Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicates -Tuesday April 30,2013

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands signed over her throne in favour of her eldest son Willem-Alexander.

Crown Prince Willem-Alexander,the 46-year-old, the first Dutch king in more than 100 years, gripped his mother's hand after they both put their signatures on the abdication document at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam

Queen Beatrix(75) ended her 33-year-reign as thousands of orange-clad people cheered outside and millions more watched on National TV.

 

  Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima appear on the balcony of the Royal Palace with their children, from left: Catharina-Amalia, Ariane, and Alexia

Queen Beatrix  hosted a Gala Dinner at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam ahead of her abdication last night

Prince Charles & wife Camila, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive for the banquet hosted by the Dutch Royal family

 Belgium's Crown Prince Phillippe & his wife Princess Mathilde, of noble Polish ancestry, arrive for the banquet hosted by the Dutch Royal family

Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik &Crown Princess arrive for the banquet hosted by the Dutch Royal family

 

 

 

Note

On January 28, 2013 Dutch Queen Beatrix, who ruled the Netherlands for 33 years, announced  her abdication from the throne