Dutch Queen Beatrix announces abdication to make way for son
Source: Agencies |
January 30, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
DUTCH Queen Beatrix, who turns 75 tomorrow, announced she was abdicating in favor of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander, telling her country it was time to hand the crown to the next generation after more than three decades on the throne.
Willem-Alexander, 45, who will be sworn in as king on April 30, is married to Princess Maxima, who comes from Argentina, and has three young children.
Decades of grooming for the throne involved shaking off his image as a beer-drinking fraternity boy whose blunt comments upset the press and politicians and did not fit the image of the Netherlands' low-key "bicycling monarchy."
Speaking calmly in a television broadcast, Beatrix, who once faced scandal over her father's involvement in a bribery case and whose middle son lies in a coma after a skiing accident, said she was stepping down because she felt Willem-Alexander was now ready to take her place on the throne.
"I am not stepping down because the tasks of the function are too great, but out of the conviction that the responsibilities of our country should be passed on to a new generation," she said.
"It is with the greatest confidence that on April 30 of this year I will pass on the kingship to my son, the Prince of Orange. He and Princess Maxima are entirely ready for their future tasks."
The decision appeared popular with ordinary Dutch people.
First king in a century
"She's been a strong, hard-working woman but it is good that she is now giving room to a younger generation," said Mandy, a 26-year-old who works as a secretary in Amsterdam.
With Willem-Alexander on the throne, the Netherlands is likely to revive the debate about the role of the monarchy and the high cost of maintaining the royal household, particularly when ordinary Dutch people are having to deal with austerity measures.
"There is an ongoing discussion about the role of the royals in a modern society, and that discussion needs to continue," said Diederik Samsom, leader of the Labour Party, which is part of Prime Minister Mark Rutte's coalition government.
As queen, Beatrix often headed trade missions, most recently in Singapore, and was involved in promoting Dutch defense sales in the Middle East.
Dutch queens have made a tradition of stepping aside for the next generation over the last century. Queen Wilhemina handed over to her daughter in 1948 after half a century on the throne. Queen Juliana was in deteriorating mental health when she made way for the 42-year-old Beatrix in 1980.
Willem-Alexander, who majored in history and has specialized in water management, will become Willem IV - the first Dutch king in more than a century.
The Dutch royal family is popular with the public, but like the British royals, it has not escaped scandal and controversy.
While she was still Crown Princess, Beatrix married former German diplomat Claus von Amsberg in 1966, and faced street protests over her choice of husband.
Willem-Alexander, 45, who will be sworn in as king on April 30, is married to Princess Maxima, who comes from Argentina, and has three young children.
Decades of grooming for the throne involved shaking off his image as a beer-drinking fraternity boy whose blunt comments upset the press and politicians and did not fit the image of the Netherlands' low-key "bicycling monarchy."
Speaking calmly in a television broadcast, Beatrix, who once faced scandal over her father's involvement in a bribery case and whose middle son lies in a coma after a skiing accident, said she was stepping down because she felt Willem-Alexander was now ready to take her place on the throne.
"I am not stepping down because the tasks of the function are too great, but out of the conviction that the responsibilities of our country should be passed on to a new generation," she said.
"It is with the greatest confidence that on April 30 of this year I will pass on the kingship to my son, the Prince of Orange. He and Princess Maxima are entirely ready for their future tasks."
The decision appeared popular with ordinary Dutch people.
First king in a century
"She's been a strong, hard-working woman but it is good that she is now giving room to a younger generation," said Mandy, a 26-year-old who works as a secretary in Amsterdam.
With Willem-Alexander on the throne, the Netherlands is likely to revive the debate about the role of the monarchy and the high cost of maintaining the royal household, particularly when ordinary Dutch people are having to deal with austerity measures.
"There is an ongoing discussion about the role of the royals in a modern society, and that discussion needs to continue," said Diederik Samsom, leader of the Labour Party, which is part of Prime Minister Mark Rutte's coalition government.
As queen, Beatrix often headed trade missions, most recently in Singapore, and was involved in promoting Dutch defense sales in the Middle East.
Dutch queens have made a tradition of stepping aside for the next generation over the last century. Queen Wilhemina handed over to her daughter in 1948 after half a century on the throne. Queen Juliana was in deteriorating mental health when she made way for the 42-year-old Beatrix in 1980.
Willem-Alexander, who majored in history and has specialized in water management, will become Willem IV - the first Dutch king in more than a century.
The Dutch royal family is popular with the public, but like the British royals, it has not escaped scandal and controversy.
While she was still Crown Princess, Beatrix married former German diplomat Claus von Amsberg in 1966, and faced street protests over her choice of husband.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
