You're right grandduchessella,there are many stories about Bernhard that are not so favorable,sometimes even mindboggling or leaving one puzzled at the least.
He was a man with "many sides",there was that nazi past,there was that whiff of selling himself to the highest bidder in regards of either espionage or bribes.
And there is the Prince of The Netherlands who opened many doors for just being that to build up dutch industries post war,the RAF fighter/bomber pilot during WWII,a loving father his daughters adored pappie,adventurous,suave,witty,direct,loyal friend,even bragger in the eyes of some,one of the founders of the World Wildlife Fund and it's president for decades,but only after shooting/hunting big game for decades himself.And there is the Prince whom most of the people here thought betrayed his family and the nation with his statements that were published,on his request,immediatly after his funeral last year december.
He was a man with many qualities,and faults,and it's just very difficult to be objective while talking/writing about him.On one hand you will have to try and see things in the light of that day and age,and mentality that for one,differs so much if not totally from todays views and opinions.It was a different era,and he was one of the last remnants.
Yes,he always claimed he had to be a member of any SS or nazi organisation in order to "get through University"or anything in life during those years.Questionable?Maybe,possibly yes.
As you mention 1976,that was a year of revelations if there ever was one.Lockheed.The affair caused both shock and disbelief here,I remember it well,I'm old enough,and was interested enough,and shocked.
The RF was shocked,and needed the time to get over it,and even,for some of them,it took some time to "get on speaking terms" with him again,they felt betrayed.
There almost was a constitutional crisis,as towards the "public",the nation,the RF maintained a united front,but privately there was a severe crisis.Queen Juliana treatened to abdicate if the Prince was punished too severe,and Princess Beatrix is known to have said that in that case,she would refuse to ascend the Throne.He resigned from his chief posts,Inspector-General of the Royal Dutch Forces,army,navy,airforce,and was not to wair a uniform for nearly two decades,for a guy like Bernhard,that,if anything was severe.He also stepped down as president of the WWF,founded with his buddy Prince Philip.
Our flamboyant Bernhard was used to do what he pleased whenever it pleased him.With all the consequences.I'll be back with more about this man,who,as some belief was the role-model for the author of "James Bond".Not entirely without a ring of thruth,he was on "the list of MI5 and the CIA" as well according to several sources,but that was never to be proven,and in his position,Royal position,all doors would open like sesame.And as it turned out,he wasn't too picky in regards to whom he called his friends nor those who called him a friend.
In his later years the dutch came to appreciate him again,for his openness,his actions,the stories,and we all saw him,adored by his daughters and in-laws,not to mention his grandchildren,he was a terrific granddad,and deeply loved them as they loved him.
He had that "old world" charm,that was very much a part of him as well,and as we are both a very resilient as well as a forgiving nation,or were,we came to admire the old fox,again,and genuinely.
Untill there was that"statement from the grave",and all the admiration,all the impressive images of his life and death,the funeral,the genuine grieve,all that,was gone within 24 hours.
