Princess Margriet of The Netherlands is the third daughter and child of Queen Juliana of The Netherlands and her husband Prince Bernhard. Margriet's birth story is most interesting. She was born on January 19th 1943 in Ottawa, Canada. Her mother and her two older sisters Beatrix and Irene had been in exile there since the Nazi invasion in 1940, her father and grandmother, Queen Wilhelmina were exiled in London. Dutch law states that only a Dutch citizen can be in line to the throne, to ensure that Margriet would have solely Dutch citizenship the Canadian government decreed that the maternity ward was extraterritorial (outside government jurisdiction, therefore it was under International law). At the time of her birth Margriet was 4th in line for the throne.
Margriet was christened on June 29th 1943 in Canada. Her full name is Margriet Francisca. Her godparents are Franklin D. Roosevelt (then the President of the United States of America, Queen Mary (the former Queen of England) and Princess Martha of Sweden, Crown Princess of Norway. Margriet spent her infant years in Canada and only returned to The Netherlands in August 1945 at aged 2.5.
Princess Margriet grew up with her two older sisters, Beatrix (1938), Irene (1939) and her younger sister, Christina (1947). In 1948 her grandmother, Queen Wilhelmina abdicated and at the age of 5 years old she became the daughter of Queen Juliana of The Netherlands. Princess Margriet was now 3rd in line to the throne.
Margriet attended Leiden university and met her husband Pieter van Vollenhoven there. Pieter and Margriet married on January 10th 1967 and have four children together;
1). Prince Maurits (17th April 1968)
2). Prince Bernhard (25th December 1969)
3). Prince Pieter-Christiaan (22nd March 1972)
4). Prince Floris (10th April 1975)
Pieter and Margriet also have 11 grandchildren (Anastasia, Lucas & Felicia, Isabella, Samuel & Benjamin, Emma & Pieter, Magali, Eliane & Willem)
Princess Margriet is still very active in royal life. She is currently 8th and the last in line to succeed the throne. Princess Margriet has a passion for health care and cultural pursuits. She is heavily involved with the Red Cross, the European Cultural Foundation and the Paralympics.
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