Beatrix of the Netherlands

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard van Oranje-Nassau) (born January 31, 1938), Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld, styled HM The Queen is the Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, having acceded to the throne in 1980.

Dutch Royal Family

On 30 April 1980, Beatrix became Queen of the Kingdom of the Netherlands when her mother abdicated. She approaches her role as Queen with more formality than Queen Juliana, and many admire her professionalism. While the Dutch Monarchy remains extremely popular, in recent times the Dutch media have openly criticized the royal family. The Dutch media has also published many "tabloid" stories, similar to the stories that have plagued the House of Windsor for decades. This change in attitude have some Dutch subjects viewing the monarchy as an ongoing "soap opera," rather than an institution that plays an important role in Dutch society. As a result, Beatrix's current challenge is to keep the Dutch monarchy modern, efficient, and most of all in tune with the wishes of the Dutch people.

Related Topics:
30 April - 1980 - Kingdom of the Netherlands - Queen Juliana - House of Windsor

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As Queen, Beatrix wields more power than most of Europe?s reigning monarchs. In domestic matters, she has little political say; however, in international relations, the Queen has much more latitude. It was once reported that she threatened to dismiss a cabinet minister if he turned down her request to open a Dutch embassy in Jordan.

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On 6 October 2002, Queen Beatrix's husband died after a long illness. A year and a half later, her mother passed away after a long battle with senile dementia, while her father succumbed to cancer in December 2004. These deaths garnered a massive outpouring of national grief.

Related Topics:
6 October - 2002 - Queen Beatrix's husband - Senile dementia - Cancer

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Beatrix is rarely quoted directly in the press, since the government information service (Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst) makes it a condition of interviews that she not be quoted. This rule was introduced shortly after her inauguration, reportedly to protect her from political complications that may arise from "off-the-cuff"

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remarks. It does not apply to her son Prince Willem-Alexander.

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On 8 February 2005, Beatrix received a rare honorary doctorate from Leiden University. In her acceptance speech she reflected on the monarchy and her own 25 years as Queen.

Related Topics:
8 February - Leiden University

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http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/NL/nieuws/nieuws.html?Toespraken/2223.html The speech was broadcast live.http://cgi.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/nos/nieuws/2005/februari/video/080205/beatrix_toespraak.wmv.

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It is not known if Beatrix will follow the example of her mother and grandmother and abdicate. Those closest to her have stated that she has never seriously talked about abdication.

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She has been a long-time member of the Club of Rome.

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On 19 April and 30 April 2005, she celebrated the 25th anniversary of her reign. She was interviewed on Dutch television, was offered a concert on Dam Square by the city of Amsterdam, and a celebration took place in The Hague, the country's seat of government.

Related Topics:
19 April - 30 April - Dam Square - Amsterdam - The Hague

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The Queen has three children, all sons:

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• Prince Willem-Alexander the Prince of Orange (born 1967)
• Prince Johan-Friso (born 1968)
• Prince Constantijn (born 1969)

Titles

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"Beatrix, by the Grace of God Queen of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, etc. etc. etc."

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The triple 'etc.' refers to the title Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld and the following titles formerly borne by the princes of Orange. These being dormant titles, they are retained in the masculine form.

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• Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen
• Count of Katzenelnbogen, Vianden, Diez, Spiegelberg, Buren, Leerdam, and Culemborg
• Viscount of Antwerp (now in Belgium)
• Baron of Breda, Diez, Beilstein, the town of Grave and the lands of Cuijk, IJsselstein, Cranendonk, Eindhoven, Liesveld, Herstal, Warneton, Arlay and Nozeroy
• Hereditary Lord and Seigneur of Ameland
• Lord of Besançon (now in France), Borculo, Breedevoort, Bütgenbach, Clundert, Daasburg, Geertruidenberg, Hooge en Lage Zwaluwe, 't Loo, Lichtenvoorde, Montfoort, Naaldwijk, Niervaart, Polanen, Steenbergen, Sint-Maartensdijk, Sankt Vith, Soest, Ter Eem, Turnhout, Willemstad, and Zevenbergen.

The Queen signs official documents "Beatrix" and is addressed as "Her Majesty".

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Prime Ministers of the Netherlands during The Queen's reign

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• Dries van Agt (1977-1982)
• Ruud Lubbers (1982-1994)
• Wim Kok (1994-2002)
• Jan Peter Balkenende (2002- )

Queen Beatrix International Airport in Oranjestad, Aruba is named after Queen Beatrix.

Related Topics:
Queen Beatrix International Airport - Oranjestad, Aruba

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See also Line of succession to the Dutch Throne

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