Did you know that the best time see tulips (in the Netherlands) is in mid-April? Every year between mid-March to mid-May, the Keukenhof (literally ‘Kitchen Garden’ in Dutch) in Lisse is opened to the public with a different theme. This … Continue reading
Today’s post is in honour of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who is celebrating her 75th birthday! As you may or may not know, the Danish Royal Family is one of my two favourite royal families in Europe (the other being … Continue reading
Feeling drained of the arts in your life? Craving for more history and culture? Are you in dire need to travel but are currently unable to leave? Or perhaps the weather is too miserable outside to leave home. Try (free) … Continue reading
Earlier this year, my Dutch friend asked me to go to the Netherlands so that we may partake in the Queen’s Day festivities and so that I may witness the investiture of the Netherlands’ first king since 1890! As I’d already missed the Royal Wedding in 2011 and the Diamond Jubilee in 2012, I was aching to go to the Netherlands but I knew it would not be likely as I still need to work and save up. Since the abdication and investiture took place from last night to this morning in my time zone, I’ve just spent the last few hours looking at as many photos as I can. I am not feeling well today so I have little energy to write a post. Instead, please let me share some links in case you missed out on yesterday’s and today’s festivities.
I liked how the little princesses matched in the same blue fabric but wore different styles. My favourite was Princess Ariane’s. 🙂 In one photo, if they rearranged the King and Queen, each little princess would resemble the adult behind her. Princess Catharina-Amalia resembles her father, Princess Alexia her mother, and Princess Ariane her grandmother!
So there you go, a very brief post on the Dutch royalty in April! 🙂
Lang leve Koning Willem-Alexander!
NEW Update: Starting next year, 2014, King’s Day will be celebrated on 27 April, King Willem-Alexander’s birthday!
Today, on the 28th of January, in history marks:
Today, it was just announced that, after 33 years on the throne, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will abdicate this year in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander. The Queen, who will be turning 75 on 31 January, is the oldest reigning monarch in the Netherlands. She has reigned since 30 April 1980, after the abdication of her mother, Queen Juliana. According to royal historian, Carolyn Harris, there has not been a Dutch king since 1890! Prince Willem-Alexander will become king on 30 April, which is Queen’s Day in the Netherlands. You may read her [Google-] translated speech from 28 Jan 2013 here and watch her abdication video here.
English: Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands in Vries Français : La reine Beatrix des Pays-Bas à Vries. Nederlands: Koningin Beatrix der Nederlanden in Vries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Facts about Queen Beatrix:
Facts about Prince Willem-Alexander (Future King of the Netherlands):
Facts about Princess Máxima (Future Queen of the Netherlands):
Facts about Princess Catharina-Amalia (Heiress Apparent to the throne):
I hope Queen Beatrix will have a peaceful last few months on the throne before she passes on her reign to her son. 🙂 She deserves her rest now!
The Lady and the Rose 