The European press has been busy these past couple of days. They have been saying Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands will abdicate the throne in favor of her son and heir, Crown Prince Willem Alexander, sometime this year. 
Media outlets such as Spain’s Hola! magazine, are reporting the event could happen either on Thursday’s Queen’s Day or on Willem Alexander’s 42nd birthday.
Even the well-informed Dutch newspaper, De Telegraaf, has been reporting on a possible abdication.
However, rumors of the Queen’s abdication have going around for years, and this may not be anything new.
“It’s the third time in four months, the emergence of such a media hysteria. But there is nothing new to announce” says palace spokesman Chris Breedveld.
The last two Dutch Monarchs all abdicated the throne for their heirs. Queen Beatrix’s mother, Queen Juliana abdicated in 1980 for her eldest daughter.
Supposedly, that abdication took those closest to Juliana by surprise.
As for Beatrix, sources close to the court believe that she will wait until she celebrates 30 years on the throne in 2010.
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