Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette divorce after 25 years of marriage

Prince Bernhard and Princess Annette have decided to divorce after 25 years of marriage, the couple said through the Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst. “We will continue to jointly care for our three children. Despite this, it is a difficult step, and we ask for understanding and respect for our privacy,” they added. The statement was signed by Bernhard van Oranje and Annette Sekrève.

Princess Margriet and Pieter van Vollenhoven’s second son married the psychologist on July 6, 2000, at Paushuize in Utrecht. The couple received a church blessing two days later at the Dom Church, also in Utrecht. They have three children: Isabella (2002), Samuel (2004), and Benjamin (2008), and neither of them holds a noble title.

Prince Bernhard is a cousin of King Willem-Alexander. Following their wedding, he and Annette lived in Amsterdam and were regarded as a steady and grounded couple within the Dutch royal family.

In July, the couple marked their 25th wedding anniversary. Bernhard, 56, posted a photo of himself with Annette, 53, on Instagram Stories, captioned “25 years” with a heart.

Bernhard and Annette have no official public roles. In 2013, it was made public that Bernhard was being treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma, in addition to living with Crohn’s disease. Despite this, he is active in business, charity, and sports, including real estate ventures and co-ownership of the Zandvoort racing circuit.

The Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst states that Annette will no longer hold the title of Princess following the divorce. Her former title, “Her Highness Annette, Princess of Oranje-Nassau, van Vollenhoven-Sekrève,” was a courtesy title she held as Prince Bernhard’s spouse.

Divorces are uncommon in the Dutch royal family, but they have happened before, including with Princess Margarita, Princess Irene, and Princess Christina.