Biographies of Congressional Medal Recipients

Winning the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor is an amazing feat and not easily achieved, with very few women qualifying for this prestigious award. But Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands received one in 1982, topping off a lifetime of hard work and dedication to not only her people but to the world at large. But very few people know much about this “other” Royal Family or the close relationship with the United States and Canada. Let’s take a look at Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and see what makes her stand out from the others who have received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor as well as distinguished herself among the Royal Families of Europe.

The young girl who would become Queen Beatrix was born January 31, 1938 to parents Juliana and Bernhard von Lippe-Biestefeld at the Soestdijk Palace in Baarn. But her early life was punctuated by the horrors of World War II, forcing the young Queen-to-be to evacuate with her family to England in 1940 and then across the Atlantic Ocean to Canada. The family remained in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, until 1945 when they returned to the Netherlands and resumed their duties. Of course by this time Princess Beatrix had spent most of her formative years in Canada, attending school and growing up with Canadian classmates as well as her new sisters, Irene and Margriet. Irene was born in 1939 and Margriet in 1942 with a final sister, Christina, arriving in 1947 after the family had relocated back home to Europe.

After returning home Princess Beatrix completed her primary education and on January 31, 1956 she celebrated her 18th birthday, a momentous occasion. Having come of age and ready to assume her duties as a member of the Royal Family, her mother placed her in the Council of State. This advisory body basically consists of royal personages and those appointed by the Crown and serves as an advisory board to the government.

She entered Leiden University in 1956 and took classes in such varied topics as economics and constitutional law. Princess Beatrix went on to achieve her law degree in July 1961, a great achievement for her and for the Royal Family.

As befitted a woman of her lineage she married a diplomat in 1966, Claus von Amsberg. But this caused a great deal of concern and controversy for the young Princess because she was marrying a German prince; with the memories of the occupation of the Netherlands during World War II still fresh in many minds. Indeed, Claus von Amsberg had been a member of the Hitler Youth, resulting in demonstrations at their wedding by groups concerned at their future Queen marrying such a person.

But the young German prince proved the naysayers wrong, winning over the public with his charm and wit even as he assumed his position beside Princess Beatrix and became one of the most popular members of the Dutch Royal Family.

Within three years of marrying Prince Clause Princess Beatrix bore three children, all boys. But her biggest challenge was yet to come.

Princess Beatrix became Queen Beatrix of the Kingdom of the Netherlands on April 30, 1980 when her mother, Queen Juliana, abdicated the throne. But unlike most regal ceremonies, this one was fraught with violence and public unrest.

Anarchists and other political groups protesting the existence of a Dutch monarchy as well as social policies clashed with the police even as Queen Beatrix ascended the throne. Eventually this unrest disappeared as the groups realised that their protests wouldn’t dissolve the Royal Family nor force them into exile again.

In 1982 Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in recognition of the 1982 bicentennial anniversary of the close relationship, both diplomatic and economic, between the United States and the Netherlands. This wasn’t so much an award for Queen Beatrix herself but for her entire country.

The Congressional Gold Medal of Honor was awarded to acknowledge the many times that the Netherlands had assisted the United States. From the earliest days of settlements in the Hudson River Valley by Dutch settlers to being the first nation in 1776 to recognise the new flag of a new country, the Netherlands had helped the United States of America. Indeed, as recently as the Second World War the Netherlands had a close relationship with the United States as they tried to survive the Nazi juggernaut.

Queen Beatrix has continued to rule the Netherlands since receiving the Congressional Medal, but with personal sorrow in her life. Her husband passed away in 2002 after a long illness. Her mother Juliana suffered from senile dementia and passed away in 2004 while her father died of cancer in the same year.

While Queen Beatrix has never spoken publically about abdicating her office to one of her sons the topic has come up in the media numerous times. But without any comment from the Royal Family it seems unlikely that the Queen will follow the example of her mother and resign her office without good reason.

Much like the British Royal Family Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands seems poised to continue the royal tradition of being involved in the current affairs of the Netherlands. From being a young girl forced from her native country during World War II to ascending the throne in 1980 Queen Beatrix has continued to serve her country and her people in fine form. Accepting the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in 1982 only acknowledged the close relationship between the people of the Netherlands and those of the United States and further cemented a friendship that has been bought and paid for in blood on both sides.