Netherlands. transfer of the throne

last day of April was the last day of Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Back in late January, the Queen announced its decision to transfer the seat of the Netherlands and Curacao, Aruba, St. Maarten and Bonaire, his son, 46-year-old Prince of Orange Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand. Today, the Royal Palace Beatrix signed the act of abdication. And the prince became king, the first man on the Dutch throne in the past 123 years. His wife, Maxima, a native of Argentina, has become the new queen of the Netherlands. Changes in the ruling house aroused popular enthusiasm. About 25 thousand people gathered at the Dam Square in front of the Royal Palace to pay homage to the Queen 33 years of her reign and to welcome the new monarch. The next day, the day of the enthronement of Amsterdam City Hall expects about 800,000 people who flock to the capital to celebrate. In the Netherlands, there is no coronation ceremony. There is no state religion - a secular state - but because there is no head of the church, which would put the royal crown on her head. Therefore, instead of the coronation Come investiture - a secular ceremony, during which the crown, orb and scepter will be laid next to the Constitution on the altar, until the king comes into its own. From symbols of royal power directly to the monarch only ermine gown with silver lions used in the ceremony since 1815.