Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg has announced his surprise abdication.
The royal will step down on October 3, 2025. He used his annual – and now his last – Christmas broadcast to announce it on Christmas Eve.
His eldest son Guillaume has already overtaken many of his duties as his Lieutenant Representant.
This happened back in October 2024.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg announces surprise abdication
Getty
Henri has reigned as the Grand Duke of Luxembourg since 2000.
He is the eldest son of Grand Duke Jean and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium, as well as a first cousin of King Philippe of Belgium.
Prince Henri was born on April 16, 1955, at the Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg as the second child and first son of Jean, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and his wife, Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium.
He became heir apparent to the Luxembourg throne on the abdication of his grandmother, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, in 1964.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg attending King Charles’s Coronation in 2023
PA
From 1980 to 1998, he was a member of the Council of State.
In 1998, Prince Henri was appointed as lieutenant representative by his father, Grand Duke Jean, meaning that he assumed most of his father’s constitutional powers.
On October 7, 2000, immediately following the abdication of his father, Henri acceded as Grand Duke of Luxembourg and took the constitutional oath before the Chamber of Deputies later that day.
In 2008, Henri caused controversy when he stated he would refuse to give his assent to a new law on euthanasia that had been passed earlier in the year by the Chamber of Deputies.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg attending Kate and William’s wedding in 2011
PA
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg at the opening of Notre Dame earlier this year
Reuters
Since then, the head of state in Luxembourg no longer has to “sanction” laws for them to take effect, as the officeholder merely promulgates them.
On June 23, 2024, his official birthday, Henri announced his plans to appoint his son Guillaume as lieutenant representative (regent) in October.
Traditionally, this signals the Grand Duke’s intention to abdicate in the future.
On October 8, Guillaume was sworn in as lieutenant representative. He will take over as Grand Duke of Luxembourg in October 2025.
