Line of succession to the Dutch Throne
Encyclopedia
The 1814 constitution stated that the oldest son of the monarch would succeed him (or otherwise his grandson), followed by the monarch's brother or his son. Only when there would be a complete lack of males in his near family, would the oldest daughter of the monarch succeed him. The constitution of 1887 changed this slightly to give the King's daughter precedence over the King's brother, adopting agnatic-cognatic primogeniture.
In 1884 King William III
's last male heir died, making Princess Wilhelmina
heiress presumptive
. William III was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg
, but since Salic law was applied in that country, William was succeeded there by Adolphe
, his distant relative. After 1884 no males were born into the royal family
until 1967. In 1983 the Netherlands adopted full lineal primogeniture
(the eldest child is heir).
In 1922 the constitution was changed to limit the line of succession to three degrees of kinship from the current monarch.
For the succession of HM Queen Beatrix
the following order of priority applies:
Thus, after Willem-Alexander come his daughters; then Constantijn, his brother; a niece, a nephew, and another niece; an aunt; and two cousins.
In 1884 King William III
William III of the Netherlands
William III was from 1849 King of the Netherlands and Grand Duke of Luxembourg until his death and the Duke of Limburg until the abolition of the Duchy in 1866.-Early life:William was born in Brussels as son of William II of the Netherlands and...
's last male heir died, making Princess Wilhelmina
Wilhelmina of the Netherlands
Wilhelmina was Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands from 1890 to 1948. She ruled the Netherlands for fifty-eight years, longer than any other Dutch monarch. Her reign saw World War I and World War II, the economic crisis of 1933, and the decline of the Netherlands as a major colonial...
heiress presumptive
Heir Presumptive
An heir presumptive or heiress presumptive is the person provisionally scheduled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir or heiress apparent or of a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question...
. William III was also Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
, but since Salic law was applied in that country, William was succeeded there by Adolphe
Adolphe, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Adolphe I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last Duke of Nassau, and the fourth Grand Duke of Luxembourg.-Biography:...
, his distant relative. After 1884 no males were born into the royal family
House of Orange-Nassau
The House of Orange-Nassau , a branch of the European House of Nassau, has played a central role in the political life of the Netherlands — and at times in Europe — since William I of Orange organized the Dutch revolt against Spanish rule, which after the Eighty Years' War...
until 1967. In 1983 the Netherlands adopted full lineal primogeniture
Primogeniture
Primogeniture is the right, by law or custom, of the firstborn to inherit the entire estate, to the exclusion of younger siblings . Historically, the term implied male primogeniture, to the exclusion of females...
(the eldest child is heir).
In 1922 the constitution was changed to limit the line of succession to three degrees of kinship from the current monarch.
For the succession of HM Queen Beatrix
Beatrix of the Netherlands
Beatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
the following order of priority applies:
- HRH The Prince of OrangeWillem-Alexander, Prince of OrangeWillem-Alexander, Prince of Orange is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied...
, Prince of the Netherlands, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg (eldest child of the QueenBeatrix of the NetherlandsBeatrix is the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands comprising the Netherlands, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, and Aruba. She is the first daughter of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard of Lippe-Biesterfeld. She studied law at Leiden University...
) - HRH Princess Catharina-Amalia of the NetherlandsPrincess Catharina-Amalia of the NetherlandsThe official origins of her given names:*Catharina has been speculated to be after Henriette Catherine of Nassau *Amalia is after Amalia of Solms-Braunfels *Beatrix is after her paternal grandmother, the Queen of the Netherlands...
, Princess of Orange-Nassau (first child of the Prince of Orange) - HRH Princess Alexia of the NetherlandsPrincess Alexia of the NetherlandsPrincess Alexia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the second daughter of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, his spouse...
, Princess of Orange-Nassau (second child of the Prince of Orange) - HRH Princess Ariane of the NetherlandsPrincess Ariane of the NetherlandsPrincess Ariane of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the daughter of heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima...
, Princess of Orange-Nassau (third child of the Prince of Orange) - HRH Prince Constantijn of the NetherlandsPrince Constantijn of the NetherlandsPrince Constantijn of the Netherlands is the third and youngest son of Queen Beatrix and the late Prince Claus of the Netherlands. His godparents are King Constantine II of Greece, Prince Aschwin zu Lippe-Biesterfeld, Axel Freiherr von dem Bussche-Streithorst, Max Kohnstamm, and Mrs. C...
, Prince of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg (third child of the Queen) - Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouw van Amsberg (daughter of Prince Constantijn)
- Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-NassauCount Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van AmsbergCount Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg , is the second child of Prince Constantijn and Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands and their only son...
, Jonkheer van Amsberg (son of Prince Constantijn) - Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau, Jonkvrouw van Amsberg (daughter of Prince Constantijn)
- HRH Princess Margriet of the NetherlandsPrincess Margriet of the NetherlandsPrincess Margriet Francisca of the Netherlands is the third daughter of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands...
, Princess of Orange-Nassau, Princess of Lippe-Biesterfeld (third daughter of the late Queen Juliana of the NetherlandsJuliana of the NetherlandsJuliana was the Queen regnant of the Kingdom of the Netherlands between 1948 and 1980. She was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry...
and sister to Queen Beatrix) - HH Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, van VollenhovenPrince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven-External links:* * - References :...
(son of Princess Margriet) - HH Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, van VollenhovenPrince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau, van Vollenhoven-External links:* *...
(son of Princess Margriet)
Thus, after Willem-Alexander come his daughters; then Constantijn, his brother; a niece, a nephew, and another niece; an aunt; and two cousins.