Juliana of the Netherlands
Juliana was Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until her abdication in 1980.
Juliana in 1961
29-year-old Queen Wilhelmina with the long-awaited heir presumptive, Princess Juliana
Princess Juliana in an Axel costume in 1922
Princess Juliana and Prince Bernhard celebrate their engagement announcement in Amsterdam
Abdication is the act of formally relinquishing monarchical authority. Abdications have played various roles in the succession procedures of monarchies. While some cultures have viewed abdication as an extreme abandonment of duty, in other societies, abdication was a regular event and helped maintain stability during political succession.
Napoleon's first abdication, signed at the Palace of Fontainebleau 4 April 1814
Dom Pedro I, founder and emperor of the Empire of Brazil, delivers his abdication letter on 7 April 1831
Queen Christina of Sweden shocked Europe by abdicating to move to Rome and serve the pope.