Inauguration of Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, 1980

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The Accession of Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands on this day in 1980, after her mother, Queen Juliana, signed the Instrument of Abdication at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, which made her daughter the Queen, and herself a Princess. Afterwards, the new Queen and Prince Claus waved to the crowds in Dam Square from the Balcony of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam, where they were joined by the new Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard.

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In the afternoon, after the arrival of the Royal Family and Royal Guests, Queen Beatrix (wearing the Pearl Button Tiara and Military William Order) and Prince Claus processed into the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam, for the Inauguration Ceremony, when she was sworn in a Queen of the Netherlands and the Dutch Caribbean territories of Curacao, Aruba and Sint Maarten.

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 Queen…. So help me God almighty.”

In addition to the Dutch Royal Family, Royal Guests in attendance included the Prince of Wales, Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja of Norway, Princess Benedikte of Denmark and Prince Richard, Prince Albert and Princess Paola of Belgium, Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Princess Christina of Sweden, Princess Maha Chakri of Thailand, Infanta Pilar of Spain, the Crown Prince of Morocco, and Prince and Princess Takamatsu of Japan. The Inauguration Ceremony was followed by a Concert on the Canals of Amsterdam and a Gala Dinner at the Royal Palace of Amsterdam.

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One thought on “Inauguration of Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands, 1980

  1. I can’t believe it’s been 40 years already! I was a young woman when it happened and I remember it as if it were yesterday. So many things have happened since this event, and that is the paradox for me, that it seems a long time ago at the same time that it feels a short time ago! Queen Beatrix was an excellent queen to the Dutch and she always found the support she needed in her work from her husband, Prince Claus. I’ve always had a soft spot for him because I think he was a very decent man, a good husband, and excellent father.

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