LUXEMBOURG: Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg surprised the nation on Sunday by announcing his intention to begin transferring powers to his son Guillaume starting in October, signaling his eventual abdication.
In his address on the national holiday, Henri, 69, declared, “I have decided to appoint Prince Guillaume as Lieutenant-Representative in October. It is with all my love and confidence that I wish him the best of luck.”
This move marks the initial step towards handing over the crown to Guillaume, 42, although a complete transition in leadership for the Grand Duchy is expected to unfold over several years.
Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden described it as “the beginning of a new chapter for our monarchy,” though acknowledging the decision had been discussed privately for some time.
Henri, known for his passion for sports and possessing a fortune estimated in billions of dollars, ascended to the throne in 2000 after his father Jean abdicated following a 36-year reign.
Luxembourg, a small nation nestled between Belgium, France, and Germany with a population of about 660,000, maintains a constitutional monarchy with limited governmental powers.
The monarchy’s legislative role was curtailed in 2008 when Henri, a devout Catholic, declined to endorse a euthanasia bill, prompting parliamentary action.
Guillaume, officially titled Prince of Luxembourg and Prince of Nassau and Bourbon-Parma, is married to Belgian aristocrat Countess Stephanie de Lannoy. The heir to the throne has two sons and received his education in Switzerland before attending Britain’s prestigious Sandhurst military college, following in his father’s footsteps.
Luxembourg, renowned as a wealthy center for financial services with one of the highest per capita gross domestic incomes globally, has been under the rule of the same dynasty since 1890.
