Queen Wilhelmina Helena Pauline ([[August 31, 1880 - November 28, 1962) was queen of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. Daugter of King William III and his second wife Queen Emma.
Her childhood was characterized by a good relation with her parents, especially with her father. William was already 63 when he became father of Wilhelmina. Her childhood was also a short one, William III died on November 23, 1890. Emma became queen-regent for the young Wilhelmina. Emma gave much attention to a good education for her daughter. She had to be a strong-willed and developed queen.
She acceded to the throne on August 31, 1898 when she turned eighteen. This was the age required by the constitution. Her education was successfull as she developed as a strong-willed queen. Ministers who served during her reign told that she was not easy to handle because of this trait.
Wilhelmina was also ambitious. But she was queen in a constitutional monarchy. Like her father she wasn't very fond of being a monarch in a constitutional monarchy. But unlike him she was tactfull and remained within the borders of constitution. Because and despite of these facts she tend to be the most influential Dutch monarch since the days of William I of the Netherlands. Also after her there weren't such influential monarchs.
In 1901 she married Prince Hendrik. This marriage became known as unhappy because of frequent adultery of Hendrik. The birth of an heir (Juliana of the Netherlands, April 30, 1909) was considered a miracle. Hendrik also came in bad publicity and he spent much money to his mistresses. This caused debts which had to be paid by Wilhelmina. Hendriks early dead in 1934 ended this bad era in private life. Emma also died in 1934. Wilhelmina always remained close with her mother.
Juliana reached majority in 1927 and married Prince Bernhard in 1937.
In 1940 Germany invaded the country and Wilhelmina had to flee to England. She could return in 1945. From that moment she tried to establish new policies. She failed and abdicated in 1948 in favour of her daughter after 50 years of personal reign.
She retreated in the Loo Palace where she died at the age of 82 in 1962.