Bejeweled Bows

Aquamarine and diamond wrapped heart brooch by Verdura.

Chrysoberyl brooches, mid 18th century, possibly Iberian.

Diamond bow brooch, circa 1840.

Diamond bow brooch, circa 1850.

Diamond brooch with a tassel, early 19th century.

Diamond and sapphire brooch, early 20th century.

Diamond bow brooch by Hennell, circa 1913.

Enamel and diamond bow brooch by Boucheron, circa 1930.

Diamond "devant de corsage", mid 19th century.

Gem-set bow brooch, late 18th century.

Turquoise and diamond bow brooch, mid 19th century.

A large and important diamond "devant de corsage" necklace, late 18th century.

Technically not a bow...but sort of looks like one. Pearl and diamond shamrock brooch late 19th century.

Ruby and diamond brooch, mid 18th century.

Turquoise and diamond brooch, late 19th century.

Little Boy Blue

Aquamarine and diamond brooch, circa 1935.

Diamond and sapphire brooch from the 1920's.

Diamond and enamel "starry night" brooch, 19th century.

Sapphire and diamond brooch, late 19th century.

Enamel, diamond and gold brooch, early 19th century.

Sapphire and diamond crescent moon and star brooch, by Chanel.

Sapphire and diamond pendant brooch, late 19th century.

Six enamel, diamond and gold jewels, each with a different star sign, late 19th century.

Turquoise and diamond brooch, late 19th century.

Bugs, and fish, and a dog.

Coral, malachite, and diamond ladybird beetle brooch by David Webb.

Gem-set and diamond maple leaf/beetle brooch by Tsai An Ho.

Coral, sapphire, diamond and enamel scarab beetle brooch  by David Webb.

Dolphin brooch with turquoise, peridot, and ruby, by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.

Ruby and diamond Greyhound brooch, late 19th century.

Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands announces her Abdication

Prince of Orange to become
King Willem-Alexander

When Queen Beatrix abdicates, His Royal Highness the Prince of Orange will become King Willem-Alexander, and Her Royal Highness Princess Máxima of the Netherlands will become Queen Máxima. They will both be addressed as 'Your Majesty'. After abdicating, Queen Beatrix will be called Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau, etc. As soon as the Prince of Orange ascends the throne, his eldest child, Her Royal Highness Princess Catharina-Amalia, will be the first in line to the throne. She will then become the Princess of Orange (under section 7 of the Membership of the Royal House Act).

The titles and names of the other members of the Royal Family will not change after Queen Beatrix's abdication. The membership of the Royal House and the line of succession will however change under the above Act.

After the abdication, the line of succession will begin with the children of His Majesty the King: Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange, Her Royal Highness Princess Alexia, and Her Royal Highness Princess Ariane. The next in line will be His Royal Highness Prince Constantijn, his children and finally Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet.

After the abdication, the children of Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Professor Pieter van Vollenhoven will no longer be eligible for the throne. They will also cease to be members of the Royal House.

King's Day on 27 April from 2014

From 2014 onwards, King's Day will be celebrated on 27 April, the birthday of the Prince of Orange and future King Willem-Alexander. In 2014 it will be celebrated by the Royal Family in Amstelveen and De Rijp. These municipalities will be able to use the programme that has already been developed for the planned celebration of Queen's Day on 30 April this year, which will assume a different character because of the abdication and investiture.

Time and place of abdication and investiture

The official programme for the abdication and investiture will take place on 30 April 2013. Her Majesty the Queen will sign the Instrument of Abdication at the Royal Palace, Amsterdam. The investiture of His Majesty the King will then take place at the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam.

Flies of all Kinds

Diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald butterfly brooch, late 19th century.

Diamond butterfly brooch, mid-19th century.

Diamond, ruby, sapphire and emerald Dragonfly brooch.

Gold and citrine butterfly brooch, early 19th century.

Pearl, diamond and emerald moth brooch by Gianmaria Buccellati.

Gold and turquoise butterfly brooch, 1870's.

An Art Nouveau-style dragonfly brooch from the early 20th century. 

Diamond, sapphire and ruby flying insect brooch.

Glitter Birds

Aquamarine and Diamond duck bropches by Tiffany & Co.

Emerald and pink sapphire bird brooches by Chaumet, circa 1940. 

Emerald, gold and diamond bird brooch by Cartier.

Enamel and gem-set parrot brooch by Jean Schlumberger for Tiffany & Co.

A diamond brooch of a dove with olive branches, late 18th century.

A diamond, sapphire and enamel chicken brooch from the early 20th century.

Enamel, sapphire and diamond rooster brooch, late 19th century.

Garnet and diamond swan brooch, mid 18th century.

A multi-colored gem and gold hummingbird brooch, early 19th century.

Diamond, pearl, ruby and gold rooster brooch, 1960's.

Gem-set parrot brooch.

A gold, diamond and sapphire Phoenix brooch by Mikimoto.

Gold and ruby owl brooch, 1960's.

Kunzite, conch pearl, and multi-colored gem  brooch .

A gold and seed pearl dove brooch, mid 19th century.

Gold and turquoise "St. Esprit" dove brooch, circa 1845.

Ruby and diamond dove brooch, late 19th century.

Ruby, emerald, diamond and gold hummingbird brooch by Cartier, Paris.

Ruby, sapphire and emerald mallard duck brooch by Hemmerle.

Diamond, emerald and sapphire peacock brooch, circa 1860.