Congratulations, Netherlands! You just got yourself a new king. In case you don’t follow the royal families or Europe, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands announced her abdication a few days ago, and her son, the crown-prince Willem-Alexander, has become the new king. I’m not going to try to explain everything that just happened, so I’ll let People Magazine do it for me while I just enjoy these photos.

Willem-Alexander became the first Dutch king in more than a century Tuesday as his mother, Beatrix, abdicated after 33 years as queen. The generational change in the House of Orange-Nassau gave the Netherlands a moment of celebration, pageantry and brief respite as this trading nation of nearly 17 million struggles through a lengthy recession brought on by the European economic crisis.

Visibly emotional, the much-loved Beatrix ended her reign in a nationally televised signing ceremony as thousands of orange-clad people cheered outside. Millions more were expected to watch on television.

King Willem-Alexander, who became the youngest monarch in Europe, gripped his mother’s hand and looked briefly into her eyes after they both signed the abdication document in the Royal Palace on downtown Amsterdam’s Dam Square.

Beatrix looked close to tears as she then appeared on a balcony, decked out with tulips, roses and oranges, overlooking some 20,000 of her subjects.

“I am happy and grateful to introduce to you your new king, Willem-Alexander,” she told the cheering crowd, which chanted: “Bea bedankt” (“Thanks Bea.”)

Moments later, in a striking symbol of the generational shift, she left the balcony and King Willem-Alexander, his wife and three daughters — the children in matching yellow dresses and headbands — waved to the crowd.

“Dear mother, today you relinquished the throne. 33 moving and inspiring years. We are intensely, intensely grateful to you,” the new king said.

The former queen becomes Princess Beatrix and her son becomes the first Dutch king since Willem III died in 1890.

The 46-year-old king’s popular Argentine-born wife became Queen Maxima and their eldest of three daughters, Catharina-Amalia, who attended the ceremony wearing a yellow dress, became Princess of Orange and first in line to the throne.

Willem-Alexander has said he wants to be a 21st century king who unites and encourages his people and will not be a “protocol fetishist,” but a king who puts his people at ease.

[From People]

I read a story in Time Magazine (I think) several years ago about how the Dutch people were extremely fractured politically, but the only thing any Dutch person could agree on was that they loved their Queen. She was a political necessity, a unifying, patriotic figure. I hope it doesn’t go to hell with Willem-Alexander, but it seems like they handled the voluntary abdication the right way.

Incidentally, I just rewatched The Queen over the weekend (I love that movie) and I was struck yet again by the idea/truth that Queen Elizabeth will probably never abdicate. It’s just not how she operates, it’s not her frame of mind. She will reign until her last breath, and considering her mother lived to be 101, I’d say Queen Liz (now aged 87) will be Queen for at least another decade.

I’m including photos from the introduction of King Willem-Alexander, plus photos from the coronation. Crown Princess Victoria and Crown Prince Daniel of Sweden were there! Also there: Crown Princess Laetitia of Spain, Crown Prince Felipe of Spain, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Photos courtesy of WENN.