Dutch Queen Set to Hand Throne to Son

The Dutch queen, Beatrix, her son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and daughter-in-law, Princess M?xima, waving to the crowd from the balcony of Palace Noordeinde in The Hague. Photo by EPA

Dutch Queen Beatrix is to abdicate on Tuesday in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander.

The 75-year-old Monarch announced her intended abdication in January and since then preparations have been underway to prepare for Prince Willem-Alexander’s accession as King.

The Queen steps down on the national holiday known as Queen's Day, an opportunity for people across the Netherlands to dress up and party.

When he accedes, Willem-Alexander will become Europe’s youngest Monarch at the age of 46.

Willem-Alexander was educated in Wales and Holland, where he earned a history degree at Leiden University. He served in the Dutch Royal Navy from 1985 to 1987.

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