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abdication
King Juan Carlos of Spain signed the bill of his abdication in favor of his son, Crown Prince Felipe.
King Juan Carlos, 76, signed the bill at a ceremony in the Royal Palace in Madrid, which was attended by only 160 guests.
At midnight local time, Crown Prince Felipe, 46, will become king although the event will not be marked in public until Thursday morning.
The succession was endorsed by both of Spain’s main political parties.
Before the signing, King Juan Carlos sat with Queen Sofia to his right and Crown Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia to his left as the content of the law was read out.
King Juan Carlos of Spain signed the bill of his abdication in favor of his son, Crown Prince Felipe
After Juan Carlos had signed the document that will end his rule, PM Mariano Rajoy also signed the law. Moments later, the assembled guests applauded, the prince’s two daughters joined the royal group and the national anthem was played.
Prince Felipe will head to the lower house of the Spanish parliament on Thursday for the first royal transition the country has seen since democracy was restored after the death of General Francisco Franco in 1975.
The ceremony at 10:30 local time will take the form of a proclamation rather than a coronation, in part because of the economic hardship that many Spaniards have experienced in recent years.
Juan Carlos, who has been king for 39 years, formally brought his reign to an end in the Hall of Columns at the 18th Century royal palace, the same room in which Gen. Francisco Franco’s body lay in state in November 1975.
Father and son both wore suits which bore the insignia of the order of the golden fleece, Spanish media reported.
King Juan Carlos announced his decision to abdicate on June 2, saying that a “new generation must be at the forefront… younger people with new energies”.
Although he was for many years a popular monarch, King Juan Carlos reputation has taken a knock from a corruption investigation into the business dealings his daughter’s husband and an lavish elephant hunting trip he took to Botswana in April 2012 in the midst of Spain’s financial crisis,
As Juan Carlos was Spain’s first ruling monarch for 44 years, a new law of abdication had to be passed by both houses of parliament under the country’s 1978 constitution.
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The Spanish parliament has backed the abdication of King Juan Carlos and accession of his son Crown Prince Felipe by a large majority.
The succession had the backing of both the ruling centre-right Popular Party and the opposition Socialist party despite some Socialist misgivings.
Radical leftists in the chamber had demanded a referendum.
Madrid and other cities have seen anti-monarchy rallies since King Juan Carlos, 76, announced on June 2 he would step down.
King Juan Carlos said he was abdicating after nearly 40 years on the throne to make way for a “new generation”.
The government says parliament has to approve the transition as it requires a change in the 1978 constitution.
Referendum campaigners reacted furiously to the vote on Twitter, with the topic “We want to vote” quickly trending.
Spain’s crown prince is expected to be proclaimed King Felipe VI on June 19 (photo AFP)
The bill was passed in Congress by 299 votes in favor to 19 against, and 23 abstentions.
It will now have to be approved by the upper house of parliament, the Senate, which is expected to vote on June 17. The prince is expected to be proclaimed King Felipe VI on June 19.
Opening the debate on Wednesday, PM Mariano Rajoy defended “the continuity of the institutions”, saying the “form of the state ” was not up for discussion.
“We are not here to modify facts but to underline with our bill that in Spain we rely on a resolutely democratic parliamentary monarchy,” he said.
Opinion polls published at the weekend give a mixed picture of sentiment among Spaniards.
A poll for the centre-left daily El Pais suggested 62% of people wanted a referendum, while 49% would favor the continuation of the monarchy under Felipe, compared with 36% who would back a republic.
Another poll, for the centre-right El Mundo, suggested 55.7% backed the monarchy and 72.9% thought Felipe would make a good king.
Felipe will inherit the throne at a time when Spain is struggling with high unemployment and growing demands for independence for Catalonia.
For much of King Juan Carlos’s reign, he was seen as one of the world’s most popular monarchs, but recently many Spaniards lost confidence in him.
In part, a long-running corruption investigation into the business dealings of King Juan Carlos’ daughter, Infanta Cristina, and her husband, Inaki Urdangarin, tarnished the monarchy’s reputation.
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Spain’s cabinet will discuss today the next steps in the process of King Juan Carlos’s abdication and the accession of his son, Crown Prince Felipe.
King Juan Carlos announced on Monday his intention to abdicate after nearly 40 years on the throne.
Ministers will discuss the steps needed to approve Crown Prince Felipe’s accession to the throne.
King Juan Carlos was seen as popular for much of his reign, but recently many Spaniards have lost confidence in him.
PM Mariano Rajoy said the cabinet meeting would aim at carrying out the “constitutional measures” needed to clear the way for the succession.
King Juan Carlos announced on Monday his intention to abdicate after nearly 40 years on the throne (photo Spain’s Royal Palace)
The Spanish constitution does not have a precise law regulating abdication and royal succession, and ministers will discuss the special legislation that will be necessary for the process.
The two main parties in parliament remain loyal to the monarchy.
Prince Felipe will become King Felipe VI and will inherit an institution whose reputation has been tarnished by scandals in recent years.
King Juan Carlos, 76, said his son Prince Felipe would “open a new era of hope”
The king announced his decision on Monday in a televised address.
“A new generation must be at the forefront… younger people with new energies,” he said.
Prince Felipe will have to contend with the damage done to the standing of the monarchy by a long-running corruption investigation into the business dealings of his sister and her husband.
Support fell further when it was discovered King Juan Carlos had been on a lavish elephant hunting trip to Botswana in April 2012, in the middle of Spain’s financial crisis.
On Monday evening, thousands of protesters took to the squares of several Spanish towns and cities demanding a referendum on whether the monarchy should continue.
Juan Carlos took the throne in 1975, after the death of General Francisco Franco, the military dictator who had ruled for 36 years.
He became Spain’s first crowned head of state for 44 years.
But he soon ignored Franco’s supporters, who wanted an extension to autocratic rule, and ushered in a new system of parliamentary monarchy.
In later years King Juan Carlos became more of a figurehead.
He has been credited as a stabilizing force for independence-minded areas such as Catalonia and the Basque region.
Prince Felipe and his wife Princess Letizia – a former television presenter – have recently taken on more important roles in ceremonial events.
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King Juan Carlos of Spain has announced his abdication after almost 40 years of ruling.
Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy has announced the abdication in the morning but did not mention the reasons behind it in his speech.
A government source, however, has said King Juan Carlos was stepping down for “personal reasons”.
King Juan Carlos of Spain has announced his abdication after almost 40 years of ruling
The king had been on the throne for almost 40 years. He took over after fascism in Spain came to an end with the death of General Franco in November 1975.
King Juan Carlos’ son Prince Felipe – who is 45 – will succeed him.
In his televised address, King Juan Carlos said his abdication was motivated by “a drive for renewal, to overcome and correct mistakes and open the way to a decidedly better future”.
King Juan Carlos said he made the decision to abdicate in January, when he turned 76.
Juan Carlos expressed gratitude to the Spanish people, and said the country had enjoyed a long period of peace, stability and progress.
The king said he made his decision “with great emotion”.
At the end of the relatively short speech, King Juan Carlos thanked his wife, Queen Sofia.
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Spain’s PM Mariano Rajoy has announced the abdication of King Juan Carlos.
King Juan Carlos of Spain, who is 76, has ruled since 1975, taking over after the death of dictator Francisco Franco.
The king’s son, Crown Prince Felipe, 45, will take over the throne.
King Juan Carlos of Spain has ruled since 1975, taking over after the death of dictator Francisco Franco (photo Reuters)
For much of his reign, King Juan Carlos was seen as one of the world’s most popular monarchs, but recently many Spaniards have lost confidence in him.
His reputation has been tarnished by a long-running corruption investigation into his daughter and her husband.
Support for the king fell further when it was discovered he had been on a lavish elephant hunting trip to Botswana in the middle of Spain’s financial crisis.
Mariano Rajoy said the king was stepping down for personal reasons. His health is failing and he has had a number of hip operations in recent years.
The prime minister said King Juan Carlos had been a “tireless defender of our interests”.
“I’m convinced this is the best moment for change,” he added.
Mariano Rajoy said ministers would hold a special meeting on the issue.
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Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium has been sworn in as the new king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II.
Prince Philippe, an Oxford- and Stanford-educated and trained air force pilot, took the oath as the country’s seventh king in a ceremony in parliament.
To warm applause, King Philippe, 53, promised to uphold the constitution.
Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.
One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.
In his final address before signing a legislative act to step down, 79-year-old King Albert said his country must remain a “source of inspiration” to Europe.
His resignation on the grounds of ill-health came after nearly 20 years on the throne and was timed to coincide with Belgium’s national day.
He stressed his wish that Belgium – split between the Dutch-speaking north and the French south – remained united.
In a colorful ceremony topped off by trumpet fanfare and cannon-fire, Philippe took his oath in the country’s three official languages – Dutch, French and German.
Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium has been sworn in as the new king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II
This was a reminder of the delicate political task that awaits him – trying to mediate across the divide between French-speaking Wallonia and Dutch-speaking Flanders, where support for independence has been rising fast.
Flag-waving supporters gathered in the midday sun waiting for their new king and his wife, Mathilde, to greet them from the balcony of the nearby royal palace.
“The new king is a bit of history,” said Xavier De Graef, draped in the red, yellow and black of the Belgian tricolor.
“That doesn’t happen very often so we wanted to be here,” Xavier De Graef, from French-speaking Liege, told Reuters news agency.
But not everyone was celebrating.
The far-right separatist Vlaams Belang party boycotted the swearing-in ceremony.
Meanwhile, Jan Jambon, parliamentary head of the N-VA party that wants Dutch-speaking Flanders to break away from Belgium and favors a republic, said the occasion “leaves me cold”.
In the abdication ceremony at the royal palace in Brussels, King Albert monarch told his son: “You have all the emotional and intellectual qualities to serve our country well.”
He thanked an audience of some 250 dignitaries and political leaders “for all that you have achieved during my reign”.
Ex-king Albert also thanked his wife, Paola, for the support she had given him during his reign, and was in turn thanked by PM Elio Di Rupo for his service to his country.
Elio Di Rupo holds the political power in the 183-year-old parliamentary democracy.
Albert II then embraced his son and signed the official abdication papers, ending his reign.
King Albert exercised his authority in mediating between political leaders on the formation of a government during the 2010-2011 parliamentary stalemate, when Belgium was left without a government for 541 days after elections failed to find a clear winner.
Tensions between the Dutch-speaking and French communities sometimes run high, and the issue has brought down several governments, creating frequent political instability.
Respect for the royal family, though, is one of the few factors that crosses the communal divide.
King Albert’s abdication comes only three months after Queen Beatrix of the neighboring Netherlands vacated the Dutch throne in favor of her son Willem-Alexander.
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King Albert II of Belgium is about to formally abdicate in favor of his son Crown Prince Philippe.
In his final address as king on Saturday, King Albert, 79, urged Belgians to give his 53-year-old son “your support”.
King Albert also stressed that his wish was that Belgium – split between the Flemish-speaking north and the French south – remained united.
Earlier this month, the monarch said he was no longer well enough to carry on.
“Give the future King Philippe and the future Queen Mathilde your active participation and your support,” King Albert said in his address.
“They make a great couple serving our country and they enjoy my full confidence,” said the monarch, who will resign on Belgium’s national day – after nearly 20 years on the throne.
The future King Philippe and the future Queen Mathilde of Belgium
Philippe, the Oxford- and Stanford-educated prince, will then become Belgium’s seventh king.
He has also trained as an air force pilot.
Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.
One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.
King Albert exercised his authority in mediating between political leaders on the formation of a government during the 2010-2011 parliamentary stalemate, when Belgium was left without a government for 541 days after elections failed to find a clear winner.
Tensions between the Flemish and French communities sometimes run high, and the issue has brought down several governments, creating frequent political instability.
Respect for the royal family, though, is one of the few factors that cross the communal divide.
King Albert’s abdication comes only three months after Queen Beatrix of the neighboring Netherlands vacated the Dutch throne in favor of her son Willem-Alexander.
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King Albert II of the Belgians has announced his abdication.
In a national televised address, King Albert, 79, said he would step down in favor of his son Crown Prince Philippe, 53, on July 21st, Belgium’s national day.
The monarch said his health was no longer good enough to fulfill his duties, and he would step down after nearly 20 years on the throne.
He is the first of Belgium’s line of six monarchs to abdicate.
“I realize that my age and my health are no longer allowing me to carry out my duties as I would like to,” King Albert said.
“Prince Philippe is well prepared to succeed me.”
King Albert met the Belgian government’s cabinet earlier on Wednesday to inform them of his decision, Belgian state TV reported.
King Albert II of the Belgians has announced his abdication
King Albert was sworn in as the sixth king of the Belgians on 9 August 1993, following the death of his brother, King Baudouin at the age of 62.
After he succeeded his brother, King Albert became embroiled in a major royal scandal when he was alleged to be the father of an out-of-wedlock daughter, Delphine Boel, and suffered a crisis in his marriage with Queen Paola.
That issue came to the fore again this spring when Delphine Boel opened court proceedings to prove she was the king’s daughter. There is some speculation in the media that this may have influenced his decision to abdicate.
Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.
One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.
King Albert exercised his authority in mediating between political leaders on the formation of a government during the 2010-2011 parliamentary stalemate, when Belgium was left without a government for 541 days after elections failed to find a clear winner.
Tensions between the two main language communities of Flemish and French sometimes run high, and the issue has brought down several governments, creating frequent political instability.
Respect for the royal family, though, is one of the few factors that cross the communal divide.
King Albert’s announcement comes only three months after Queen Beatrix of the neighboring Netherlands vacated the Dutch throne in favor of her son Willem-Alexander.
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Pope Emeritus Benedict has returned to the Vatican, two months after becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years.
The former pope was flown by helicopter from the Castel Gandolfo papal summer residence to live permanently in Vatican City.
Greeted by Pope Francis as he arrived, Benedict was driven the short distance to his new accommodation.
Ex-Pope Benedict, 86, was last seen in public on March 23 and there has been speculation about his health.
Observers said at the time he appeared more frail than when he stepped down on February 28.
However, Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said this week that Emeritus Pope Benedict was not ill.
Pope Emeritus Benedict has returned to the Vatican, two months after becoming the first pontiff to resign in 600 years
Hours after his arrival, the Vatican issued a photograph of Benedict shaking hands with Pope Francis. However, unlike his departure from the Vatican, there was no live TV coverage of his return.
Benedict will live in the converted Mater Ecclesiae convent just behind St Peter’s Basilica, with his personal secretary, Georg Gaenswein.
The building, described as “small but well equipped” by Federico Lombardi, includes an attached chapel, a library and a study.
There is also a guest room available for when his older brother, Georg Ratzinger, visits.
The Vatican said Pope Francis welcomed Benedict “with great and fraternal cordiality”.
The two then held a “brief moment of prayer” in Benedict’s chapel.
Benedict will now dedicate himself to a life of private prayer in the service of the Church, according to the Vatican.
His arrival heralds an unprecedented era of a former pope living close to his successor at the Vatican.
But at the time of his abdication, Benedict suggested he would not try influence his successor, saying he would live out the rest of his days “hidden from the world”.
At a meeting in March with Pope Francis, he also repeated “unconditional reverence and obedience” to his successor.
When he resigned, Pope Benedict cited his advanced age as the reason, saying he no longer had the strength for “an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry”.
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Willem-Alexander has been sworn in as king of the Netherlands in an enthronement ceremony at Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) following the abdication of Queen Beatrix today.
Willem-Alexander became the country’s first king since 1890 when his 75-year-old mother signed the abdication deed earlier on Tuesday after 33 years on the throne.
Huge crowds of orange-clad partygoers are in Amsterdam to pay tribute.
Now known as Princess Beatrix, the former queen maintained a recent Dutch tradition of monarch’s handing over power to a new generation.
Wearing the royal mantle, the new king swore to uphold the constitution at a colorful enthronement ceremony in the Nieuwe Kerk, a decommissioned church, before a joint session of the Dutch parliament.
“I swear that I shall defend and preserve the independence and territory of the state with all my powers,” he said.
“That I shall protect the general and individual freedom and rights of all my subjects and shall use all available means granted to me by law for preserving and promoting general and individual prosperity as I befitting of a good king…. So help me God almighty.”
Crowds in the square outside cheered as the announcement of his inauguration was made from a balcony overlooking the square amid trumpet fanfare.
In the evening, the royal family will take part in a water pageant.
Willem-Alexander has been sworn in as king of the Netherlands in an enthronement ceremony at Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk
Queen Beatrix had announced her intention to stand down in January, saying her son Willem-Alexander was ready to reign and that it was time for the throne to be held by “a new generation”.
She formally relinquished the throne at a short ceremony in the Royal Palace on Tuesday, signing a statement transferring the monarchy to Prince Willem-Alexander “in accordance with the statutes and the constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands”.
There were huge cheers from the crowds outside in Dam Square, who were watching the ceremony on giant television screens, as she, her son and his wife Maxima – a 41-year-old Argentine-born investment banker – signed the deed of abdication.
Shortly afterwards, the three royals emerged on a balcony above the square.
The visibly emotional Princess Beatrix told the crowds: “I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander.”
King Willem-Alexander thanked mother for “33 moving and interesting years”, saying he and the public and people in Dutch overseas territories were “intensely grateful” to her.
The three then held hands as the national anthem was played, before the new king and queen’s three young daughters were brought out to wave at the crowds.
The royalcouple’s eldest daughter, 9-year-old Catharina-Amalia, has become Princess of Orange and is now first-in-line to the throne.
Many international royals and high-ranking dignitaries are taking part in the events, including the UK’s Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain and Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and his wife.
Willem-Alexander has said he wants to “be a king that can bring society together, representative and encouraging in the 21st Century”.
He has said he does not expect to be called “his majesty,” saying people can address him “as they wish”.
King Willem-Alexander is the seventh monarch from the House of Orange-Nassau, which has ruled the Netherlands since the early 19th Century.
Under Dutch law, the monarch has few powers and the role is considered ceremonial.
He or she is expected to be politically impartial, co-sign acts of parliament, help with the formation of new governments and to undertake state visits.
King Willem-Alexander has become not only the monarch of the Netherlands but also the Dutch Caribbean territories of Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten. He holds several military titles but requested an honorable discharge before his accession.
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 71st birthday, and her grandmother Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948 at the age of 68.
Queen Beatrix 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 February last year her second son, Prince Friso, was struck by an avalanche in Austria and remains in a coma.
Abdication day in the Netherlands:
- 10:00 local time – Queen Beatrix signs the act of abdication at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam
- 10:30 – the former queen, now Princess Beatrix, and the new King Willem-Alexander appear on the palace balcony, with new Queen Maxima
- 14:00 – King Willem-Alexander is sworn in at the Nieuwe Kerk
- 19:30 – performance of The Song for the King followed by a water pageant
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Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has abdicated and handed the throne to her son Prince Willem-Alexander.
Queen Beatrix, 75, signed the instrument of abdication in Amsterdam after 33 years on the throne.
Crown Prince Willem-Alexander has now become the country’s first king since 1890.
Huge crowds of orange-clad partygoers are in Amsterdam to pay tribute to the popular queen, who maintained a recent Dutch tradition to hand over to a new generation.
Queen Beatrix announced her intention to stand down in January, saying her son was ready to reign and that it was time for the throne to be held by “a new generation”.
The Queen formally relinquished throne at a short ceremony in the Royal Palace on Tuesday, signing a statement which read: “I now withdraw from my office of Queen of the Netherlands, and the monarchy will now be transferred to my eldest son, Willem-Alexander.”
There were huge cheers from the crowds outside, watching on giant screens in Dam Square, as Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife Princess Maxima signed the deed.
Shortly after, the three royals emerged on a balcony above Dam Square.
Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife Princess Maxima signed the deed
King Willem-Alexander thanked his mother for “33 moving and interesting years”, saying he and the Dutch public and people in Dutch overseas territories were “intensely grateful” to her.
The three then held hands on the balcony as the national anthem was played, before the new king and queen’s three young daughters were brought out to wave at the crowds.
Willem-Alexander will later be officially sworn at the Nieuwe Kerk, before a joint session of the Dutch parliament.
His wife Maxima, a 41-year-old Argentine-born investment banker, will become queen consort.
In the evening, the royal family will take part in a water pageant.
The ceremonies will be attended by other invited royals and high-ranking dignitaries, including Britain’s Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain and Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and his wife.
About a million visitors were set to pour into Amsterdam, and street parties are taking place across the nation.
On Monday, Queen Beatrix thanked the nation, saying the people’s devotion had given her the strength to carry on during her 33-year reign.
“Without your heart-warming and encouraging displays of affection, the burdens, which certainly have existed, would have weighed heavily,” she said.
Paying tribute to her late husband Prince Claus, who died in 2002, she said he had helped modernize the House of Orange.
“Perhaps history will bear out that the choice of my partner was my best decision,” said the monarch, who is known affectionately as Queen Bea.
She said hereditary authority of itself did not give substance to a contemporary monarchy; rather this was earned through “the will to serve the country”.
Willem-Alexander is well-prepared for the task ahead of him and will stand above party and group interests, she said.
Prince Willem-Alexander has already said he wants to “be a king that can bring society together, representative and encouraging in the 21st Century”.
“People can address me as they wish because then they can feel comfortable.”
Queen Beatrix is the sixth monarch from the House of Orange-Nassau, which has ruled the Netherlands since the early 19th Century.
Correspondents say she is extremely popular with most Dutch people, but her abdication was widely expected and 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 71st birthday, and her grandmother Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948 at the age of 68.
Queen Beatrix 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 February last year her second son, Prince Friso, was struck by an avalanche in Austria and remains in a coma.
Abdication day in the Netherlands
- 10:00 local time – Queen Beatrix signs the act of abdication at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam
- 10:30 – the former queen, now Princess Beatrix, and the new King Willem-Alexander appear on the palace balcony, with new Queen Maxima
- 14:00 – King Willem-Alexander to be sworn in at the Nieuwe Kerk
- 19:30 – performance of The Song for the King followed by a water pageant
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Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has made a farewell national address thanking the Dutch people one day before her abdication and investiture of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander.
The queen thanked the Dutch people for their “heart-warming displays of affection” and also paid tribute to her late husband, Prince Claus.
Queen Beatrix was also attending a sumptuous gala dinner in her honor at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.
She has been head of state since 1980, when her mother, Queen Juliana, abdicated.
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has made a farewell national address thanking the Dutch people one day before her abdication
In her televised address, Queen Beatrix said that the people’s devotion had given her the strength to carry on.
“Without your heart-warming and encouraging displays of affection, the burdens, which certainly have existed, would have weighed heavily.”
Paying tribute to her late husband, Prince Claus, who died in 2002, the queen said he had helped modernize the House of Orange.
“Perhaps history will bear out that the choice of my partner was my best decision.”
Monday evening’s gala dinner was being attended by her family and other invited royals and high-ranking dignitaries.
Earlier on Monday, Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander, 46, his future queen Maxima, 41, and their three children took part in a final dress rehearsal for his investiture at Amsterdam’s Nieuwe Kerk.
Willem-Alexander will become the Netherlands’ first king since Willem III, who died in 1890.
Queen Beatrix is the sixth monarch from the House of Orange-Nassau, which has ruled the Netherlands since the early 19th Century.
Correspondents say she is extremely popular with most Dutch people, but her abdication was widely expected and 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 71st birthday, and her grandmother Wilhelmina abdicated in 1948 at the age of 68.
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 February last year her second son, Prince Friso, was struck by an avalanche in Austria and remains in a coma.
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