Breaking: Dutch Queen Beatrix to abdicate tonight?

[RogueBeaver]

Breaking on Twitter per BBC and other European sources. This seems to be a bit of a Dutch tradition for the past few monarchs...

[freek]

There will be a speech by the Queen at 1900 CET. It is assumed that she will announce her abdication. She will turn 75 next Thursday. Presumably the inauguration of King William IV (in the Netherlands kings are not crowned but inaugurated) will be at either April 27 or April 30. The first date is his birthday (and a Saturday), the 2nd date is Queen's Day, the celebration of the Queen's birthday, and the national holiday.

[freek]

And yes, it is some kind of a tradition. Until now we've had 3 Kings and 3 Queens.

King William I abdicated in 1840 because he had lost powers to the government, and the secession of Belgium.

William II died as  King at age 56 in 1849

William III died as King in 1890. He was predeceased by his 3 sons. His only daughter Wilhelmina from his second marriage was only 10 years old at the time.

Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948, after being Queen for 50 years (her mother Emma was regent for 8 years).

Juliana abdicated in 1980, she was 70 at the time.

There have been rumours about an abdication of Beatrix for years. For the first time in years, the political situation seems to have stabilized a bit. Also, in 1813 her predecessor William I named himself Sovereign Prince of the Netherlands, which was the first step in The Netherlands becoming a monarchy.

[freek]

The speech just finished. Beatrix abdicates, and the inauguration will be on April 30.

[Silent Hunter]

What does one say at this moment? The Queen is retiring, love live the King?

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

Good I saw this now; the Netherlands is my country in Model UN, and we're supposed to keep updated on news about the country we represent. Anyway, long live the King.

[freek]

What does one say at this moment? The Queen is retiring, love live the King?

After the inauguration, it will be "Long live the King! Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah!"

[Joe Republic]

First king in a continuous monarchy in 123 years?  Pretty impressive.

[freek]

The inauguration of King Willem Alexander (apparently not Willem IV as was expected) will be on April 30 in Amsterdam (which is constitutionally required). The abdication of the Queen will also be on April 30.

The inauguration is a joint session of both Chambers of Parliament. The King will swear his loyalty to the Constitution, and all 225 members of Parliament will swear their loyalty to the King.

Interesting is that the father of Willem Alexander's wife Maxima will not attend the inauguration. He is controversial, since he was minister of Agriculture during the Videla junta in Argentina.

[RodPresident]

Maybe Beatrix planned to abdicate when she got 80, but Friso's semi-vegetative state

[Antonio the Sixth]

What's with the Dutch monarchs' custom to abdicate?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

What's with the Dutch monarchs' custom to abdicate?

That's what I'm wondering too. Japanese Emperors used to habitually do something vaguely similar to this, but that is and was obviously a vastly, vastly, vastly different position.

[freek]

Maybe Beatrix planned to abdicate when she got 80, but Friso's semi-vegetative state

In her speech she mentioned that she was already considering her abdication for a few years.

It is thought that she already planned to abdicate 2 or 3 years ago. However, the attack on her and her family in 2009, her son's skiing accident in 2012 and the politically unstable situation the last few years have probably postponed that.

Abdication has some advantages. It prevents the situation that Charles is in: being an heir to the throne at age 64, and it might take another 10 years before he will be King. Prince Willem Alexander is 45 (2 months younger than Prime Minister Rutte). Also, it gives Queen Beatrix a few years of retirement, while she is still healthy.

[Zioneer]

All hail Willelm Alexander, first of that name!

[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.

[MaxQue]

So, I suppose the quite young daughter of Willelm-Alexander is becoming the heir presumtive?
Poor her.

[Lief 🗽]

Terrible news. She was one of my favorite monarchs. She always wore the best hats.

[Insula Dei]

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.

No, there might still have been hope for a Willem IV when you wrote that, though,...

Other observations:

1. Maxima's parents will not be attending the coronation. No particularily big surprise there. (Really, Maxima's 'contacts' are much more problematic than Mabel Wisse Smit's ever were. If Friso had to foresake his claims to the throne over his marriage, Willem-Alexander certainly should have.)

2. Rutte calls for a 'grand yet sober' coronation. Don't know whether I should go 'lolholland' or 'ughrutte' when I hear things like that.

[Earthling]

In her defense, the point back then, and still is nowadays, that you can't blame Maxima for the actions of her father. Her father is guilty, no doubt, but that doesn't make her guilty.
Also, she probably never lied about it.

Mabel on the other hand did all of the bad things herself. She had the wrong contacts, she had an affair with Bruinsma. And she lied about it. That makes it different.

But then, within the Dutch monarchy they have a tendency to pick 'bad' partners.
Wilhelmina's husband Hendrik slept around with almost everyone, rumoured is even with young boys. Bernhard, Juliana's husband, was an old crook. He has several other children and was involved a major corruption scandal. And Claus served in the Hitler jugend during the war, altough he really redeemed himself. So Maxima fits right in with the others.

[Earthling]

So, I suppose the quite young daughter of Willelm-Alexander is becoming the heir presumtive?
Poor her.

No, she will be the heir apparent. In the line of succession boys and girls are equal, so as the oldest child, she will be the first in line. Even if Willem Alexander and Maxima get a son.

[MaxQue]

And Claus served in the Hitler jugend during the war, altough he really redeemed himself.

Wasn't that mandatory for all Germans of a certain age?

[Earthling]

I believe he was already a member before it became mandatory. But still, Beatrix married Claus in 1966, just 20 years after the war. Back then it was a huge scandal. Even 10 years after his death, Claus is probably still the most liked person within the royal family. It was really hard to dislike him.

And I am not even a monarchist to begin with.

[Insula Dei]

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.

[Antonio the Sixth]

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?

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

I believe he was already a member before it became mandatory. But still, Beatrix married Claus in 1966, just 20 years after the war. Back then it was a huge scandal. Even 10 years after his death, Claus is probably still the most liked person within the royal family. It was really hard to dislike him.

And I am not even a monarchist to begin with.

GIVE BACK MY BIKE!