In recent years, controversy over the lack of transparency of her role in the formation of governments resulted in a change in the procedure. The queen, who holds a law degree, returned last week from an official visit to Brunei and Singapore, where she was accompanied by her eldest son and his wife. Constantijn, the youngest, is currently deputy head of cabinet for Neelie Kroes, vice president of the European Commission, who is responsible for the commission's digital agenda within the European Union. Queen Beatrix's second son, Friso, has been in a coma since a skiing accident last year. That her family won't attend the investiture. A Dutch government spokesman said Princess Máxima has told Prime Minister Was a minister in Argentina during the military regime ofįrom 1976 to 1981, which was responsible for widespread human-rights abuses. The marriage between Willem-Alexander and Máxima caused controversy in the Netherlands. Catharina-Amalia will be first in line to succeed Willem-Alexander. They have three daughters, Princess Catharina-Amalia, Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane.

Willem-Alexander married Princess Máxima, who was born and grew up in Argentina and was formerly an emerging-market equity-sales executive based in New York, in 2002. Queen Beatrix's mother Juliana abdicated at age 70 after 32 years on the throne, and her mother, 'He and Princess Máxima are fully prepared to take on their future task,' she said.Ĭelebrated her 60th anniversary on the throne last year and has given no sign she intends to abdicate, Dutch monarchs have a tradition of abdication. 'It is with the greatest confidence that I will pass on the throne on April 30 to my son, prince of Orange,' the queen said. The eldest, Willem-Alexander, has been prince of Orange-the title of the Dutch heir apparent-since the queen's investiture in 1980.

Queen beatrix