Wilhelmina of the Netherlands

Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, born on August 31, 1880, ascended to the throne at the tender age of ten following the death of her father, King William III. Her mother, Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont, served as regent during her early reign. Over nearly fifty-eight years, Wilhelmina became the longest-reigning monarch in Dutch history and the longest-reigning female monarch outside the United Kingdom.

Her reign was marked by significant historical events, including World War I, the Dutch economic crisis of 1933, and World War II. Wilhelmina gained popularity for her steadfast commitment to maintaining Dutch neutrality during the First World War and for addressing various industrial challenges facing her nation. Remarkably, her business acumen led her to become the world's first female billionaire, as measured in U.S. dollars.

In 1940, following the German invasion of the Netherlands, Wilhelmina fled to Britain, where she took charge of the Dutch government-in-exile. She became a voice of hope for her people, frequently addressing the nation via radio and emerging as a symbol of the Dutch resistance. Upon her return to the liberated Netherlands in 1948, she was the last surviving monarch among the seventeen reigning European monarchs at the time of her inauguration.

As her health declined, Wilhelmina abdicated in favor of her daughter, Juliana, in September 1948, retiring to Het Loo Palace. She passed away in 1962, but her legacy as a symbol of resilience and resistance endures, maintaining her popularity even among those in the Dutch Republican movement.