Dutch Queen Beatrix has abdicated in favour of her son, Prince Willem-Alexander, who will become king on April 30.

She said in a broadcast that she felt her son was ready to become King.

Queen Beatrix became the sixth monarch of the House of Orange in 1980 following the abdication of her mother, Queen Juliana, who reigned for 31 years.

Willem-Alexander was once the darling of Dutch tabloids because of his love of fast cars and women. Now the 45 year old father of three will become the first King of the Netherlands in more than a century.

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