From landourmarten@HOTMAIL.COM Sun Dec  5 14:28:16 2004
Date: Fri, 3 Dec 2004 16:53:52 -0500
From: landour marten 
To: nathistory-india@Princeton.EDU
Subject: Prince Bernhard Dies (PA)


Controversial Prince Bernhard Dies "Not Caring A Damn"

1 December 2004.
 
Flags hung at half staff and the Royal House cancelled all engagements as
the Dutch grieved today for Prince Bernhard ^Ö the German-born father of
Queen Beatrix and one of country^Òs most flamboyant and controversial
figures.  Bernhard, 93, died of cancer in Utrecht yesterday. Farewell
Prince Bernhard, said newspaper De Telegraaf^Òs banner headline. ^ÓThe 
man who played such an important role in our history for almost 70 years
has died at a great age. We^Òll miss him.^Ô Bernhard is expected to be
moved to The Hague to lie in state for a week before his burial in the
House of Orange^Òs family crypt in Delft.

It was the third recent death in the royal family, after Beatrix^Òs
husband Claus died in October 2002 and Bernhard^Òs wife, the former Queen
Juliana, died in March. Bernhard had a playboy image, with a trademark
carnation in his buttonhole ^Ö which became a symbol of the Dutch
resistance against the Nazis during the Second World War. He helped found
the WWF in 1961 and became its first president, and is credited with
establishing the Bilderberg group ^Ö a secretive annual forum for
prominent politicians, thinkers and businessmen ^Ö which he chaired from
1954 to 1976.

^ÓHis vision, drive and determination helped put nature protection on the
national and international map,^Ô the fund^Òs General Director Niek van
Heijst said.  He said Bernhard convinced world leaders to ban hunting of
the Bengal Tiger and the African Elephant.  Nelson Mandela, who met
Bernhard several times, said he was saddened by the death and was
surprised by Bernhard at their last meeting in 1999.  ^ÓHe walked up to
shake my hand like a man who was trying to catch the last train,^Ô the
former South African president said.

Bernhard earned the respect of the Dutch during the Nazi occupation, when
he was the top aide in Queen Wilhelmina^Òs exiled government in London,
and was reputed to have flown combat missions as a pilot. But his image
was later tarnished by bribery and adultery scandals.  ^ÓI look back with
satisfaction on my life,^Ô he wrote in an open letter earlier this year.

In the letter, he denied rumours he had secret contact with Nazis during
the war and said he would no longer contest a government inquiry that
found he had accepted bribes from US aircraft company Lockheed in 1976.
^ÓI^Òm sure this letter will provoke new reactions, but frankly, I don^Òt
give a damn.^Ô

He is survived by 4 daughters and more than 20 grandchildren and great
grandchildren.

Source: Press Association.
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