On Queens day we'll have a King

[Dutch mom]

This year, 2013, my country The Netherlands will be a monarchy for 200 years. The Dutch are proud to be a monarchy and we love our royal family, our ancestors have fought a long war against the Spanish occupiers to free our nation and become an undepended kingdom.
Tonight at 7 pm we watched our Queen Beatrix (who will be 75 on January 31th) on tv, announing her abdication after she has reigned for 33 years. This was an un unexpected speech for us, the Dutch people, because there were no sings or any rumours last weeks. The queen just last friday has finished her (last) state visit to Brunei and Singapore.
Coming April 30th (Queens Day) our crown prince Willem Alexander will succeed his mother, his Argentinian wife Maxima will be queen.
In the last 115 years we have had three queens: Wilhelmina, Juliana and Beatrix. Now we will have a king. None of all Dutch people can remember having a king because queen Wilhelmina was a child when her father, King Willem, died and her mother Emma was regent for her daughter since 1890.

Coronation Queen Beatrix April 30th 1980 / Beatrix and her late husband Prince Claus / the tv announcement of her abdication January 28th 2013

Crown Prince Willem Alexander and his wife Maxima will be King and Queen of The Netherlands on April 30th 2013

 

[Fedup]

Dutch mom

I am going to have to learn more about your country, I have learned at from you on this. Thanks.

 

[travel bug]

Interesting! Best wishes to you, Dutch mom, and to your fellow countrymen on this historic occasion.

BTW, I wonder if this has given Prince Charles any ideas? Maybe stratigically placing the newspaper, open to this article, near Queen Elizabeth? (No disrespect to any British friends )

 

[Dutch mom]

Haha. I guess Queen Elisabeth and Prince Charles do read the Guardian...

 

[Futureghost]

I know, how long has it been...right? My wife is Dutch, her and I live here in the Netherlands. Do you think it will influence social policy in any positive way?

As for the Queen of England. I think she took "long live the Queen" too seriously perhaps. Though the issue is a volatile one.

 

[Dutch mom]

Hi Futureghost,

I think we Dutch will get used to our new kind very fast. I guess Maxima is and will be the new king's stongest asset Everyone here loves her just like people loved princess Diana. As for England: I can't help to pity prince Charles, being age 65, crown prince forever with a son and a grandchild on the way. Just curious: were do you live in Holland? I live in Dordrecht, nearby Rotterdam.

 

[Futureghost]

The Hague for the forseeable future though we have talked about leaving Holland and moving north someplace out of the netherlands. Getting sick of recieving collections agency notices for bills we never recived in the first place.

 

[nicholas:)]

A few facts.. in the Netherlands the King or Queen does not attend a coronation but an investiture. They are not crowned but undertake a civil oath. The difference between a coronation and an investiture is a coronation is a religious commitment and an investiture is not. Queen Elizabeth II undertook a religious commitment to serve God and her countries for as long as she should live - no abdication here. In case of Queen Elizabeth becoming unwell to serve, a Regent would act on her behalf.

I wish the new King and the Dutch people prosperity and good health in their new era.