In Memoriam: Prince Claus

[fairy]

What is astonishing is that after their respective weddings, the couples weren't very close. I never heard of a close friendship between Beatrix and Benedicte or that they still see each other after their husbands deaths.
Were the Berleburgs at Claus' funeral? Is any of them a Godparent of one of the children?

[anirac]

I wouldn't say they were/ are best friends but when you look through old archives of Dutch or even German newspapers, you will find some small notifications about royal hunting parties in Germany or the Netherlands were they met or invited each other. Over the years Beatrix and Benedikte often met at riding competitions (like in 2011 https://www.reni.nl/categ...g6f55smbqk6dshqr482oq4tj3) and the Berleburg-couple attended Claus' funeral (https://www.nettyroyal.nl...nmemoriam_2002_claus.html)
Recently Benedikte was featured and gave an interview in a multi part documentary about Beatrix and spoke lyrical about the cosy castle Drakensteyn.

[fairy]

Well considering that Richard Berleburg agreed to act as a decoy, as Beatrix' love interest, so that the happy couple would be able to get to know eachother privately under the radar, I would assume, they had to be very good friends.
Well we will never really know or be able to look into their private lives.

[kbart]

When Willem-Alexander and Maxima went on an official visit to Denmark in 2015 Richard (with Benedikte) was part of the welcoming delegation at the airport. There's video of Richard hugging/kissing both of them warmly. At one of the evening receptions (the return invitation?) W-A greeted Richard in German. I don't think that Richard was doing m/any official events in Denmark at all by that time so it shows a closer relationship.

[fairy]

Thanks for the info. I have to confess I had to chuckle a bit about your comment that W.A. greeted Richard in german. Pray, what other language was he supposed to use?

[ralf103]

I think there are signs they were close - WA, Maxima and Beatrix all attended Richard's funeral, which to me suggest a level of closeness.

[kbart]

Thanks for the info. I have to confess I had to chuckle a bit about your comment that W.A. greeted Richard in german. Pray, what other language was he supposed to use?

I take your point but I saw it as a sign of respect that he spoke to him in German. A Dutch-Danish bilateral would use English as a common language. I can't imagine either Maxima or any of Richard's Danish inlaws speaking German to him!  But you never know!

[Paulina]

Awww. I like this thread.

[Principessa]

Thanks for the info. I have to confess I had to chuckle a bit about your comment that W.A. greeted Richard in german. Pray, what other language was he supposed to use?

I take your point but I saw it as a sign of respect that he spoke to him in German. A Dutch-Danish bilateral would use English as a common language. I can't imagine either Maxima or any of Richard's Danish inlaws speaking German to him!  But you never know!

At the Berleburg castle you will also find a picture of WA when present at a hunting party with the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburgs... In general here and there you will find small hints about their connections with the Danish and Dutch RFs.

[anirac]

Here you can find the clip of the 1999 speech:

https://nos.nl/video/2157...%20Prins%20Claus%20Prijs.

Unfortunately I could only get the sound working, no visual images worked.

I found both 
https://katharinapetersdo...e-claus-and-beatrix/embed 

[Paulina]

Here you can find the clip of the 1999 speech:

https://nos.nl/video/2157...%20Prins%20Claus%20Prijs.

Unfortunately I could only get the sound working, no visual images worked.

I found both 
https://katharinapetersdo...e-claus-and-beatrix/embed 

 

[Principessa]

Here you can find the clip of the 1999 speech:

https://nos.nl/video/2157...%20Prins%20Claus%20Prijs.

Unfortunately I could only get the sound working, no visual images worked.

I found both 
https://katharinapetersdo...e-claus-and-beatrix/embed 

Thank you 

[CyrilSebastian]

Prince Claus in subway station in Munich on state visit to West Germany in 1982   
http://www.alamy.com/stoc...state-visit-48670795.html