Breaking: Dutch Queen Beatrix to abdicate tonight?

[Simfan34]

All hail Willelm Alexander, first of that name!

We're not sure about this, actually. I've been seeing conflicting reports. There's still hope for Willelm IV.

All and all, a far more dignified affair than this.

[Simfan34]

It's a sad reflection on the state of Holland that there probably won't be any smoke bombs on the day of the coronation, like there were in 1980 or when Beatrix married Claus.

Why exactly is it sad?

You could hear the crowd shouting in the Nieuwe Kerk while Beatrix took the oath. ('Geen Woning, Geen Kroning', 'No Houses, No Coronation'). That's what the Netherlands were all about back then. Or Juliana scarcely getting her voice over the rumour of the crowd when she announced that she had 'resigned the crown',...

You're disgusting.

[Simfan34]

What I don't are people who want to replace monarchies with dull figureheads. Maybe the commonwealth realms I can understand- they have Governor Generals- but I really don't see the allure of having some dull old man who probably repuluses half the country as your head of state. Might as well have someone interesting.

Also, a figurehead president would probably be indirectly elected.