The 75-year-old Monarch announced her intended abdication in January and since then preparations have been underway to prepare for Prince Willem-Alexander’s accession as King.
When he accedes, Willem-Alexander will become Europe’s youngest Monarch at the age of 46. He will become King Willem-Alexander (a break with being called King Willem IV, as he says as Willem-Alexander he’s not just a number). His wife will become Queen Maxima, and their eldest daughter the Princess of Orange.
Royal Central will be covering the abdication in a live blog on site which begins at around 8.45am UK time. HotMonarchy will be covering the abdication for us.
Queen Beatrix will abdicate at around 10am local time, at which point, Willem-Alexander will immediately succeed her as King of the Netherlands, the first King the Netherlands have had for 123 years.
After she abdicates, Queen Beatrix will assume the title of Princess Beatrix and will enjoy ‘retirement’ as far as one can in a royal family.
Willem-Alexander will be invested on the same day and will later tour the Netherlands with his family.
His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall will represent the British Royal Family at the Dutch inauguration.
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