Princess Margriet of the Netherlands returned to Ottawa to celebrate the opening of the Canadian Tulip Festival, which features nearly one million blooming tulips. This event commemorates the liberation of the Netherlands during World War II and honors the historical relationship between the two countries. The National Capital Commission first introduced tulip beds in Ottawa in 1945, following the gifting of tulips from the Netherlands to Canada. Margriet, who was born in Ottawa in 1943 while her family was in exile, received a warm welcome at Ottawa City Hall, where she signed the guestbook and met with Mayor Mark Sutcliffe. Sutcliffe emphasized the enduring friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, rooted in shared history and sacrifice. In addition to attending the festival's opening, Margriet participated in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Canadian War Museum and plans to visit the Ottawa Hospital Civic Campus, her birthplace, to deliver tulips to staff. The festival will continue until May 19, 2023, at Dow’s Lake in Ottawa.