Foundation (New York);
10. Patroness Netherlands-American Amity Trust (Washington);
11. Patroness Nautical Technical College Noorderhaaks;
12. Patroness Natura Artis Magistra;
13. Patroness Foundation Apenheul Apeldoorn;
14. Patroness Introdans Arnhem;
15. Patroness Vision 2020 Netherlands;
16. Patroness KNCV;
17. Honorary Chairman Dutch Red Cross;
18. Honorary Chairman of the Advisory Board Global Health Master's degree from MaastrichtUniversity and McMaster University (Canada);
19. Association honorary chairman Line;
20. Member Honorary Board International Paralympic Committee;
21. Member Recommendation Committee Children's Oncology Camps;
22. Member Recommending Committee Ronald McDonald House Utrecht, Nijmegen and Zwolle;
23. Member Recommendation Committee Foundation Focal epilepsies in children age.