Sad news from the Dutch royal family today as they announce the passing of 72-year-old Princess Christina. The Princess had suffered from bone cancer for several years and passed away in the Noordeinde Palace complex in The Hague earlier this morning.

A private ceremony will be conducted at Noordeinde Palace in the Fagel’s Garden Pavilion, allowing close family and friends to pay their last respects. Her remains will then be cremated in private.

Who Was Princess Christina?

Princess Christina is the fourth daughter of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard and the younger sister of Princess Beatrix. She dedicated her life to teaching vocal therapy in Italy and New York.

While her first name was Marijke, she began to use her second name Christina in 1963. She was married to Jorge Guillermo in 1975 and had three children: Bernardo, Nicolas, and Juliana.

Vanmorgen is Prinses Christina op 72-jarige leeftijd overleden op het complex van Paleis Noordeinde in Den Haag. Zij leed al enige jaren aan botkanker. Prinses Christina werd op 18 februari 1947 op Paleis Soestdijk in Baarn geboren. https://t.co/kH035ZME15 pic.twitter.com/ml57EufMCN — Koninklijk Huis (@koninklijkhuis) August 16, 2019

Her mother, Princess Juliana, was infected with rubella during her pregnancy, causing Princess Christina to suffer from poor eyesight for her lifetime.

How will she be remembered?

A condolence register has been opened by the family. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima said they were saddened by the her death.

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“Christina was a striking personality with a warm heart,” they wrote via the Koninklijk Huis Twitter. “With her musical drive and talent she managed to touch many. We cherish the many beautiful memories of her.”

Feature Image: Harry Pot / Anefo [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons