http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/sns-rt-us-dutch-monarchybre90r0rc-20130128,0,5493554.story


Dutch Queen abdicates, Willem-Alexander to succeed

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch Queen Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, announced she was abdicating in favor of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander, who will become king on April 30.


Beatrix said in a television broadcast to the nation that she was stepping down because she felt her son was ready to take her place on the throne.

A constitutional monarchy, the Netherlands had reduced the involvement of the Royal House in politics, a role long seen more as a formality than a position of power.

In the past, the Queen took part in forming government coalitions by appointing a political mediator, raising questions about behind-the-scenes influence on the democratic process.

That role was scrapped before the last election, which took place in September 2012.


Wilders' poor showing at the last election and loss of influence in politics, could well have contributed to her decision to abdicate.

Queen Beatrix, who remains very popular with the Dutch, became the sixth monarch of the House of Orange in 1980 following the abdication of her mother, Queen Juliana, who reigned for 31 years.

Juliana was 73 years old and in deteriorating mental health when she abdicated but Beatrix has remained active and in good health despite some setbacks.

The queen was emotionally shaken when a man drove his car into a Queen's Day procession in 2009.

Her middle son, Prince Johan Friso, has been in a coma ever since he was buried in an avalanche while skiing last year.

(Reporting by Sara Webb and Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Robin Pomeroy and Giles Elgood)

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http://www.cna.com.tw/News/aOPL/201301290032-1.aspx






畢翠克絲在繼位演說中表示：「現代王室的真義，不在於權力、個人欲望或接掌世襲政權，而是為大眾服務。」


畢翠克絲在這座王宮裡接見各國元首，和藹但又不失正式禮節，並每週會見在任的總理商討政府事務，也因而獲得「荷蘭執行長」的封號。

身為女王，畢翠克絲經常率領貿易代表團出訪，最近一次是出訪新加坡，她也致力推動荷蘭在中東的軍售。

她也簽署法律，並透過任命所謂的「組閣者」（Formateur）在荷蘭政壇中扮演至關重要的角色。組閣者在國會選舉後，負責主持組閣會談。

2009年4月的民調顯示，85%荷蘭公民認為畢翠克絲是很棒的國家元首。

「富比世」（Forbes）2008年將畢翠克絲列為全球第14富有的王室成員，身價預估為3億美元。

畢翠克絲總是穿著平整、講究實用的洋裝和套裝現身，頭髮也吹得一絲不苟，搭配各式精美帽子，散發資產階級女性魅力。