Prince Claus of the Netherlands
Claus von Amsberg | |
---|---|
Prince consort of the Netherlands | |
Tenure | 30 April 1980 – 6 October 2002 |
Born | Klaus-Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg 6 September 1926 Hitzacker, Germany |
Died | 6 October 2002 Bijlmermeer, Netherlands | (aged 76)
Burial | 15 October 2002 , Netherlands |
Spouse | |
Civil servant | |
Signature |
Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer van Amsberg (born Klaus-Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg; 6 September 1926 – 6 October 2002) was
Biography
Klaus-Georg Wilhelm Otto Friedrich Gerd von Amsberg was born on his family's estate,
Claus was a member of such
In 1944, Claus was conscripted into the German
Claus met Princess Beatrix for the first time on New Year's Eve 1962 in
The
However, over time, Claus became accepted by the public, so much so that during the last part of his life he was considered by some to be the most popular member of the
The public also sympathised with Claus for his efforts to give meaning to his life beyond the restrictions that Dutch law imposed on the royal family's freedom of speech and action. However, these restrictions were gradually loosened; Claus was even appointed as senior staff member at the Department of Developing Aid, albeit in an advisory role.
One example of his attitude toward protocol was the "Declaration of the Tie". In 1998, after presenting the annual
Claus battled depression for a number of years, and underwent surgery in 1998 to remove his prostate. In 2001, he underwent another surgery to remove one of his kidneys. He eventually died on 6 October 2002 from Parkinson's disease and heart failure.[4]
Activities
As a husband of the heir, Claus was a member of the National Advisory Council for Development Cooperation and its Bureau, and was a chair of the National Committee for Development Strategy 1970‑1980 and the Netherlands Development Organization. He also worked as special advisor to the Minister for Development Cooperation. He held these positions until 1980.[8]
On 30 April 1980, Claus' mother-in-law, Queen Juliana, abdicated in favour of Princess Beatrix, who became Queen of the Netherlands.[9] After the investiture, the couple visited the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.[9] As a prince consort, Prince Claus frequently visited public organisations, commercial and industrial enterprises, and companies in the agriculture and fisheries sector.[9]
In 1984, Claus became the Inspector General for Development Cooperation, member of the Board of Directors of De Nederlandsche Bank N.V. (until 1998), member of the Board of Directors of Royal PTT Nederland, and Chair of the Transport and Public Works Platform.[10]
Claus was an honorary chair of the National Coordinating Committee for the Protection of Monuments and Historic Buildings and the King William I Foundation. He was also a patron of the Concertgebouw Orchestra and Scouting Netherlands.[10]
On Claus' seventieth birthday, the Prince Claus Fund for Culture and Development was established on the initiative of the Dutch government. The fund focused on enhancing understanding of cultures and promoting interaction between culture and development.[10]
Declining health and death
Claus suffered various health problems, such as
Claus was interred in the royal family's tomb in Delft on 15 October. It was the first full state funeral since Queen Wilhelmina's in 1962.
Titles, styles, honours, and arms
Titles
- 6 September 1926 – 16 February 1966: Klaus von Amsberg
- 16 February 1966 – 10 March 1966: Claus van Amsberg
- 10 March 1966 – 6 October 2002: His Royal Highness Prince Claus of the Netherlands, Jonkheer van Amsberg[11]
Honours
National
- Netherlands:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion (1966)[12]
- Recipient of the Cross Medal of Nijmegen Marching Proficiency[13]
- Queen Beatrix Inauguration Medal
- Wedding Medal of Prince Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange and Maxima Zorreguieta
Foreign
- Austria:
- Grand Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1994)[14]
- Denmark:
- Knight of the Order of the Elephant (29 October 1975)[15]
- Ethiopian imperial family:
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Queen of Sheba (1969)
- France:
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour (1984)
- Germany:
- Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (1 March 1983)
- Iceland:
- Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (1994)
- Italy:
- Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (27 March 1985)[16]
- Ivory Coast:
- Grand Cross of the National Order of the Ivory Coast (1973)
- Japan:
- Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (2000)
- Norway:
- Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Saint Olav (1968)[17]
- Portugal:
- Military Order of Christ (14 May 1991)[18]
- South Africa:
- Grand Cross of the Order of Good Hope (1999)[19]
- Spain:
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III (7 October 1985)[20]
- Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic[21]
- Sweden:
- Royal Order of the Polar Star(1976)
- Tunisia:
- Grand Cordon of the National Order of Merit of Tunisia (1973)
- United Kingdom:
- Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (18 November 1982)
Academic awards
- Honorary Doctor of the International Institute of Social Studies (1988)
Prince Claus was also appointed Honorary Fellow of the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in 1988. Prince Claus was held in very high esteem in the international development cooperation community, partly because of his considerable insight and understanding of the problems involved, and partly because of his exceptional gift for expressing the hopes and anxieties felt by all.
Ancestry
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Issue
Name | Birth | Death | Marriage | Children | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Spouse | ||||
King Willem-Alexander | 27 April 1967 | 2 February 2002
|
Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti | Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange Princess Alexia Princess Ariane | |
Prince Friso | 25 September 1968 | 12 August 2013 | 24 April 2004 | Mabel Wisse Smit | Countess Luana Countess Zaria |
Prince Constantijn | 11 October 1969 | 17 May 2001 | Laurentien Brinkhorst | Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau |
References
- ^ a b c d Simons, Marlise (7 October 2002). "Claus von Amsberg, 76, Popular Dutch Prince". The New York Times. Retrieved 27 September 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Halasa, Malu (7 October 2002). "Obituary: Prince Claus of the Netherlands". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ Hitler Youth: Prelude to War 1933–1939. The History Place. Retrieved on 23 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Prince Claus of Netherlands Dies". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
- ^ (in Dutch) Máxima en Claus populairste Oranje-leden
- ^ (in Dutch) Claus' speech in which he removes his tie, among other video fragments Archived 12 January 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Prins Claus werpt stropdas af (1998)". nos.nl (in Dutch). 6 April 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
- ^ "Prince Claus's Work until 1980". Dutch Royal House Official Website. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "Prince Claus and Queen Beatrix". Dutch Royal House Official Website. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ a b c "Prince Claus's Public appointments". Dutch Royal House Official Website. 20 January 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
- ^ "Titels leden Koninklijke Familie". The Royal House. 14 January 2015. Retrieved 26 May 2017.
- . Retrieved 24 February 2022.
- ^ "Vierdaagsekruisje van prins Claus te zien - Vorsten". 23 May 2016. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ "Reply to a parliamentary question about the Decoration of Honour" (PDF) (in German). p. 111.
- ^ Bille-Hansen, A. C.; Holck, Harald, eds. (1995) [1st pub.:1801]. Statshaandbog for Kongeriget Danmark for Aaret 1995 [State Manual of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Year 1995] (PDF). Kongelig Dansk Hof- og Statskalender (in Danish). Copenhagen: J.H. Schultz A.-S. Universitetsbogtrykkeri. p. 36. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 September 2021 – via da:DIS Danmark.
- ^ Italian Presidency, S.A.R. Claus Principe dei Paesi Bassi – Decorato di Gran Cordone
- ^ "Den kongelige norske Sanct Olavs Orden", Norges Statskalender for Aaret 1970 (in Norwegian), Oslo: Forlagt av H. Aschehoug & Co. (w. Nygaard), 1970, pp. 1240–1241 – via runeberg.org
- ^ "ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS - Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas".
- ^ "1999 National Orders awards - South African Government". www.gov.za. Retrieved 25 September 2017.
- ^ Boletín Oficial del Estado. 8 October 1985.
- ^ Prince Claus wearing the Order of Isabella the Catholic