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Royal family announce sad death of Princess Christina

The Dutch royal house is in mourning today after the sad passing of Princess Christina, at the age of 72.

Dutch Princess Christina, the youngest sister of former Queen Beatrix, died Friday after a battle with bone cancer.

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima looking sad at funeral wearing black clothes
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima announced the sad passing of Princess Christina. Photo: Getty Images

Christina, the youngest of four daughters of the late Queen Juliana and her German-born husband Prince Bernhard, died at the Noordeinde Palace in The Hague, according to the Dutch Royal House.

In a tweet, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Beatrix described Christina as "a striking personality with a warm heart."

"His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, Her Majesty Queen Máxima and Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands are deeply saddened to announce the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Christina of the Netherlands on Friday morning 16 August 2019 at Noordeinde Palace complex in The Hague. The Princess, who had been suffering from bone cancer for several years, was 72,” the official statement read.

Publicity-shy Christina and her former husband Jorge Guillermo, the son of a Cuban doctor, had three children, Bernardo, Nicolas and Juliana. The couple divorced in 1996.

Princess Christina of the Netherlands wears pink and pearls
Princess Christina of the Netherlands passed away on Friday. Photo: Getty Images

The marriage removed Christina from the line of succession to the Dutch throne and allowed her to live outside the royal court.

Christina was born partially blind and her mother's decision to seek help from a faith healer, Greet Hofmans, led to a royal crisis in the 1950s.

Hofmans reportedly exerted increasing influence over Queen Juliana to the annoyance of Prince Bernhard, leading to rumours of a possible divorce. The royal couple, however, remained married.

Princess Christina’s death comes just over a year after the Dutch royal family were rocked by the tragic death of Queen Maxima’s sister, who was found dead at the age of 33 in June 2018.

Inés Zorreguieta reportedly died of apparent suicide at her home in Argentina.

She is said to have had a very close relationship with 47-year-old Queen Maxima, who is married to King Willem-Alexander.

With extra reporting by AAP.

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