AMSTERDAM — Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands celebrates her 68th birthday with her family on Tuesday.

Her children and grandchildren are to gather at Huis ten Bosch Palace for the festivities. The Queen will not be taking part in any dancing, though, as she is recovering from a knee replacement operation at the start of the year.

The Monarch visited all regions of the Kingdom of the Netherlands last year to mark her 25 years on the throne.

Two granddaughters were also added to her family. Princess Maxima, the Argentine wife of Crown-Prince Willem Alexander, had Alexia and Mabel, the wife of Prince Friso, gave birth to Luana.

The Queen is to rest for the next few weeks to ensure she is fit enough for a state visit to Argentina in March. Family matters take over again after that as both Mabel and Laurentien, the wife of Prince Constantijn, are expecting.

[Copyright Expatica News + ANP 2006]

Subject: Dutch news