Dutch Queen Beatrix expected to announce her abdication in televised speech

AMSTERDAM—Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will address the nation after Queen Beatrix’s speech on Monday evening, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.

Queen Beatrix, who turns 75 on Thursday, is expected to announce her abdication in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander, in a hastily called broadcast to the nation on Monday evening, Dutch media reported.

The Dutch Royal House says Beatrix will deliver a nationally televised speech this evening and speculation is growing that the popular monarch will announce she is to abdicate.

Beatrix has ruled the nation of 16 million for more than 32 years and would be succeeded by her eldest son, Crown Prince Willem-Alexander.

The Royal House announced Monday afternoon that the speech was recorded earlier in the day at Beatrix’s Huis ten Bosch palace on the outskirts of The Hague.

The announcement made no mention of the subject of the speech and the Royal House refused to comment further.