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Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to abdicate for son Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to abdicate for son
(35 minutes later)
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has announced her abdication in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has announced she is abdicating in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander.
The queen made the announcement in pre-recorded address broadcast on Dutch television. In a pre-recorded address broadcast on TV, she said she would formally stand down on 30 April.
The queen, who is approaching her 75th birthday, said she had been thinking about this moment for several years. The queen, who is approaching her 75th birthday, said she had been thinking about this moment for several years and that now was "the moment to lay down my crown".
She said the responsibility of being the monarch had not been too great, but now was "the moment to lay down my crown".
Queen Beatrix has been head of state since 1980, when her mother abdicated.Queen Beatrix has been head of state since 1980, when her mother abdicated.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte is also due to address the nation. In the short televised statement, the queen said it was time for the throne to be held by "a new generation", adding that her son was ready to be king.
Queen Beatrix is the sixth monarch from the House of Orange-Nassau, which has ruled the Netherlands since the early 19th Century. Prince Willem-Alexander, 45, is married and has three young children.
He will become the Netherland's first king since Willem III, who died in 1890.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte was also due to address the nation on Monday evening.
Abdication 'tradition'Abdication 'tradition'
Correspondents say her abdication is unlikely to provoke a constitutional crisis. Under Dutch law, the monarch has few powers and the role is considered ceremonial. Queen Beatrix is the sixth monarch from the House of Orange-Nassau, which has ruled the Netherlands since the early 19th Century.
In recent decades it has become the tradition for the monarch to abdicate. Queen Beatrix's mother Juliana resigned the throne in 1980 on her 70th birthday, and her grandmother Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948 at the age of 68. Correspondents say her abdication will not provoke a constitutional crisis. Under Dutch law, the monarch has few powers and the role is considered ceremonial.
In recent decades it has become the tradition for the monarch to abdicate.
Queen Beatrix's mother Juliana resigned the throne in 1980 on her 70th birthday, and her grandmother Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948 at the age of 68.
Queen Beatrix will be 75 on Thursday.Queen Beatrix will be 75 on Thursday.
She has remained active in recent years, but her reign has also seen traumatic events.She has remained active in recent years, but her reign has also seen traumatic events.
In 2009 a would-be attacker killed eight people when he drove his car into crowds watching the Queen and other members of the royal family in a national holiday parade. In 2009 a would-be attacker killed eight people when he drove his car into crowds watching the queen and other members of the royal family in a national holiday parade.
In March last year her second son Prince Johan Friso was struck by an avalanche in Austria and remains in a coma. In March last year her second son, Prince Friso, was struck by an avalanche in Austria and remains in a coma.