Inauguration of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima

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Dutch Royal Family, Holland, King Willem-Alexander

The crown was created in 1840 for King Willem II, by Bonebakker Jewellers of Amsterdam. It is fashioned from silver plated with gold. It consists of eight arches topped with an orb and cross. There were originally 72 fake pearls on the arches of the crown, but 24 were removed in 1898 and the holes filled with small gold studs. There are no precious stones in the crown, the gems are made from coloured glass backed by foil.

Guards watch over the regalia (Crown, Sceptre, Globus Cruciger and Sword of State) at the credence-table prior to the inauguration of HM King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands .

Two thrones are prepared prior to the inauguration of HM King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands at New Church on April 30, 2013 in Amsterdam

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands is being officially sworn in at a secular ceremony in the Nieuwe Kerk, a decommissioned church, before a joint session of the Dutch parliament.

“I swear that I shall defend and preserve the independence and territory of the state with all my powers.  That I shall protect the general and individual freedom and rights of all my subjects and shall use all available means granted to me by law for preserving and promoting general and individual prosperity as I befitting of a good king…. So help me God almighty.”

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

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Dutch Royal Family, Queen Beatrix, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, 30 April 1980. Reign: 30 April 1980-30 April 2013 (postcard, Diana Mandache collection)

In the Netherlands, Monarchs are not crowned but invested as heads of state. A new monarch assumes the royal prerogative as soon as his or her predecessor dies or abdicates. The Constitution stipulates that the new monarch must be sworn in and invested as soon as possible.

The official programme for the abdication and investiture will take place on 30 April 2013. Her Majesty the Queen will sign the Instrument of Abdication at the Royal Palace, Amsterdam. The investiture of His Majesty the King will then take place at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam. When Queen Beatrix abdicates, His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange will become King Willem-Alexander, and Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands will become Queen Máxima. [Source: Dutch Royal House]

Speech by HM Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, 28 January 2013

As you all know, in a few days I hope to celebrate my 75th birthday. I am thankful that I have been granted the opportunity to do so in good health. At the end of this year we shall mark the 200th anniversary of the foundation of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, an occasion that ushered in a new era in our history. The fact that these two special events coincide led me to decide to relinquish the throne this year. It seems to me to be an appropriate moment to take this step, which I have been considering for some time.

I have always regarded it as an exceptional privilege to have been able to dedicate a large part of my life to the service of our country and to have been able to discharge the duties of the monarchy as I was called to do. For many years Prince Claus was a great support to me in this task.

Throughout this time I have derived great satisfaction from such a fulfilling role. It is inspiring to feel close to people, to sympathise with them in times of sorrow and to share in times of joy and national pride. That has also been my experience in the Caribbean parts of our Kingdom, where I have always encountered great warmth and hospitality. So I am abdicating not because my duties are becoming too burdensome, but because I am convinced that it is time for the responsibility for our country to pass to a new generation. On 30 April this year, with the utmost confidence, I shall hand over the duties of the monarchy to my son, the Prince of Orange. He and Princess Máxima are fully prepared for their future role. They will serve our country with dedication, faithfully uphold the Constitution and use their many talents to discharge the duties of the monarchy in their own distinctive way.

I feel fortified by the knowledge that making way for my successor does not mean that I am taking my leave of you all. I hope still to have plenty of opportunities to meet many of you. I am deeply grateful to you for the trust that you have placed in me throughout the many rewarding years I have had the privilege of being your Queen.

Current line of succession to the throne

• The Queen
• The Prince of Orange
• Princess Catharina-Amalia
• Princess Alexia
• Princess Ariane
• Prince Constantijn
• Countess Eloise
• Count Claus-Casimir
• Countess Leonore
• Princess Margriet
• Prince Maurits
• Prince Bernhard

Holiday Season Card from Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania

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Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, Prince Nicholas of Romania, Prince Radu of Romania, Princess Margarita of Romania, Romanian Royal Family

With Best Wishes for Christmas and the New Year!

Queen Elisabeth II attends cabinet meeting, a first in peace time in more than 200 years

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British Royal Family, Queen Elizabeth II

Prime Minister David Cameron greets HM Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II makes historic visit to 10 Downing Street and sits with Prime Minister David Cameron at the UK government weekly cabinet meeting, 18 December, 2012.

Commemoration of 30 years since Queen-Mother Helen of Romania died

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King Michael of Romania, Queen Helen of Romania, Romanian Royal Family

Queen-Mother Helen of Romania at Savarsin, 1942

Queen Helen of Romania won world wide sympathy in the 1930s for the indignities she suffered at the hands of King Carol II, of which she divorced in 1928. She had to leave Romania after 1931, and see her son only a few weeks in a year.

Allowed to return in the country following the second ascension of King Michael, she became involved in charitable activities, was a Red Cross sustainer, and stood at her son’s side during official occasions. The Queen Mother was a staunch defender of Romania’s Jewish population in the dark years of fascism and the Holocaust, her contribution being recognized by Yad Vashem as a Righteous Among Nations. From January 1948, after the communist takeover, Queen Helen lived in exile in Florence and Lausanne, where she died on 28 November 1982. Diana M

H.M. King Michael of Romania celebrated in London 7-8 November 2012: Photographs

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Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, King Michael of Romania

HM King Michael I of Romania, Sir Gavin Arthur, HRH The Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, HRH Prince Radu of Romania, 7 November 2012/ courtesy of Mrs Daniela Jinga, the wife of the Ambassador of Romania to the UK

The Princess Sophie of Romania’s Birthday Anniversary

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Princess Sophie of Romania, Romanian Royal Family

HM Queen Anne of Romania holding her newborn baby girl HRH Princess Sophie of Romania. The Romanian & Greek royal families together at the royal palace in Athens, November 1957. (Romanian Royal Family Archive© published in “Patrie si Destin. Principesa Mostenitoare a Romaniei,” Diana Mandache, Litera, Bucharest 2012)

A very Happy Birthday to HRH Princess Sophie of Romania, 29 October 2012!

from Diana and Valentin Mandache

H.R.H. The Princess Sophie of Romania is the fourth daughter of King Michael of Romania. She goes by “Sophie de Roumanie” professionally. Princess Sophie studied Fine Arts at the University of North Carolina, Asheville, and Graphic Design and Photography at the Corcoran College of Art and Design in Washington, D.C.

King Ferdinand’s Coronation Robe (1922)

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King Ferdinand of Romania, Romanian Coronation

King Ferdinand’s Coronation Robe: of crimson velvet, embroidered with gold featuring emblems of the Romanian provinces and the royal coat of arms, trimmed with ermine; it was designed by Costin Petrescu.

Happy 16th Wedding Anniversary to HRH Princess Margarita of Romania & HRH Prince Radu

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Crown Princess Margarita of Romania, Prince Radu

Today Crown Princess Margarita of Romania and Prince Radu celebrate 16 years since their religious wedding ceremony, in Lausanne, at St. Gherassimos Orthodox church. The civil marriage took place previously in Versoix, on 24 July the same year.

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