The Unofficial Dutch Royal Family Pages

Prince Bernhard, 1911 - 2004

On Wednesday 1 December 2004, HRH Prince Bernhard of The Netherlands, widower of HM Queen Juliana of The Netherlands. has passed away. The information on this page is a summary from various official press releases.

From the 6th of December until the day of the funeral he was lying in state at the Chapel Ardente at Noordeinde Palace. The public could visit the Palace to sign the book of condolance and to say their final goodbyes to the Prince. The Prince's coffin was placed in the central hall of the ground floor of the Palace. The coffin was draped with the Dutch flag with on top of the flag a white carnation. The Prince's personal flag and 14 decorations were displayed on three cushions.

On Saturday 11 December, the coffin of HRH Prince Bernhard was transported from Noordeinde Palace in The Hague to the Nieuwe Kerk Church in Delft on a gun carriage with a 3-inch gun. The gun was coupled to a caisson, and was drawn by six Gelderland and Groningen horses from the Royal Stables in The Hague. The funeral took place at 12:30. The Prince has been interred in the Royal Vault at the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft. For pictures of the funeral check the following sites:

Official pictures of the funeral

RTL News Pictures of the funeral

The funeral service

The trip from Noordeinde Palace to the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft

The trip from Soestdijk Palace to Noordeinde Palace

Historic Photographs

Official historic photographs

Court mourning has been observed by the Royal House until the day after the funeral. A period of family mourning was observed until Christmas. During this period regular activities were resumed, but no public engagements were undertaken by any member of the Royal House.

Messages can be left in the official book of condolance.

Official In Memoriam Site
Video footage of events during the life of Prince Bernhard