![]() He said he sees the function of the monarchy is to act as a living symbol of unity for the nation. He explained that he will be able to indicate by his selection of which events and openings to attend the things he believes are important for the Netherlands. He said he's not a stickler for protocol, and he believes that 'even the ultimate symbol of a ceremonial monarchy - cutting ribbons - can be very substantive.' ![]() 'I am convinced that Willem-Alexander will apply himself with true devotion for everything a good king is obliged to do.'Ī poll released yesterday by national broadcaster NOS showed that Willem-Alexander's popularity has swelled in the run-up to his accession, mostly due to a relaxed and confident performance in an interview that was televised nationally earlier this month. 'Now that my oldest son is to take over this fine and responsible job tomorrow, it is my deep wish that the new royal couple will feel themselves supported by your loving trust,' the popular monarch said in a nationally televised address. In her pre-recorded message she said she had been thinking about the issue for some years and now was the 'the moment to lay down my crown'. Her husband Prince Claus died in 2002 and last year she was devastated when her youngest son, Prince Friso, was hit by an avalanche while skiing in Austria and suffered severe brain damage. In recent years, speculation about when she might abdicate had grown, as she endured personal losses that both softened her image and increased her popularity further as the public sympathized. Observers believe Beatrix remained on the throne for so long in part because she was seen as a stabilizing factor in the country that struggled to assimilate more and more immigrants, mainly Muslims from North Africa, and shifted away from its traditional reputation as one of the world's most tolerant nations. He has pledged to be a 21st century king, close to his nearly 17 million subjects, and not a 'protocol fetishist'.Ĭelebration: Prince Charles and wife Camila, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive for a banquet hosted by the Dutch Royal family at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, last nightĬelebration: The pair sported a monochrome look as they arrived at the elaborate dinner The couple have three daughters, Catharina-Amalia,Princess of Orange, born 2003, Princess Alexia, born 2005 and Princess Ariane, born 2007. ![]() Willem-Alexander, a 46-year-old water management specialist, is expected to bring a less formal touch to the monarchy together with his wife, a former investment banker from Argentina. The father of three's wife becomes Queen Maxima and their eldest daughter, Catharina-Amalia, becomes Princess of Orange and next in line to the throne, the first to do so in her own right. With her abdication, she becomes Princess Beatrix and her son ascends the throne as King Willem-Alexander. We are intensely, intensely grateful to you,' the new king said. 'Dear mother, today you relinquished the throne. Moments later, in a striking symbol of the generational shift, she left the balcony and the new king, his wife and three daughters - the children in matching yellow dresses and headbands - waved to the crowd. 'I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander,' she told the cheering crowd, which chanted: 'Bea bedankt' ('Thanks Bea.') 'I will proudly represent the kingdom and help discover new opportunities,' he said. The new king gripped his mother's hand and looked briefly into her eyes after they both signed the abdication document in the Royal Palace on downtown Amsterdam's Dam Square.īeatrix looked close to tears as she then appeared on a balcony decked out with tulips, roses and oranges, overlooking 25,000 of her subjects. This 'William I of Orange' - in English better known as William the Silent - became the founder of the House of Orange-Nassau. ![]() Their son Rene inherited in 1530 the Principality of Orange from his mother's brother, Philibert of Châlon.Īs the first Nassau to be the Prince of Orange, Rene' could have used 'Orange-Nassau' as his new family name.īut his stipulated that Rene must use the name Châlon-Orange so he is known as René of Châlon.Īfter the death of René in 1544 his cousin William of Nassau-Dillenburg inherited all his lands. It was established as a result of the marriage of Hendrik III of Nassau-Breda from Germany and Claudia of Châlon-Orange from French Burgundy. The Orange-Nassau dynasty dates back to 1515. Her mother Juliana who reigned from 1948-80, only took over the throne after her mother Queen Wilhelmina (1890 to 1948) abdicated. Princess Beatrix's abdication is the latest in a line of females in the Dutch royal family handing over the throne.
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