Article Excerpt
BY ROBIN VAN DAALEN
AMSTERDAM—Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands said she would abdicate after 33 years on the throne, to be succeeded in the largely ceremonial role by her eldest son, 45-year-old Willem-Alexander.
The queen, who turns 75 this week, announced her abdication in a prerecorded televised address Monday. The coincidence of her birthday and the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands was the reason for her decision, she said.
"It seems like a good point in time to take this step, which I've been thinking about for several years," the queen said. "The coincidence of these two special ...
Continue reading article with pop up player
![[image]](http://si.wsj.net/img/wsj_select_p_571x51.gif)
![[image]](http://s2.wsj.net/img/wsj_select_p_377x107.gif)
Most Recommended
“"When CNN political...;”
“Yesterday the former Commissione...;”
“The tone of an organization is s...;”
“Obama is the central force in th...;”
“The ideological divide remains b...;”