Princess Juliana on her way home

July 16, 1945


Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and her three daughters, Princesses Beatrix, Irene and Margriet, left Ottawa day by train for New York, "where they will sail home on the Queen Mary," according to the New York Times.

In her farewell messages to the "Canadian government and people" Princess Juliana promised to return to Canada where she and her family were "received with such friendship and courtesy as refugees form their invaded country."

During her time in Canada, Princess Juliana, heir to the Dutch throne, "did much effective war work."  She donated blood, and "lived without ceremony in a small villa."  Her youngest daughter, Margriet, was born in an Ottawa hospital, but by special decree," the war where Margriet was born "was proclaimed Netherland sterritory" to make sure that if the princess became heir to the throne, there would be no question about her nationality.

Princess Juliana and her children will rejoin Prince Bernhard at their palace in the Netherlands.