The birthday of Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands has been marked with a new series of portraits including one of the country’s past, present and future monarchs.
Princess Beatrix is seen with her eldest son and successor, King Willem-Alexander, as well as his first born child and heir to the throne, Princess Catharina-Amalia.
The photos have been released to mark Princess Beatrix’s 85th birthday on January 31st 2023.
The collection of portraits also show the Princess with her granddaughter in a special image of a past and future queen together.
Another photo portrays Princess Beatrix with King Willem-Alexander. This year marks the tenth anniversary of Beatrix’s abdication as Queen of the Netherlands in favour of her eldest son. She announced her decision on January 30th 2013, the day before her 75th birthday.
Princess Beatrix ruled the Netherlands from 1980, when her own mother, Queen Juliana, abdicated until April 30th 2013 when she stepped aside in favour of Willem-Alexander. His accession gave the country its first king in over a century.
Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard was born on January 31st 1938 at the Soesrdijk Palace in Baarn. She was the first child of Juliana, then heir to the Dutch throne, and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She became heir to the throne on her mother’s accession in 1948 and Queen of the Netherlands in 1980, ruling for 33 years. She took the title of Princess on her abdication and continues to carry out a range of engagements.
