Willem-Alexander becomes new Dutch king

By Associated Press
Published April 30, 2013 4:00am ET
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Willem-Alexander becomes new Dutch king
Dutch Princess Beatrix arrives with her granddaughters Alexia, Catharina-Amalia and Ariane, from left, at the Nieuwe Kerk or New Church in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, for the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander Tuesday April 30, 2013. Around a million people are expected to descend on the Dutch capital for a huge street party to celebrate the first new Dutch monarch in 33 years. (AP Photo/Toussaint Kluiters, Pool) | Toussaint Kluiters

AMSTERDAM (AP) — Millions of Dutch people dressed in orange flocked to celebrations around the Netherlands Tuesday in honor of a once-in-a-generation milestone for the country’s ruling House of Orange-Nassau: after a 33-year reign, Queen Beatrix abdicated in favor of her eldest son, Willem-Alexander.

At 46, King Willem-Alexander is the youngest monarch in Europe and the first Dutch king in 123 years, since Willem III died in 1890. Like Beatrix before him, Willem-Alexander has assumed the throne at a time of social strains and economic malaise.

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