Photos: Willem-Alexander Becomes New Dutch King After Queen Beatrix Abdicates The Throne
April 30, 2013
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands arrives with his wife Queen Maxima for his inauguration ceremony on April 30, 2013 at Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519361187 )
Dutch King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and members of the royal household during the inauguration for King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands at Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013. LEX VAN LIESHOUT/AFP/Getty Images ( 519363069 )
Crown Princess Catharina-Amalia, (C), Princess Alexia (L) and Princess Ariane arrive at Nieuwe Kerk church before the religious crowning ceremony in Amsterdam April 30, 2013. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated on Tuesday, handing over to her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, who became the first King of the Netherlands in over 120 years. REUTERS/Paul Vreeker ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
People watch Queen Beatrix's abdication ceremony, handing over to her eldest son Willem-Alexander on a giant screen in Amsterdam's Dam Square April 30, 2013. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated on Tuesday, handing over to her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, who became the first King of the Netherlands in over 120 years. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is seen on a giant screen during his inauguration ceremony on April 30, 2013 at Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519361290 )
A woman cries as the new Dutch King Willem-Alexander succeeds his mother Queen Beatrix of Netherlands outside the Royal Palace in Amsterdam April 30, 2013. The Netherlands is celebrating Queen's Day on Tuesday, which will also mark the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. REUTERS/Paul Vreeker ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
Britain's Prince Charles of Wales and his wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall leave the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013 after attending the investiture of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519363054 )
Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium arrive at Nieuwe Kerk church before the religious crowning ceremony in Amsterdam April 30, 2013. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated on Tuesday, handing over to her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, who became the first King of the Netherlands in over 120 years. REUTERS/Paul Vreeker ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is seen on a video screen as he speaks at the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519361652 )
People celebrate the new Dutch King Willem-Alexander who succeeds his mother Queen Beatrix, in Amsterdam's Dam Square April 30, 2013. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated on Tuesday, handing over to her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, who became the first King of the Netherlands in over 120 years. REUTERS/Kevin Coombs ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad al Khalifa of Bahrain (L) arrive for a religious ceremony at Nieuwe Kerk church in Amsterdam April 30, 2013. The Netherlands is celebrating Queen's Day on Tuesday, which will also mark the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. REUTERS/Paul Vreeker ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
Members of the public gather in Dam Square in front of the Royal Palace in central Amsterdam as they wait for members of the royal family to appear as Queen Beatrix abdicates and hands the throne to her son Prince Willem-Alexander on April 30, 2013. CARL COURT/AFP/Getty Images ( 519360430 )
A general view of celebrations for the inauguration of King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands as Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicates on April 30, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images) ( 167788696 )
Prince Albert II of Monaco leaves the Nieuwe Kerk church in Amsterdam after the religious crowning cerminony April 30, 2013. The Netherlands is celebrating Queen's Day on Tuesday, which also marks the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. REUTERS/Toussaint Kluiters/POOL ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
Japan's Crown Prince Nahurito (R) and his wife Crown Princess Masako leave the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013 after attending the investiture of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519363029 )
Two girls wearing orange plastic crowns watch King Willem Alexander and Queen Beatrix broadcastt on giant screen at the Dam square during the Queen's abdication ceremony in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 30 April 2013. Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander became Europe's youngest monarch on Tuesday after his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated and his country hailed the avowedly 21st-century king with a massive, orange-hued party. EVERT ELZINGA/AFP/Getty Images ( 519359415 )
Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia leave the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013 after attending the investiture of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519362806 )
Choir of childrens sing in the Nieuwe Kerk church of Amsterdam during the religious crowning cerminony April 30, 2013. The Netherlands is celebrating Queen's Day on Tuesday, which also marks the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. REUTERS/Jasper Juinen/POOL ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and her husband Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven leave the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013 after attending the investiture of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519362914 )
People react as they watch as King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix sign the act of abdication outside the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tuesday April 30, 2013. Around a million people are expected to descend on the Dutch capital for a huge street party to celebrate the first new Dutch monarch in 33 years. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Netherlands New King )
A woman drinks after watching King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix sign the act of abdication outside the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tuesday April 30, 2013. Around a million people are expected to descend on the Dutch capital for a huge street party to celebrate the first new Dutch monarch in 33 years. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Netherlands New King )
Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel leave the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013 after attending the investiture of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. PATRIK STOLLARZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 519362948 )
Denmark's Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary arrive at the Nieuwe Kerk or New Church in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, prior to the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander Tuesday April 30, 2013. Around a million people are expected to descend on the Dutch capital for a huge street party to celebrate the first new Dutch monarch in 33 years. (AP Photo/Michel Kooren, Pool) ( Netherlands New King )
People, one of them holding a picture of Princess Beatrix, react as King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Princess Beatrix sign the act of abdication outside the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, Tuesday April 30, 2013. Around a million people are expected to descend on the Dutch capital for a huge street party to celebrate the first new Dutch monarch in 33 years. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) ( Netherlands New King )
Princess Letizia of Spain and Prince Felipe of Spain attend the inauguration ceremony of HM King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands and HM Queen Maxima of the Netherlands at New Church on April 30, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Robin Utrecht - Pool/Getty Images) ( 167796652 )
Thailand's Crown Prince Vajiralongkorn (R) and Princess Sirindhorn await the start of the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander at Nieuwe Kerk or New Church in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013. MICHAEL KOOREN/AFP/Getty Images ( 519361420 )
Emirati businessman Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed al Nahyan (L) attends the inauguration of HM King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands and HRH Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands at New Church on April 30, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Photo by Michael Kooren-Pool/Getty Images) ( 167794830 )
A woman celebrates the new Dutch King Willem-Alexander who succeeds his mother Queen Beatrix, in Amsterdam's Dam Square April 30, 2013. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands abdicated on Tuesday, handing over to her eldest son, Willem-Alexander, who became the first King of the Netherlands in over 120 years. REUTERS/Cris Toala Olivares ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (L) signs her name to the Act of Abdication as her son Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his wife Princess Maxima of the Netherlands (R) watches during the abdication ceremony in the Moseszaal at the Royal Palace on April 30, 2013 in Amsterdam. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is abdicating the throne after a 33 year reign and hands the throne to her son Prince Willem-Alexander who will be sworn in later at the Nieuwe Kerk ahead of a joint session of parliament. (Photo by Bart Maat - Pool/Getty Images) ( 167785899 )
Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands signs Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands' Act of Abdication during a ceremony held at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013. JERRY LAMPEN/AFP/Getty Images ( 519357877 )
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands (L) and her son Prince Willem-Alexander attend the Abdication ceremony at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013. BART MAAT/AFP/Getty Images ( 519360416 )
The signed act of abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is seen after the official meeting at the Royal Palace in Amsterdam April 30, 2013. The Netherlands is celebrating Queen's Day on Tuesday, which also marks the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. REUTERS/Pool ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
Netherlands Globus cruciger is put on place before the religious cerimony at the Nieuwe Kerk church in Amsterdam April 30, 2013. The Netherlands is celebrating Queen's Day on Tuesday, which also marks the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. REUTERS/Robin Utrecht/Pool ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )
A guard stands guard by the crown laid on a velvet cushion inside the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) in Amsterdam on April 30, 2013 during the last preparations for the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images ( 519360228 )
Dutch Princess Beatrix, right, speaks with Princess Catharina-Amalia at the Nieuwe Kerk or New Church in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, prior to the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander, Tuesday April 30, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Kooren, Pool) ( Netherlands New King )
A picture released on April 30, 2013 by the Dutch Royal House (RVD) shows The Netherlands King Willem Alexander (R) kissing his mother Queen Beatrix while his wife Maxima watches on a balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. The Netherlands' Willem-Alexander became Europe's youngest monarch on Tuesday after his mother, queen Beatrix, abdicated and his country hailed the avowedly 21st-century king with a massive, orange-hued party. JEROEN VAN DER MEYDE/AFP/Getty Images ( 519361449 )
King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, his wife Queen Maxima (R) and their children Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange (front, L), Princess Ariane (front, R) and Princess Alexia (C) wave on April 30, 2013 to the crowd gathered on Dam Square from the balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam, following the official abdication of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. ROBIN UTRECHT/AFP/Getty Images ( 519360405 )
Princess Beatrix of Netherlands (C), her son, Dutch King Willem-Alexander (L) and his wife Queen Maxima wave to the crowd from the balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam April 30, 2013. The Netherlands is celebrating Queen's Day on Tuesday, which will also mark the abdication of Queen Beatrix and the investiture of her eldest son Willem-Alexander. REUTERS/Paul Vreeker ( DUTCH-MONARCHY/ )