Dutch Queen Beatrix has officially abdicated, which means that her oldest son Willem-Alexander and his wife Maxima are now officially King and Queen of The Netherlands and some islands in the Carribean!

From now on Beatrix is a princess again and King Willem-Alexander's eldest daughter Amalia is the first crown princess in Dutch history (when Beatrix' mother was Queen boys would still become King in favour of older sisters, hence her only having the title princess and not crown princess)

http://content.nos.nl/data/image/xxl.../30/501656.jpg (source ANP)
Pictured above are the new King and Queen. Maxima is wearing a royal blue design by Dutch designer Jan Taminiau, whose clothes have also been worn by Lady Gaga and Beyoncé. The tiara was a gift from King Willem III to his wife Queen Emma and the sapphire in the middle of the tiara was a gift from King Willem II to his wife Queen Anna.

To read more about it:
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/04/30/wo...html?hpt=hp_t1
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22348160

I hope everyone has a wonderful koninginnedag! I'm excited to see Maxima as queen but I'll really miss Beatrix

So nice of her to abdicate in favour of her son!

Here Elizabeth II is still going strong at 87

It depends on the country but you become a princess again in The Netherlands

How strange... I have to call her a Princess now.

The King, his Queen, their Princess and two other daughters.



Signing the abdication.





Amsterdam.

Maxima is wearing a dress from the Belgian fashion house Natan and it was designed by the owner Edouard Vermeulen. The fabric used was bought in Turkey by, then Queen, Beatrix, as a gift to Maxima

Amsterdam was my fave place
wanna go there.

Right now Maxima is wearing a flawless dress by Jan Taminiau

Maxima is gorgeous!

Maxima's dress was absolutely stunning

Congrats.

Why do you say "two other daughters?" They aren't princesses too?

OP updated with a picture of the new King and Queen. Maxima really did look gorgeous and she slayed every Hollywood celebrity out there that ever walked the red carpet

I just can't get over Maxima right now

I can't wait for the 'koningsvaart' because my dad works on one of the boats

I actually love these ceremonies.

Another great dress for Maxima. She really is slaying today.

Maxima was ******** on all our faves yesterday







I love all this tradition and pageantry tbh!