Editing Beatrix of the Netherlands (section)

== Reign ==
Beatrix's constitutional duties included those typically accorded to a [[head of state]]; this includes having to sign every piece of legislation before it becomes law, formally appointing various officials, receiving and accrediting ambassadors, and awarding honours and medals, among others. Outside of these constitutional duties, her other informal roles included being the highest representative of the kingdom internationally and to be a unifying figure locally.

Beatrix was rarely quoted directly in the press during her reign, for the government information service (''Rijksvoorlichtingsdienst'') made it a condition of interviews that she should not be quoted. This policy was introduced shortly after her inauguration, reportedly to protect her from political complications that might arise from "off-the-cuff" remarks. It did not apply to her son [[Prince Willem-Alexander]].

Throughout much of her reign, Beatrix had a considerable role in the [[Dutch cabinet formation|cabinet formation process]]; notably she appointed the ''[[informateur]]'' and ''formateur'', the person who leads the negotiations that ultimately lead to the formation of a government. However, this was changed in 2012, and now the largest party in the [[States General of the Netherlands|States General]] appoints a "scout" who then appoints an ''informateur''.

Beatrix was included in [[Andy Warhol]]'s portrait series in 1985 as one of four ''[[Reigning Queens]]'', alongside [[Elizabeth II]], [[Margrethe II]] of Denmark and [[Ntfombi of Eswatini|Ntfombi]] of Eswatini.<ref>[[Los Angeles Times]]. Muchnic, Suzanne. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1985-12-20-ca-5060-story.html The Art Galleries: Downtown], articles.latimes.com; 20 December 1985.</ref>

On 1 January 1986, [[Aruba]] seceded from the [[Netherlands Antilles]] and became a separate constituent country within the Dutch Kingdom.

===Kissed by a bystander===
[[File:Geef me een zoen, meid.jpg|thumb|The picture published on the front page of ''[[De Telegraaf]]'', with the headline 'Geef me een zoen, meid' (Dutch: Give me a kiss, girl)]]
During 1988 [[Queen's Day]], Queen Beatrix was kissed by a bystander, later identified as Maarten Rijkers, when she walked through the crowd of people at a flea market in the [[Jordaan]]. When Beatrix walked alongside Rijkers he said "Give me a kiss, girl", after which he gave her a hug and two kisses.<ref>{{cite web |last=Communicatie |first=FIZZ Marketing & |title=Ons Amsterdam &#124; 130 jaar koninklijk feest in de hoofdstad |url=https://onsamsterdam.nl/130-jaar-koninklijk-feest-in-de-hoofdstad |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410114345/https://onsamsterdam.nl/130-jaar-koninklijk-feest-in-de-hoofdstad |archive-date=10 April 2021 |website=onsamsterdam.nl}}</ref> It received wide media attention and appeared to be a historic moment.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |date=29 January 2013 |title=Special Beatrix |url=https://issuu.com/nrc.nl/docs/beatrix/10 |website=Issuu}}</ref><ref name="nos.nl">{{cite web |date=29 January 2013 |title=Markante momenten Beatrix |url=https://nos.nl/l/467365 |website=nos.nl}}</ref> An image of this scene was published in large on the front page of ''[[De Telegraaf]]''. Even 25 years later in 2013, ''[[NRC Handelsblad]]'' wrote an article about it and the impact of it.<ref name="auto" />

The reaction of the Queen was seen by people as very positive and was a boost for her reputation in the "Jordaan" region of Amsterdam. The visit was promoted as a "spontaneous visit" to boost her popularity as she was not very popular in the region. Historian and Dutch royalty watcher J. G. Kikkert said in a lecture that the kiss had been staged, based on what he called "usually very reliable sources".<ref name="auto" /><ref name="nos.nl" /> He also noted that although the visit and the kiss might not have been her idea, but that of others, she certainly would have given her approval as she was known not to leave things to chance.

=== Later years ===
On 6 October 2002, the Queen's husband, [[Prince Claus]], died after a long illness. A year and a half later her mother died after long suffering from [[dementia|senile dementia]], while her father succumbed to [[cancer]] in December 2004.

[[File:Beatrix Prinsjesdag.jpg|thumb|Queen Beatrix and her son, [[Willem-Alexander]] in the [[Golden Coach (Netherlands)|Golden Coach]] on [[Prinsjesdag]] 2007, the day she gives the annual [[speech from the throne]] outlining the government's agenda for the upcoming parliamentary year.]]
On 8 February 2005, Beatrix received a rare honorary doctorate from [[Leiden University]], an honour the Queen does not usually accept. In her acceptance speech she reflected on the monarchy and her own 25 years as Queen.<ref>[http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/NL/nieuws/nieuws.html?Toespraken/2223.html]
 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050405172948/http://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/NL/nieuws/nieuws.html?Toespraken%2F2223.html|date=5 April 2005}}</ref> The speech was broadcast live.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://cgi.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?/nos/nieuws/2005/februari/video/080205/beatrix_toespraak.wmv |title=The complete broadcast |access-date=14 February 2005 |archive-date=7 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807193350/http://cgi.omroep.nl/cgi-bin/streams?%2Fnos%2Fnieuws%2F2005%2Ffebruari%2Fvideo%2F080205%2Fbeatrix_toespraak.wmv |url-status=dead }}</ref>

On 29 and 30 April 2005, she celebrated the [[Silver Jubilee|25th anniversary of her reign]].  She was interviewed on Dutch television, was offered a concert on [[Dam Square]] in [[Amsterdam]], and a celebration took place in [[The Hague]], the country's seat of government.

On 31 May 2006 the ''6th Polish Air Assault Brigade'' would receive the ''Militaire Willemsorde der 4e klasse'' in The Hague. Beatrix was to tie the prestigious medal to the standard of the incumbents of the [[1st Independent Parachute Brigade (Poland)|1st Independent Polish Parachute Brigade]].<ref>{{cite web|title = Chapter 8. The process of Polish rehabilitation in 2006|url = http://www.polishsoldier.nl/chapter-8-the-process-of-polish-rehabilitation-in-2006/|website = Polish forces in the West|access-date = 10 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190105044239/http://www.polishsoldier.nl/chapter-8-the-process-of-polish-rehabilitation-in-2006/|archive-date = 5 January 2019|url-status = dead}}</ref>

In 2009, ''Forbes'' estimated her wealth at US$300 million.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 August 2007 |title=In Pictures: The World's Richest Royals |url=https://www.forbes.com/2007/08/30/worlds-richest-royals-biz-royals07-cx_lk_0830royalintro_slide_15.html?thisSpeed=30000 |access-date=5 March 2010 |work=Forbes.com}}</ref>

On 30 April 2009, Beatrix and other members of the royal family were [[2009 attack on the Dutch royal family|targeted in a car attack]] by a man named Karst Tates. He crashed his Suzuki Swift into a parade in [[Apeldoorn]], narrowly missing a bus carrying the Queen, before dying as a result of his injuries. Five people were killed instantly, with two victims also succumbing to their injuries afterward. Other victims of the crash were critically hurt. One week after the attack, another victim succumbed to the injuries he had sustained. The royal party was unharmed, but the Queen and members of her family saw the crash at close range. Within hours, Beatrix made a rare televised address to express her shock and condolences. The man reportedly told police he was deliberately targeting the royal family.<ref name="NOS-doelwit">{{cite web |author=NO |title=Koninklijke familie was doelwit (Royal family was the target) (Dutch) |url=http://www.nos.nl/nosjournaal/artikelen/2009/4/30/300409_persconferentie.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503071101/http://www.nos.nl/nosjournaal/artikelen/2009/4/30/300409_persconferentie.html |archive-date=3 May 2009 |access-date=1 May 2009}}</ref>