The announcement last night that Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands is abdicating on April 30 is also changing things further down in the line. Unlike the most lines of succession, the Dutch line of succession deals with how closely related a person is to the monarch. As a party game, it is even fewer people who can play it, than Six degrees of Kevin Bacon. It is three degrees of consanguity from the current monarch, going up and down in the hierarchy counting the births between each level.
Currently the line of succession to the Dutch throne is like this: (Also known as the party game: Three degrees of Queen Beatrix.)
(1) HRH The Prince of Orange (Prince Willem-Alexander; b. 27 April 1967)
(2) HRH Princess Catharina-Amalia (b. December 7, 2003)
(3) HRH Princess Alexia (b. June 26, 2005)
(4) HRH Princess Ariane (b. April 10, 2007)
(5) HRH Prince Constantijn (b. October 11, 1969)
(6) Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau (b. June 8, 2002)
(7) Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau (b. March 21, 2004)
(8) Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau (b. June 3, 2006)
(9) HRH Princess Margriet (b. January 19, 1943)
(10) HH Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau (b. April 17, 1968)
(11) HH Prince Bernhard of Orange-Nassau (b. December 25, 1969)
After April 30, 2013, the Three degrees of King Willem-Alexander will be:
(1) HRH Princess Catharina-Amalia (b. December 7, 2003)
(2) HRH Princess Alexia (b. June 26, 2005)
(3) HRH Princess Ariane (b. April 10, 2007)
(4) HRH Prince Constantijn (b. October 11, 1969)
(5) Countess Eloise of Orange-Nassau (b. June 8, 2002)
(6) Count Claus-Casimir of Orange-Nassau (b. March 21, 2004)
(7) Countess Leonore of Orange-Nassau (b. June 3, 2006)
(8) HRH Princess Margriet (b. January 19, 1943)
Prince Maurits and Prince Bernhard will disappear out of the line of succession on April 30, but will come back if their mother should inherit. (And in that case, their children will also come into the equation).
As it currently stands, on April 30, only two in the line of succession will be older than 11 years.
