Dutch Queen Beatrix Announces Abdication To Turn Over The Throne To Her Eldest Son

Dutch Queen Beatrix poses for a photographer prior or shortly after announcing her April 30, 2013, abdication in a prerecorded speech in The Hague, Netherlands, Monday Jan. 28, 2013. Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander. <AP Photo/RVD, HO>

In this Sept. 21, 2010 file photo Dutch Queen Beatrix, right, and Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander, left, wave to wellwishers from the balcony of Royal Palace Noordeinde after the Queen officially opened the new parliamentary year in The Hague, Netherlands. The Dutch Royal House says Queen Beatrix will deliver a nationally televised speech on Monday, Jan. 28, 2013 and speculation is growing that the popular monarch will announce she is to abdicate in favor of Crown Prince Willem Alexander. <AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File>