Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg announces his plans to abdicate
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg has announced his plans to abdicate.
After ruling over the small European country from the year 2000, Henri shared his plans in an interview with Belgian paper La Libre.
"There are plans. There will come a day when it will have to be done, and I intend to retire at some point. It's obvious," he said.
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Luxembourg has a Grand Duke rather than a king because when the country was founded it was ruled by the Netherlands. When the King died he only left a daughter to succeed which Luxembourg law didn't allow.
Instead, Adolphe of Nassau stepped in as Grand Duke and his lineage still rules to this day.
Grand Duke Henri, 69, has said that his decision to abdicate is to allow his son, Prince Guillaume, to step into the role of Grand Duke.
"All this is planned in family consultation. I find that it is very important to give young people a perspective," he said.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg. Getty
"Transmission and trust are the two essential elements in my relationship with my son Guillaume."
Henri would not be the first royal to step down in favour of another family member, with it being a traditional of the Luxembourg royals.
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Henri shares five children with his wife Maria Theresa. Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg
Grand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde abdicated in 1919 to allow her sister to take the throne.
In 1964, Grand Duchess Charlotte stepped down and her son Grand Duke Jean stepped into the role. In 2000, he then did the same thing to allow Henri to take the throne.
Henri has five children with his wife Maria Theresa, Prince Sébastien, Princess Alexandra, Prince Louis, Prince Félix, and Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Guillaume.
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Guillaume will take his fathers place as Grand Duke after he abdicates. Getty
At 42 years old, Guillaume shares two children with his wife, Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, Prince Charles, 3, and Prince François, 1.
He has not yet made any comments regarding his father's plans to abdicate to allow him to take the throne.
Henri has not yet announced when he plans to abdicate.
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