The Queen of the Netherlands announced last night that she was abdicating in favour of her son and heir after 33 years on the throne.
In a broadcast on Dutch state television three days before her 75th birthday, Queen Beatrix said she was stepping down because she believed ‘the responsibility should now lie in the hands of a new generation’.
The new king, Willem-Alexander, the 45-year-old Prince of Orange, will take over as monarch on April 30. He will be the first male to accede to the Dutch throne since 1890. His mother has ruled the Netherlands since April 30, 1980.
The change will be interesting to royal watchers in this country, given that our Queen is 86 and last year celebrated her 60th anniversary on the throne.
In April 2011, Prince Charles became the longest-serving heir apparent in British history.
The previous record, of 59 years, two months and 13 days, was set by his great-great-grandfather, King Edward VII.
Charles, now 64, became heir apparent at the age of three when his mother acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952.
She is the second longest reigning British monarch behind Queen Victoria, who ruled for 63 years. But the Queen has always made clear that she takes very seriously her coronation vow to devote ‘her whole life’ to her country and it has long been accepted that it is unlikely she will ever abdicate.
Queen Beatrix has close ties to our Queen and to Prince Charles.
In her televised address, Queen Beatrix said she had been thinking about abdicating for several years but now was the ‘moment to lay down my crown’.
Leave a Reply