Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina (Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Maria; 31 August 1880 – 28 November 1962) was queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the Great Crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial empire. Outside the Netherlands she is primarily remembered for her role in the Second World War, in which she proved to be a great inspiration to the Dutch resistance, as well as a prominent leader of the Dutch government in exile. Princess Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Marie of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau was born on 31 August 1880 in The Hague, Netherlands. She was the only child of King William III and his second wife, Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Her childhood was characterised by a close relationship with her parents, especially with her father, who was already 63 years of age when she was born. King William had three sons with his first wife, Sophie of Württemberg. However when Wilhelmina was born, William had already outlived two of them and only the childless Prince Alexander was alive, so she was second in line to the throne from birth. When Wilhelmina was four, Alexander died and the young girl became heiress presumptive. King William III died on 23 November 1890, and, although Princess Wilhelmina became Queen of the Netherlands instantly, her mother, Emma, was named Regent.
Size: 5250px × 5605px
Photo credit: © Historical Art Collection (HAC) / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 1800, 18th, 1900, 19th, abstract, aging, american, ancient, antique, art, beauty, blood, blue, canvas, dutch, education, gracieuse, history, holland, kingdom, majeste, majesty, monarch, netherlands, oil, painting, portrait, queen, reine, retro, royal, rusty, traditional, travel, tulips, typical, vintage, wilhelmina
