( CNN ) -- A chapter was closing in Dutch history Monday as Queen Beatrix spent her last full day on the throne after 33 years as the country 's monarch . Beatrix will abdicate on Tuesday morning , handing over to her eldest son , Willem-Alexander , who will be the first Dutch king in more than 120 years . The queen was due to give a televised speech later on Monday . She steps down on the national holiday known as Queen 's Day , an opportunity for people across the Netherlands to dress up and party . The investiture of the new king will be the high point of a year of celebrations marking the end of the Napoleonic occupation in 1813 . The 75-year-old monarch announced her abdication in January , saying it was time for a new generation to lead . `` I have always considered it as an extraordinary privilege to be able to put a big part of my life at the service of our country and in accordance with my task to add substance to my kingship , '' said Beatrix , who acceded to the throne when her mother , Queen Juliana , abdicated in 1980 . `` Until today , this beautiful task has given me a lot of satisfaction . It is inspiring to feel close to people , to sympathize in grievances and share times of joy and national pride . '' She went on : `` It is with great confidence , that on April 30 this year I will pass my kingship to my son , the Prince of Orange . He and Princess Maxima are fully prepared for their future task . They will serve our country with devotion , faithfully serve the constitution , and with all their talents give substance to their kingship . '' Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte added : `` Anyone who has met the queen will agree that she touched people and helped them forward with her knowledge and experience and her great interest and involvement . '' The Dutch media has speculated that the queen was abdicating to spend more time with her second son Friso , who was injured in an avalanche at an Austrian ski resort last year . He remains in a coma in a London hospital . Prince Willem-Alexander was educated in Wales and Holland , where he earned a history degree at Leiden University . He served in the Dutch Royal Navy from 1985 to 1987 . As Prince of Orange -- the title given to the person first in line to the Dutch throne -- he has been interested in sustainability and innovation . He is married to Princess MÃ¡xima , who was born in Buenos Aires , Argentina . She has a degree in economics and has worked for HSBC and Deutsche Bank . The couple have been married for 11 years and have three daughters . Last week the couple gave their first joint TV interview in which Willem set out how he intended to rule . `` I want to be a king who is first of all traditional , built on the tradition of my predecessors , who stands for continuity and also for stability in the country ... but also a king who in the 21st century can bind together and represent society as a whole . '' Asked how he intended to do that , Willem told the NOS state broadcaster : `` By being present where you think people need support or help , by giving extra attention and presence to worthwhile events and by supporting people who are in need . '' One notable absence at Tuesday 's ceremony will be the new queen 's father , Jorge Zorreguieta , who was a minister during the 1976-1983 Argentinian military dictatorship . Princess Maxima said her family would not attend her swearing-in as queen because of her father 's controversial past . `` This is a constitutional event , when my husband becomes king and my father does n't belong there , especially if there are issues , '' the princess told NOS . `` He remains my father , we still enjoy our private moments . '' Mark Saunders , a royal biographer , said he had bumped into the new king and found him to be personable and relaxed . `` I met him in the strangest of circumstances , '' he said . `` I was on a ferry stuck between Estonia and Norway . I spoke to this young pleasant guy who gave me some advice that maybe you should get off ( the boat ) . It was only afterwards that I discovered it was Crown Prince Willem . I remember thinking that this was the most 'non-royal ' royal I 've ever met . I have n't met that many , but he was a pleasant guy . `` He 's young too , only 46 -- so he 's the youngest monarch in the world -- the only one who 's not gray or bald ! '' Saunders said he believed that in contrast to Beatrix , Britain 's Queen Elizabeth would never abdicate , because of the 1,000 years of history behind her , and the trauma of her uncle , King Edward VIII 's abdication . `` ( Britain 's royals ) believe they have a divine right to rule , which goes back to the Norman Conquest of 1066 . They will never break that chain , '' he said . READ MORE : Why Elizabeth is n't abdicating .
Queen Beatrix will abdicate 33 years after more than 120 years as the Argentinian monarch . Queen Beatrix will be first king the Dutch have had in more than 120 years . The 75-year-old monarch announced her abdication in 33 years . New queen 's father , a former Argentinian minister , will miss investiture .