Bernhard, Schavuit van Oranje

- Season 1

(2010)

Dutch royal palace Soestdijk, December 2004. Courtiers search the controversial, just deceased former prince-consort Bernard's estate as commanded by queen-regnant Beatrix. In 2003, he explained to Maxima, the pregnant wife of his grandson, crown prince Willem-Alexander', how dynastic succession works and is arranged. Reckenwalde, May 1934. Bernard 'Barnilo/ Benno', heir to the (nominal) prince of Lippe-Biesterfeld, is a masterly womanizer. Initially he prefers an industrial career to marrying Dutch queen Wilhelmina's shy heiress Juliana, his dying father's wish, but ...

Berhard tells Maxima and some research journalist in 2003/4 how he accidentally met her then young father in Argentina during the war. Queen Wilhelmina, who absurdly conceived a major boast for the Orange dynasty's socio-political role by constitutional reform, had resorted to suicide threat in order to make him accept exile in Londen, Juliana in Canada. Benno still had a mind of his own, concluding from countless contacts Churchill was in a sense conspiring with the Nazis and hence wanted to accept a gubernatorial role in occupied Holland.

Bernhard continues his tale how both his ambition to become Nazi governor and Wilhemina's plan for an active monarchy instead of democratic indecision came to nothing. His wife Juliana finally succeeded to the Orange throne, but the devout fool needed his help, yet often lacked the good sense to take his realistic advice, even rather believing crazy faith-healer Greet Hofmans. Meanwhile he enjoys the trappings of royalty and international diplomacy, especially in dodgy dealings with the greedy-generous Argentine Perron regime.

Former prince-consort Bernhard continues his tale, how he understood global politics far better then even foreign minister Luns, let alone his naive, moralistic wife, whom he finally persuaded to abdicate in favor of their firstborn daughter Beatrix before dementia sets in. When the press gets wind of $1,000,000 commission he received for a legal fighter planes deal with Lockhead, actually to keep his Swiss mistress and love child, the Den Uyl ministry sidetracks disgraced Bernarnd completely.