Dutch prince sired two extra daughters

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Royal watchers in the Netherlands are reeling over news their late Prince Bernhard fathered two illegitimate daughters.

The Dutch national daily De Volkskrant published 29 pages of secret interviews with the prince, who died two weeks ago at the age of 93, The Telegraph reported Wednesday.

Bernhard said his marital problems with Queen Juliana were the catalyst for an affair with a U.S. woman and the birth of his first illegitimate daughter Alicia, who is now 50. His second daughter is Alexia Grinda-Lejeune, 37, whose mother was the 1960s French pin-up Helene Grinda.

He told the newspaper his wife "accepted" his affairs and became a loving "granny" to his illegitimate daughters, along with his four legitimate daughters. The eldest, Beatrix, became queen in 1980.