Dutch Queen passes baton to her son

The generational change in the House of Orange-Nassau gave the Netherlands a moment of celebration and pageantry as the nation of nearly 17 million struggles through a lengthy recession brought on by the European economic crisis.

Visibly emotional, the much-loved Beatrix ended her reign in a nationally televised signing ceremony as thousands of orange-clad people cheered outside. Millions more watched on television.

Willem-Alexander gripped his mother’s hand and looked briefly into her eyes after they both signed the abdication document in the Royal Palace in Amsterdam.

Beatrix looked close to tears as she then appeared on a balcony overlooking some 20,000 of her subjects. “I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander,” she told the cheering crowd.

Moments later, in a striking symbol of the generational shift, she left the balcony and Willem-Alexander, his wife and three daughters – the children in matching yellow dresses and headbands – waved to the crowd.

The former queen becomes Princess Beatrix and her son becomes the first Dutch
king since Willem III died in 1890.

The 46-year-old father of three’s popular Argentine-born wife became Queen Maxima and their eldest daughter, Catharina-Amalia, who attended the ceremony wearing a yellow dress, became Princess of Orange and first in line to the throne.

Els Nederstigt, 38, said she got up at 5:30 am to travel to Amsterdam and sat on a camping stool close to the Royal Palace wearing an orange cowboy hat and tiara.

“It’s a special moment. I was a very small girl when Beatrix came to the throne so this is the first change in the monarchy I can really experience,” she said.

The square was overwhelmingly orange, but one blue and white Argentine flag was held up in front of the palace.