Wilhelmina Helena Pauline Marie of Orange-Nassau; August 31, 1880 – November 28, 1962) was queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948 and Queen Mother (with the title of Princess) from 1948 to 1962. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw many turning points in both Dutch and world history: World War I and World War II, the Great Crisis of 1933, as well as the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial empire. She was the only child of King William III and his second wife, Emma of Waldeck and Pyrmont. Her childhood was characterized by a close relationship with her parents, especially with her father, who was already 63 years of age when she was born. Since King William already had three sons with his first wife, Queen Sophie, when Wilhelmina was born, there was little chance she would ascend the throne. However, William outlived all of his sons, the last of whom died when Wilhelmina was four. King William III died on November 23, 1890 and, although Princess Wilhelmina became Queen of the Netherlands instantly, her mother, Emma, was named Regent until her 18th birthday. In 1901 Wilhelmina married Hendrik, Duke of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Although the marriage was said to be essentially without love, initially Wilhelmina truly cared for Hendrik, and it is likely that those feelings were mutual. Hendrik however, suffered from his role as prince-consort, stating that it was boring to be nothing more than decoration, forced always to walk one step behind his wife. He had no power in the Netherlands, and Wilhelmina made sure this remained so. A series of miscarriages also contributed to a crisis in their marriage. Prince Hendrik is reported to have had several illegitimate children.[citation needed] Over time the marriage became less happy. The birth of Juliana, on April 30, 1909, was met with great relief after eight years of childless marriage.