London, Jan 29 : The oldest reigning Dutch monarch, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands has announced her abdication in a sudden move three days before her 75th birthday.

After 33 years on the throne following her mother's abdication in 1980, Beatrix said she would relinquish the crown at the end of April, leaving the monarchy to Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander, the oldest of her three sons.

According to the Guardian, Prime Minister Mark Rutte delivered a statement on television shortly after the Queen's announcement, with both stressing that the crown prince had been intensively prepared for the role of monarch.

Although a constitutional monarch, the queen is officially a member of the Dutch cabinet and until last year she had the right of initiative in proposing who should try to form a government in the complex Dutch coalition system, the report said.

The abdication secures the Dutch throne for Crown-Prince Willem-Alexander at the age of 45.

The ascent to the throne of Willem-Alexander means the Netherlands will have its first king in more than a century, the report added. (ANI)