After reigning for 24 years, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg has indicated his intention to reduce his responsibilities.
In a surprising decision, the monarch announced that his eldest son, Prince Guillaume, will take over the throne.
“I would like to inform you that I have decided to appoint Prince Guillaume as Lieutenant-Representative in October,” said Henri, 69, addressing his ‘abdication’ in a national holiday address on Sunday. “It is with all my love and confidence that I wish him the best of luck.”
Royal fans expressed their confusion about the move on X, formerly Twitter, asking if the announcement was an abdication. “Is that an abdication or a previous step?” quizzed one royal fan.
Currently, Grand Duke Henri will maintain his official title, as he has not yet abdicated. Instead, his son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, will represent him. The reasons for the monarch’s decision to pass on his duties to his eldest son, besides expressing an interest in retirement, remain undisclosed.
Grand Duke Henri is the eldest son among five children of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte. Following his father’s passing in 1999, Henri assumed the role of Head of State of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg on October 7, 2000. He and his wife Maria Teresa Mestre, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, have five children together.
This isn’t the first instance where Grand Duke Henri has hinted at stepping back from royal obligations. In April of this year, he acknowledged his intention to retire during an interview with the French publication La Libre.
Explaining his plans so far, the royal commented: “All this is planned in family consultation. I find that it is very important to give young people a perspective. There are plans, it will happen.”
