Editing 1976 Lockheed Bribery Scandal (section)

===The Netherlands=== 
Bribes: Lockheed paid $1.1 million to Prince Bernhard, husband of Queen Juliana, to influence the Dutch government’s purchase of F-104 Starfighters in the 1960s. Payments, channeled through Swiss accounts, were disguised as consulting fees, per NRC Handelsblad.

Fallout: A 1976 Dutch inquiry confirmed Bernhard’s role, leading to his resignation from public duties, including as Inspector General of the Dutch Armed Forces, to spare the monarchy embarrassment. Queen Juliana threatened abdication if he faced prosecution, which was avoided. The scandal also implicated Investors Overseas Services (IOS), as Bernard Cornfeld’s funds were linked to Bernhard’s accounts, per The Guardian.

Significance: The scandal damaged Dutch-U.S. relations and highlighted Lockheed’s exploitation of royal connections.