Investiture April 30th 2013
On January 28th Her Majesty the Queen announced that she is to abdicate the throne. On April 30th of this year she will hand over the responsibilities to her son, the Prince of Orange. The abdication of the Queen and the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander, the current Prince of Orange, will take place on April 30th, 2013 in Amsterdam.
Programme Outline: (local time Amsterdam, subject to change)
10.00-10.30
Abdication of Her Majesty the Queen in the Moseszaal of the Royal Palace Amsterdam. Those present will include the Presidents of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Council of Ministers for the Kingdom and members of the Royal Family, the governors and prime-ministers of Aruba, Curaçao and Sint Maarten.
The Queen will give a short address. The Director of the Queen’s Office will then read aloud the instrument of abdication to which the Queen will then give her assent by means of her signature. Finally the instrument of abdication will be signed by the witnesses.
10.30-10.50
His Majesty King Willem-Alexander, Her Majesty Queen Máxima and Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands appear on the balcony of the Royal Palace Amsterdam. Princess Beatrix and the King will both give a short address, after which the Wilhelmus will be played. Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange and Their Royal Highnesses Princess Alexia and Princess Ariane will then join their parents on the balcony.
13.30
Opening of the joint session of the States General, following the entry of the members of the States General, the States of Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten, the Council of Ministers for the Kingdom and the Council of State.
13.50
Princess Beatrix and other members of the Royal Family proceed to the Nieuwe Kerk.
14.00
The King and the main cortege proceed to the Nieuwe Kerk.
14.00-15.30
Swearing in and investiture of the King at the joint session of the two Houses of the States General in the Nieuwe Kerk. The King will deliver an address and be sworn in. The President of the joint session, Fred de Graaf, will deliver an address and make a solemn declaration, after which members of the States General and the States of Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten swear an oath or make an affirmation.
15.30
The King and his retinue proceed to the Royal Palace Amsterdam.
16.30-18.00
Reception for royal and foreign missions, dignitaries and members of the States General and the States of Aruba, Curaçao and St Maarten, Council of Ministers for the Kindom, the Council of State, governors and prime-ministers of Aruba, Curacao and Sint Maarten and the Corps Diplomatique in the Royal Palace Amsterdam.
19.30
The Song for the King will be performed in the presence of the King and Queen, prior to the water pageant. This will take place at the EYE Film Museum via a video link with Ahoy Rotterdam.
19.45-21.30
The King and Queen will take part in a water pageant with their daughters on the River IJ. They will sail from EYE Film Institute past the Oever Park and the ‘Kop van Java’. At several places along the route they will be treated to a festive programme, including a ‘mini Sail’.
21.30
Celebration, hosted by the Prime Minister on behalf of the Council of Ministers for the Kingdom.
Source: http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/globale-paginas/taalrubrieken/english/news
Argentina has scored two goals this year. First an Argentinean Pope and now a “knockout vivacious (enough said here as I might get in trouble) Argentinean Queen of the Netherlands with three beautiful children, all girls the eldest of which HRH Princess Amalia will be a future Queen.They have all visited Saba so many times and I have been involved with them all my life they are like family. And they will be visiting Saba in November which will be a first as the “Unspoiled Queen” will be hosting a Real King and Queen for the first time.
The Saba Islander 