Dutch King: Willem-Alexander

Willem-Alexander: At 46, King Willem-Alexander is the youngest monarch in Europe and the first Dutch king in 123 years, since Willem III died in 1890. Like Beatrix before him, Willem-Alexander has assumed the throne at a time of social strains and economic malaise, according to CBC. "I want to establish ties, make connections and exemplify what unites us, the Dutch people," the freshly minted king said at a nationally televised investiture ceremony in Amsterdam's 600-year-old New Church, held before the combined houses of Dutch parliament and Millions of Dutch people dressed in orange flocked to celebrations around the Netherlands Tuesday in honor of a once-in-a-generation milestone for the country's ruling House of Orange-Nassau: after a 33-year reign, Queen Beatrix abdicated in favor of her eldest son, Willem-Alexander. Although the Dutch monarchy is largely ceremonial, he immediately staked out a course to preserve its relevance in the 21st century. Princess Beatrix of Netherlands, left, embraces her son, Dutch King Willem-Alexander and his wife Queen Maxima at the balcony of the Royal Palace in Amsterdam. Dylan Martinez/Reuters (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.