Maxima, the Argentine-born queen of the Netherlands, has worked hard to win over Dutch hearts and is immensely popular despite her father's murky role in his country's military junta. As the wife of King Willem Alexander, former investment banker Maxima Zorreguieta, 41, is now queen consort after her mother-in-law Beatrix on Tuesday abdicated in favour of her son. The couple had a fairytale romance and were married in 2002, with Maxima being given Dutch nationality and allowed to remain a Catholic in the staunchly Protestant House of Orange.

Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander became Europe's youngest monarch on Tuesday after his mother, Queen Beatrix, abdicated and his country hailed the avowedly 21st-century king with a massive, orange-hued party. "I Queen Beatrix... abdicate in favour of my son Willem-Alexander," the act said, as read out before the signing that was broadcast live from the Amsterdam palace. The queen shed a tear on arrival, and the act was then witnessed by Willem-Alexander, his Argentine-born Queen Maxima and members of the government.

AMSTERDAM - Queen Beatrix has signed the official act of abdication at the Royal Palace in downtown Amsterdam, making her eldest son Willem-Alexander the first Dutch king in more than 100 years. The much-loved Beatrix ended her 33-year-reign Tuesday in a nationally televised signing ceremony as thousands of orange-clad people cheered outside and millions more watched on television. With her abdication, she becomes Princess Beatrix and her son ascends the throne as King Willem-Alexander. He is the first Dutch king since Willem III died in 1890.

Future Dutch king Willem-Alexander has undergone a remarkable transformation from his image as a boozing Casanova, ill-equipped for the throne, to a serious family man well-loved by his people. Due to take over from his mother, Queen Beatrix, when she abdicates on Tuesday, he has been preparing for his accession by taking on more and more duties in a bid to shake off his immature reputation. In an interview two weeks before the ceremony, Willem-Alexander, who turned 46 on Saturday, said he wanted to be a traditional 21st-century king but would not be a "protocol fetishist".