At the start of the new year, Queen Margaret of Denmark made history by becoming the first Danish monarch to voluntarily abdicate in nearly 900 years. Today, another monarch of Europe is considering the same idea.
According to British media on April 20, like Queen Margaret of Denmark, Henry, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, has sparked interest, hinting at his intention to step down from the throne, paving the way for his eldest son, Prince Guillaume, the crown prince, to succeed to the throne.
According to the Daily Beast, Archduke Henri told the French press in an interview published on April 16, his 69th birthday: "All this was planned in family consultations and I found it very important to give young people a perspective. ”
"There's a plan, and it's going to happen," he continued, "and there's probably already a date." ”
This move by Henry, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, continued in the footsteps of his father, Archduke Jean.
The Grand Duke abdicated in 2000, ending his 35-year reign, in what appears to be a family tradition in the Luxembourg royal family that the monarch voluntarily passes power to the next generation.
This trend can be traced back to the abdication of Archduchess Mary Adelaide in 1919, followed by the abdication of Archduchess Charlotte in 1964, and finally the voluntary abdication of Archduke Jean.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Theresa, have five adult children and seven grandchildren, Prince Guillaume, Prince Felix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sebastian, the hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and the grandparents of seven children.
Prince Guillaume, 42, is the next heir to the throne, followed by his youngest son, Prince Charles, who is three, and Prince François, who he inherits with his wife, Princess Stephanie.
Notably, the Luxembourg royal family is ranked by Forbes as one of the richest countries in the world, and when Princess Alexandra and her husband Nicolas Bargory welcome their first child this spring, the size of the Luxembourg royal family will expand even further.
Regardless of the near or far intentions of the abdication, Archduke Henry spent his 69th birthday in a focused way: at work.
It is reported that at the invitation of King Philip and Queen Mathilde, members of the royal family and his wife paid a state visit to Belgium from April 16 to 18, and held a grand banquet at the Royal Castle of Laeken, ending the first day of the visit.
Grand Duke Henry and 64-year-old King Philip were cousins and had consecutive birthdays on the same day. On April 15, the Belgian royal palace shared a photo on Instagram of the two blowing out the candles on a raspberry pie to kick off the birthday celebrations.
As Grand Duke Henry of Luxembourg continues to perform his duties with diligence and dedication, the prospect of his abdication is both an affirmation of tradition and a response to the dynamics of the modern monarchy. Whether the transition is imminent or in the foreseeable future, the Luxembourg royal family will maintain continuity under the leadership of Crown Prince Im and the next generation of members of the royal family.
In the intricacies of European royal families, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a symbol of stability, tradition and adaptation, embodying a heritage that transcends generations, while also embracing the changing winds of the times.