Willem-Alexander was born on April 27, 1967, in Utrecht, the Netherlands, the first male heir to the Dutch throne in 116 years. His birth to Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus ended a streak of three consecutive queens regnant. He grew up under intense public scrutiny, attended schools in The Hague and Wales, and earned a degree in history from Leiden University with a thesis on Dutch responses to French proposals at the 1987 European Council. He served in the Royal Netherlands Navy and trained as a pilot. His public image as a young man was complicated. He earned the nickname "Prince Pils" in the Dutch press for his reportedly enthusiastic social life, and his relationship with Argentine-born Máxima Zorreguieta generated controversy because her father had served as a minister in the Argentine military junta. The couple married in 2002, and Máxima's father did not attend the wedding. Willem-Alexander became king on April 30, 2013, when Beatrix abdicated in his favor, making him the first Dutch king since Willem III died in 1890. As monarch, he has served as a constitutional figurehead in one of Europe's most stable democracies. His role is ceremonial but not insignificant: the Dutch monarch plays a part in government formation, delivers the annual speech from the throne, and represents the country internationally. He has been an outspoken advocate for water management issues, serving on the United Nations Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, leveraging Dutch expertise in flood control and water infrastructure. His reign has been characterized by accessibility and a deliberate informality that distinguishes him from more traditional European monarchies.