Royal Family of the Netherlands

King Carl XVI Gustaf and his wife Queen Silvia were in the Netherlands for a three-day official state visit.

Queen Beatrix, Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima were on a ten-day visit to the Caribbean part of the Kingdom of Netherlands.

Prince Claus died on Sunday Oct. 6, 2002 at age 76.
Dutch Queen Beatrix announced Monday that she will abdicate on April 30 after 33 years as head of state, clearing the way for her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, to become the nation's first king in more than a century.

The announcement comes just days before Beatrix's birthday, and she is already the oldest ever Dutch monarch: the pragmatic Dutch do not see being king or queen as a job for life. The nation also celebrates the 200th anniversary of its monarchy, the House of Orange, at the end of this year, Beatrix said.

Observers believe she remained on the throne for so long in part because of unrest in Dutch society as the country struggled to assimilate more and more immigrants, mainly Muslims from North Africa, and shifted away from its traditional reputation as one of the world's most tolerant nations.

The abdication also comes at a time of trial for Beatrix. This time a year ago she was struck by personal tragedy when the second of her three sons, Prince Friso, was left in a coma after being engulfed by an avalanche while skiing in Austria.

Queen Beatrix was the first ever member of the Dutch Royal Family to visit South Africa.