AP, DUTCH DAILY NEWS, DUTCH NEWS (The Netherlands); THE GUARDIAN (UK)
AMSTERDAM- Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands formally abdicated Tuesday, making way for her son Willem-Alexander to become king -- the first in the country for 123 years, reports The Guardian.
After 33 years, the 75 year-old queen -- whose title now reverts to Princess Beatrix -- introduced the new monarch to an orange-clad crowd on the balcony of the Royal Palace at Dam Square this morning. Earlier in the year she had said that it was time for “a new generation” to reign, recalls the Dutch Daily News.
At 46 King Willem-Alexander is now the youngest ruling monarch in Europe. He has vowed that he and his wife, Argentine-born Máxima, will not be “protocol fetishists.” The Royal couple have three daughters, the oldest of which, Catharina-Amalia, is now heir to the throne as the Princess of Orange, according to the AP.
This abdication falls on the Queen’s day holiday in The Netherlands and the country is awash with everything orange, writes Dutch News. The abdication ceremony is being attended by many royal guests from all over the world, including Britain’s Prince Charles and Japan’s Crown Princess Masako.
After 33 years on the throne, Queen #Beatrix takes 3 mins to say goodbye & "thank you for beautiful years' #abdicatietwitter.com/annaholligan/s…
— anna holligan (@annaholligan) January 28, 2013
Our new King Willem Alexander, Queen Maxima and their girls #troontwitter.com/JackyVoncken/s…
— Jacqueline Voncken (@JackyVoncken) April 30, 2013
Beatrix signs Deed of Abdication in presence of the new King, Queen, the Government and others #troontwitter.com/PatentTwit/sta…
— IPEG (@PatentTwit) April 30, 2013
This is what #Amsterdam looks like today. Celebrating the new Dutch #King Willem-Alexander. twitter.com/ReMaTecShow/st…
— ReMaTecShow (@ReMaTecShow) April 30, 2013
Amsterdam is amazing today. No riots as in 1980, just one huge orange street party. So proud! #dutch#troontwitter.com/Adrie_vdLuijt/…
— Adrie van der Luijt (@Adrie_vdLuijt) April 30, 2013
A last minute thank you for #Beatrix#Troontwitter.com/VanAlenburg/st…
— Louise van Alenburg (@VanAlenburg) April 30, 2013
