Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands
Willem-Alexander (Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand; born 27 April 1967), is the King of the Netherlands.
| Willem-Alexander | |||||
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_Portrait.jpeg) Willem-Alexander, 2024 | |||||
| King of the Netherlands | |||||
| 30 April 2013 – present | |||||
| Predecessor | Beatrix | ||||
| Heiress apparent | Catharina-Amalia | ||||
| Prime Minister | Mark Rutte Dick Schoof | ||||
| Born | 27 April 1967 Utrecht, Netherlands | ||||
| Spouse | Máxima Zorreguieta | ||||
| Issue Detail | Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange Princess Alexia Princess Ariane | ||||
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| House | Orange-Nassau | ||||
| Father | Claus von Amsberg | ||||
| Mother | Beatrix of the Netherlands | ||||
| Religion | Protestant | ||||
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Extended royal family
Princess Irene
Princess Margriet *
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| * Member of the Dutch royal house |
Willem Alexander was born at University Medical Center Utrecht in Utrecht, He is the eldest child of Princess Beatrix and Prince Claus. He has been the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He served in the Dutch military. He studied history at Leiden University.
King Willem-Alexander is interested in international water management issues and sports. He married Máxima Zorreguieta Cerruti in 2002. They have three daughters: Princess Catharina-Amalia (born 2003), Princess Alexia (born 2005), and Princess Ariane (born 2007).
On 28 January 2013, the king's mother announced in a television broadcast that she would abdicate the throne. That made Willem-Alexander, King on 30 April 2013.[1] He is the first king of the Netherlands since the death of his great-great-grandfather, William III, in 1890.[2][3]
Titles and styles and Honors and Military Ranks
- 27 April 1967 – 30 April 1980: His Royal Highness Prince Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau
- 30 April 1980 – 30 April 2013: His Royal Highness The Prince of Orange, Prince of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau
- 30 April 2013 – present: His Majesty The King of the Netherlands
- Military Ranks
- Royal Netherlands Navy-conscripted
- Lieutenant at sea, third class (Ensign) (August 1985-January 1987)
- Lieutenant at sea, second class (Sub-lieutenant) (watch officer, 1988)
- Royal Netherlands Navy-reserve
- Lieutenant at sea, second class (senior grade) (Lieutenant) (1988-1995)
- Lieutenant at sea, first class (Lieutenant Commander) (1995-1997)
- Captain-lieutenant at sea (Commander) (1997-2001)
- Captain at Sea (2001-2005)
- Commodore (2005-2013)
- Royal Netherlands Air Force-reserve
- Squadron Leader (1995-2005)
- Air Commodore (2005-2013)
- National
- Grand Master of the Military William Order
- Grand Master and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
- Grand Master of the Order of Orange-Nassau
- Co-Grand Master and Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
- Grand Master and Grand Cross of the Order of the House of Orange
- Grand Master of the Order of the Crown
- Grand Master of the Order for Loyalty and Merit
- Honorary Commander of the Order of Saint John in the Netherlands
- Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Ark
- Recipient of the Eleven Cities Cross
- Recipient of the Officer Long Service Cross
- Recipient of the Queen Beatrix Inauguration Medal
- Recipient of the Wedding Medal of Prince Willem-Alexander to Maxima Zorruigeta
He was the first male heir apparent to the Dutch throne since Prince Alexander, son of King William III, who died in 1884. Prince Willem-Alexander had indicated that if he became king, he would take the name William IV,[4] but it was announced on 28 January 2013 that his regnal name would be Willem-Alexander.[5]
Willem-Alexander Of The Netherlands Media
Prince Willem-Alexander (left) at age 14 and his brother Friso in 1982
Willem-Alexander in the navy uniform of ensign in 1986
Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima meet Michelle Obama, Barack Obama and Fay Hartog-Levin at the White House in 2009.
Willem-Alexander with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and Israeli President Isaac Herzog on 10 March 2024
Willem-Alexander with his family at the 2012 Summer Olympics, here supporting Ellen van Dijk
Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima kiss at the balcony of the Royal Palace of Amsterdam on their wedding day in 2002.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima with their daughters Princess Catharina-Amalia (left), Princess Alexia (right) and Princess Ariane (center)
Willem-Alexander in the navy uniform of commodore at the wedding of the Crown Princess of Sweden and Daniel Westling in June 2010
King Willem-Alexander in uniform with the Royal insignia
Koninklijk distinctief
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References
- ↑ "Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands to abdicate for son". BBC. Retrieved 28 January 2013.
- ↑ "First Dutch king since 1890". DW. Retrieved 6 October 2024.
- ↑ (in Dutch) Prins van Oranje wordt koning Willem-Alexander
- ↑ Interview with Paul Witteman Archived 2007-03-07 at the Wayback Machine, September 1997, Racchvs.com
- ↑ "Prince of Orange to become King Willem-Alexander". Archived from the original on 2015-10-07. Retrieved 2013-04-30.
Other websites
- Official website (English)
- Official website (Dutch)
- Appearances on C-SPAN
Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands Born: 27 April 1967
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Vacant Title last held by Alexander
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Prince of Orange 1980–2013 |
Succeeded by Catharina-Amalia |
| Dutch royalty | ||
| Preceded by Beatrix |
King of the Netherlands 2013–present |
Incumbent Heir apparent: Catharina-Amalia |