Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to abdicate

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue January 29th, 2013, 12:45 am

The upcoming abdication of Queen Beatrix is not so surprising. Her grandmother Queen Wilhelmina abdicated in favor of Beatrix's mother Queen Juliana and then Juliana abdicated in favor of Beatrix. In a televised speech Queen Beatrix said it was time for the throne to be held by "a new generation". Her 45 year old son will become King Willem-Alexander on April 30.

Unofficial Royalty: Queen Beatrix to abdicate

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Tue January 29th, 2013, 1:16 am

If he has a son can his daughter be displaced as heir apparent?

SM

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue January 29th, 2013, 1:19 am

[quote=""SonjaMarie""]If he has a son can his daughter be displaced as heir apparent?

SM[/quote]

No, Willem-Alexander's three daughters will remain 1, 2, 3 in line of succession even if they have a brother.

princess garnet · Post by **princess garnet** » Tue January 29th, 2013, 10:02 pm

Some commentary from the "Royal World" blog:
http://royaltymonarchy.blogspot.com/201 ... axima.html

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Tue January 29th, 2013, 11:58 pm

[quote=""princess garnet""]Some commentary from the "Royal World" blog:
http://royaltymonarchy.blogspot.com/201 ... axima.html[/quote]

This statement from the blog is somewhat inaccurate: "Incidentally this will be only the second time a European kingdom has changed hands since I've been old enough to follow royal news (the first time being Belgium in 1993, almost twenty years ago, when I was 15)."

While Luxembourg is a grand duchy and Monaco is a principality and not kingdoms, both countries are considered European monarchies and there have been changes in both:

Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg abdicated in 2000 in favor of his son Henri, now Grand Duke Henri
Prince Albert II of Monaco succeeded his father Prince Rainier III upon his death in 2005

SonjaMarie · Post by **SonjaMarie** » Wed January 30th, 2013, 3:52 am

[quote=""Susan""]No, Willem-Alexander's three daughters will remain 1, 2, 3 in line of succession even if they have a brother.[/quote]

Killer, so one king and then another queen, unless something goes wrong.

SM

Susan · Post by **Susan** » Thu January 31st, 2013, 12:01 am

[quote=""SonjaMarie""]Killer, so one king and then another queen, unless something goes wrong.[/quote]

Yes, but something would really have to go wrong. When Willem-Alexander becomes king, the succession will be as follows. Queen Beatrix's second son Friso (the one in the coma due to the skiing accident) lost his succession rights and his children's succession rights because he did not seek the permission of parliament when he married. There are only two males in the current line of succession.

1) (Catherina-Amalia) HRH The Princess of Orange (title of the heir to the throne) (2003) – eldest daughter of HM King Willem-Alexander
2) HRH Princess Alexia (2005) – second daughter of of HM King Willem-Alexander
3) HRH Princess Ariane (2007) – youngest daughter of of HM King Willem-Alexander
4) HRH Prince Constantijn (1969) – third son of HM Queen Beatrix
5) Eloise, Countess of Orange-Nassau (2002) – eldest daughter of Prince Constantijn
6) Claus-Casimir, Count of Orange-Nassau (2004) – son of Prince Constantijn
7) Leonore, Countess of Orange-Nassau (2006) – younger daughter of Prince Constantijn
8) HRH Princess Margriet of The Netherlands (1943) – sister of HM Queen Beatrix

All European monarchies except Liechtenstein, Monaco, Spain and the United Kingdom have succession laws that allow for eldest child rights regardless of the gender. The UK is in the process of passing such a law so that regardless of the gender of William and Kate's child, s/he will be third in line after Charles and William and remain so. Monaco and Spain have male-preference primogeniture. Liechtenstein allows only males to succeed, but they can succeed through a female line.