30/04 16:56 CET
The new Dutch King Willem-Alexander has been sworn in at a ceremony in Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk.
Willem Alexander becomes the first king of the Netherlands in more
than 120 years, ascending a throne largely stripped of political power
but still invested with huge symbolic significance.
With his wife Queen Maxima by his side, the King took the oath of
allegiance. Outside the church, a massive crowd had gathered to follow
the ceremony on giant screens.
Like her mother and grandmother before her, Beatrix, who is 75,
chose to abdicate after a 33-year reign, saying her son was ready and
that it was time for the throne to be held by “a new generation”.
Beatrix is a very popular Queen with an estimated 8 out of 10 Dutch people in favour of maintaining the monarchy.
The abdication takes place on Queen’s Day, a national holiday in The
Netherlands, giving the Dutch an opportunity to gather and celebrate in
what are rather morose economic times with the country back in
recession.
After her abdication, Queen Beatrix, the new King Willem-Alexander
and his wife, Queen Maxima, appeared on the balcony of the Royal Palace
in Amsterdam to an enthusiastic orange-clad crowd of well-wishers.
Nearly a million people are estimated to have converged on Amsterdam
for the event, including more than 10,000 police officers deployed in a
massive security operation.
The new King and Queen were joined by their three daughters, the
eldest of whom, nine-year-old Catharina-Amalia, becomes Princess of
Orange and heir to the throne.
More:
Dutch royals age ‘wisely’
30/04 15:53 CET
Wisdom sometimes lies in knowing when to let someone else take over.
The Netherlands’ House of Orange has applied it time and again.
Queen Beatrix, having said that only by wanting to serve could
modern royalty make sense, bows out for her son, just as her mother made
way for her, and her grandmother handed over to her mother.
Beatrix is getting out when she is 75. Willem-Alexander has just
turned 46. Since 1983, the rule in the Netherlands is one of absolute
primogeniture, inheritance by the eldest offspring, male or female.
This relatively modern, less traditionally rigid approach to passing
the crown along – less misogynist – is matched in flexibility by the
business of thinking of abdication as natural as well.
That thinking is still the exception in Western Europe, which has
seven kingdoms, one grand duchy and two principalities – all of them
hereditary constitutional monarchies.
Queen Elizabeth II, who’s had her throne since 1952, is 87, and has
never given an inkling that she would let her son Charles have it while
she is still alive. He’s now 64.
But the British monarchy is in the process of adopting the absolute
primogeniture rule, which will put William and Kate’s coming child on
the waiting list, whether a boy or a girl.
Spain’s King Juan Carlos I isn’t in a hurry to abdicate, in spite of
his failing health – four surgical operations in the space of a year –
or the wish of more than half his subjects to see him step down.
Juan Carlos de Bourbon is 75 and has reigned since 1975. Son Felipe,
45, is king-in-waiting, even though he has a sister who’s older: Elena.
Spain, hover, is planning to move on from the male-preference system
because it conflicts with the constitutionally established principle of
gender equality.
Abdication isn’t taboo in the Kingdom of Belgium, but it’s up to the
sovereign, Albert II, to decide – crowned 19 years – but 46 percent of
the Belgians say they think it would be a good idea because of his
health.
Albert is about to turn 79 in June, and his son Philippe is 53.
Absolute primogeniture has been on the books in Belgium since 1991.
Same further north. Sweden has had it since 1980. The Swedish royals
don’t rule out abdication in principle but they aren’t chafing at the
bit. King Carl XVI Gustaf, 67, will be succeeded by his daughter Victoria, 35.
In 1990, Norway adopted absolute primogeniture, but it wasn’t made
retroactive. So, today’s King Harald V, 76, will be followed by son
Haakon, 39. He is the heir apparent even though he has an older sister:
Märtha Louise.
Denmark went for absolute primogeniture in 2009. Queen Margrethe II,
73, has been on the throne since 1972, and doesn’t plan to abdicate.
Fredrik, 44, if he does like his mother and most other monarchs, when he
gets on will stay for life.
More:
European monarchies | euronews
More:
European monarchies | euronews
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