"Don't mention the war!" This famous line from tv-comedyseries Fawlty Towers has an equivalent at the Dutch Royal Court. "Don't mention the abdication!" is the warning everyone has to heed.
Queen Beatrix (70) finds questions and speculations about the time of het possible retirement "very, very upsetting" a close confidante of the monarch recently disclosed. Reporters are discouraged and even down right forbidden to pose the A-word question.
Danish Queen Margrethe (67) once famously said she will continue "till I fall off the throne, dead". When Queen Elizabeth was informed of the January 31st, 1980, announcement by Dutch Queen Juliana that she had decided to retire, she is said to have exclaimed "typically Dutch."
Most monarchs continue in their job till their last breath, but for better or for worse the Dutch kings and queens havge taken a different stance. They hand over power. King William I (at the time also Grand-Duke of Luxemburg) did so in 1840. Queens Wilhelmina (1948) and Juliana (1980, pictured) followed suit.
In Luxemburg Grand-Duchess Charlotte (1964) and Grand-Duke Jean (2000) did likewise and Cambodian King Nordom Sihanouk even cited the example of the two Dutch queens as reason for his own retirement.
The Dutch monarch though is under no obligation to step down. It is merely custom. Queen Beatrix can decide for herself how and when; she does not have to consult with the Cabinet or Prime-Minister. Juliana only let them know a couple of hours before her televised announcement.
Queen Beatrix has said she wants her son Prince Willem-Alexander to have enough time to spend with his young family - meaning she is in no hurry. The Dutch media though have been speculating about a possible date for years now. Both the Silver Jubilee in 2005 and the 70th birthday of the Queen brought about many such reports.
But even asking whether Beatrix is bothered by all this, is discouraged. ,,She doen't like it and doesn't want to discuss it", her confidante said. ,,Don't ask me, ask my mother. Only she knows", Prince Willem-Alexander referred the question.
© RB Hans Jacobs
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