Queen Beatrix To Open Parliament

15 September 2009

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Holland's Queen Beatrix is due to open parliament in The Hague today (15.09.09).

It will be the 71-year-old monarch's first official duty since a man attempted to attack her during the annual Queen's Day parade in Apeldoorn in April.

Police have closed the city centre to traffic but pedestrians will be allowed in to watch Beatrix, her son Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and his wife Princess Maxima, make the 15-minute carriage journey from Noordeinde Palace to parliament.

contemporary attire instead of their traditional 19th century uniforms to ensure they can act quickly and have their arms at hand

Security will be tight, with additional armed officers accompanying the royal carriage. To increase safety police will be wearing "contemporary attire" instead of their traditional 19th century uniforms "to ensure they can act quickly and have their arms at hand".

The royal family will wave to crowds from the palace balcony at 1pm, before beginning their official duties.

Beatrix and her family were enjoying the Queen's Day procession on April 30 when Karst Tates, 38, drove his car at high speeds towards their open-topped bus.

The vehicle missed the royal family but ploughed into the watching crowd, killing eight spectators and injuring 13 others. Tates later died of his head injuries.

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