Dutch Queen abdicates in favour of son

[Siege]

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has handed the throne to her son Prince Willem-Alexander.

Queen Beatrix, 75, signed the instrument of abdication in Amsterdam after 33 years on the throne.

Willem-Alexander has now become the country's first king since 1890.

Huge crowds of orange-clad partygoers are in Amsterdam to pay tribute to the popular queen, who maintained a recent Dutch tradition to hand over to a new generation.

'Heart-warming affection'

Queen Beatrix announced her intention to stand down in January, saying her son was ready to reign and that it was time for the throne to be held by "a new generation".

She formally relinquished throne at a short ceremony in the Royal Palace on Tuesday, signing a statement which read: "I now withdraw from my office of Queen of the Netherlands, and the monarchy will now be transferred to my eldest son, Willem-Alexander."

There were huge cheers from the crowds outside, watching on giant screens in Dam Square, as she and the prince and his wife signed the deed.

Shortly after, the three royals emerged on a balcony above Dam Square.

King Willem-Alexander thanked his mother for "33 moving and interesting years", saying he and the Dutch public and people in Dutch overseas territories were "intensely grateful" to her.

The three then held hands on the balcony as the national anthem was played, before the new king and queen's three young daughters were brought out to wave at the crowds.

Willem-Alexander will later be officially sworn at the Nieuwe Kerk, before a joint session of the Dutch parliament.

First king in this country in more than a century. Hip hip huzzah.

[madd0ct0r]

I'll trade you the future queen of england for 14 camels!

[Patroklos]

I think its a good trend that monarchs recognize they have an expiration date either through generational shift of the rigors of aging and have the humility to step aside voluntarily through genuine respect for the institution and those it serves rather than the historical model of clinging to power as long as possible. Thats two in one year.

[Simon_Jester]

Monarchs have been doing that (sometimes) for quite a while. It was less common back when monarchs held serious power and an abdicated parent might find himself a target without the protections of his office, but it happened.

While there are a huge number of problems with having a child inherit the power of an office from the parent, it at least makes the parent more willing to accept and think about the future of the office aftertheir tenure. Hopefully.

[The Xeelee]

It depends on culture and tradition. Dutch is for the monarch to abdicate, British is until death (most of the time).