Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands, husband of Queen Juliana, is best remembered for his royal stature and personal controversies. His involvement in the notorious Lockheed bribery scandal overshadowed his role as a Dutch war hero and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Bernhard’s extramarital affairs, including several illegitimate children, further tarnished his legacy, raising questions about power and moral responsibility in Dutch royalty. His complex life, hunting passions, and ties to Soestdijk Palace paint a picture of a man whose personal desires often conflicted with his public duties, making him one of the most controversial figures in Dutch royal history.
Living Between Two Palaces
As you may already know, Monique and I live in a beautiful, wooded area near Baarn, in the Dutch province of Utrecht, about twenty-five kilometers from our capital, Amsterdam. Surprisingly, this region around the capital is home to several stunning forested areas, many of which have off-leash areas for dogs. Our home is nestled between two iconic palaces—Drakensteyn Castle, the residence of Princess Beatrix, mother of King Willem-Alexander, and Soestdijk Palace, where the late Queen Juliana and her husband, Prince Bernhard, once lived. It is a charming area, rich with history, and filled with wildlife.
Prince Bernhard's Love for Animals and Hunting
Prince Bernhard Leopold Frederik Everhard Julius Coert Karel Godfried Pieter, born in 1911, lived a complex and eventful life until his death in 2004. He was known for his affection for animals, but with a twist—he was also an avid hunter. One of his most renowned hunting grounds was "Het Loo" in Apeldoorn, home to the palace of his mother-in-law, Queen Wilhelmina of Orange-Nassau.
This love for animals coexisted with his passion for hunting, creating an interesting contradiction in his life. Bernhard embodied many such contradictions: he was a devoted royal figure, yet a notorious playboy. His love for women was no secret, and his extramarital affairs resulted in several illegitimate children, some of whom were officially recognized decades later. His life prompts us to consider whether privilege and power create more opportunities for morally ambiguous behavior.
The Temptations of Hunting and Power
Both Prince Bernhard and his predecessor, Prince Hendrik, had access to numerous hunting grounds, both in the Netherlands and abroad. However, whether they always hunted animals in these areas—or sometimes entertained themselves with the company of beautiful young women—remains an open question.
Aside from his love of hunting, Bernhard was a skilled fighter pilot. During World War II, he flew numerous missions between England and the Netherlands in an effort to resist the Nazi occupation. Despite his reputation as a war hero, his public life was often overshadowed by his personal actions. He was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Dutch Armed Forces by Queen Wilhelmina, a role that added to his status as both a leader and a figure of admiration. Yet, even in this position, he was known for indulging his desires, leading many to speculate whether his personal life affected his public duties.
The Desire for Recognition
Some scholars suggest that Bernhard’s behavior, particularly his infidelity, may have stemmed from dissatisfaction in his marriage or a deep-rooted need for recognition. This need for validation is not unique to royalty. Many men who feel subordinate in their relationships may seek acknowledgment elsewhere, and women facing similar frustrations in their own lives may respond in kind. This brings us to a broader question: Is infidelity a natural process for the human species?
Is Cheating a Natural Process?
If we consider infidelity as a response to unmet emotional needs, it becomes easier to understand its prevalence. Humans have an innate desire to feel valued and appreciated. When these emotional needs are not met within a marriage or relationship, people often seek fulfillment outside. This behavior, although often seen as morally wrong, may be a deeply ingrained aspect of human nature, something that transcends social status, culture, or wealth.
For Prince Bernhard, his role as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces brought him closer to power and influence. He became an advisor to the aircraft manufacturer Lockheed, leading the Dutch government to purchase large quantities of Lockheed fighter jets in the post-war era. While this role added to his public prestige, it also set the stage for one of the biggest scandals in Dutch royal history.
The Lockheed Scandal and Public Downfall
The infamous Lockheed affair, in which Bernhard accepted bribes from the company, led to a significant loss of public respect. The bribery scandal tarnished his reputation, causing him to lose his advisory position with Lockheed as well as his role as Chairman of the World Wildlife Fund, an organization dedicated to protecting animals. Despite his passion for wildlife conservation, the contradiction between his public duties and personal actions was too glaring to ignore.
His compensatory behavior—whether in hunting, his numerous affairs, or his professional roles—may have been an attempt to fill the void created by an unsatisfactory marriage. It raises the question: Do kings and princes, despite their high status, also make mistakes out of a need to boast or compensate for personal dissatisfaction?
The Need to Compensate
All these roles, whether professional or personal, seem to serve as compensatory mechanisms for a deeper lack of fulfillment. Our egos often need something to keep them afloat, and for royalty like Prince Bernhard, the stakes may be even higher. While his titles and influence may have compensated for his personal shortcomings, they were fragile, easily shattered by scandal.
His respect in the eyes of the Dutch public diminished significantly after the revelation of his illegitimate children and his involvement in the Lockheed affair. Bernhard, once admired as a war hero and a protector of wildlife, was forced to step back from the public eye. Yet, when he passed away in 2004, he was still given a state funeral—a final tribute to his role in Dutch history, despite the controversies that marked his later years.
Do We All Need to Compensate for Something?
In reflecting on Bernhard’s life, I often think of the many beautiful speeches I’ve heard at funerals. Do all these people ascend to a higher place, or are their flaws quietly overlooked in the name of decorum? Is compensatory behavior simply a necessity in getting through life? Are we all, in some way, trying to fill emotional gaps, whether through our actions, relationships, or even professional roles?
I wonder, does your partner cheat to avoid the possibility of leaving, and do you tolerate it because the alternative seems worse? Perhaps this behavior—seeking validation and satisfaction outside of the home—is simply a natural part of the human condition, one that affects even the most powerful and privileged among us.
