Dutch Royals in exile
During World War II, the Dutch Royal Family went into exile after Germany invaded the Netherlands in May 1940.
Queen Wilhelmina led the government-in-exile from London, becoming a key symbol of resistance. Her daughter, Princess Juliana, and her children moved to Ottawa, Canada, for safety, staying there until 1945.
Key Aspects of the Dutch Exile (1940–1945):
Queen Wilhelmina in London: She fled on a British destroyer on May 13, 1940, and established a government-in-exile, using radio broadcasts to inspire the Dutch people.
Princess Juliana in Canada: She lived with her children, Beatrix and Irene, in Ottawa (specifically at Stornoway in Rockcliffe Park).
Birth of Princess Margriet: To ensure her succession rights, the Canadian government declared the maternity ward at Ottawa Civic Hospital as temporarily extraterritorial Dutch territory for her birth on January 19, 1943.
Significance: The exile ensured the continuity of the House of Orange-Nassau and maintained a government that was not under Nazi control.