Beatrix of the Netherlands eldest son, Willem-Alexander, and resumed the title of princess. At the time of her abdication at age 75, Beatrix was the oldest reigning monarch in the country's history. Beatrix was born "Princess Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld", on 31 January 1938 at the Soestdijk Palace in Baarn, Netherlands. She is the first child of Princess Juliana of the Netherlands and German aristocrat Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. Beatrix was baptized on 12 May 1938 in the Great Church in The Hague. Her five godparents were King Leopold III of Belgium; Princess Alice, Countess of
HMS Princess Beatrix 14 February 1942 "Princess Beatrix" left Freetown, and returned to England for refitting, after which she was reclassified as a landing ship, infantry (medium). In April 1942 "Princess Beatrix" was selected to take part in a raid on the French coast at Dieppe. On the evening of 18 August 1942 a fleet of more than 200 ships sailed across the Channel. "Princess Beatrix" and the British ship landed men of the South Saskatchewan Regiment on "Green Beach" to the west of Dieppe at Pourville. However, the raid was not a success, and the losses were high. "Princess Beatrix" sustained slight