Today has been a huge in Dutch history as Queen Beatrix signed an abdication document that ushers in her son, Willem-Alexander as King. After 33-years of ruling the country, Beatrix felt it was time for a change and trusted the peoples’ fate in the very capable hands of her 46-year old son, as she herself will now be known simply as Princess Beatrix.
It was a moving and momentous ceremony that was nationally televised as 20,000 orange clad people cheered outside and waited for a balcony moment. Once outside Beatrix presented her son saying, “I’m happy and grateful to introduce you to your new king, Willem-Alexander.” After a moment together Beatrix went inside and left her son to wave to the crowd with his wife, Queen Maxima and the couple’s three daughters.
In attendance was Prince Charles who no doubt felt more than a tinge of bitterness and I’m sure that the irony of the situation was not lost on him either. He himself is next in line for the British Throne but it’s a seat that Queen Elizabeth is in no rush to give him. Charles has already made inappropriate jokes about Elizabeth hurrying up and dying so he can take over the British Monarchy. Over the years Charles has lost respect for his numerous errors of judgment and displays of bad character. Add to that the fact that his wife, Camilla Parker-Bowles, is disliked by everyone and well, Elizabeth is looking at other options to lead her country. At this point it seems far more likely that Prince William will ascend the throne next, as he has proven to be a strong and capable man with a popular and pregnant Kate Middleton backing him.
On days like this I have to wonder if Charles feels regret about the choices that he has made in his life. Was marrying Camilla the death blow in terms of his having the respect needed to be a popular King? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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