The old dude: Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg - Wikipedia
His son, successor and incumbent: Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg - Wikipedia
Why’d the old dude retire - just too old? Scandal? Decided it was time to let Junior have the job? Something else?
His mother abdicated so he could get the job, so it’s not surprising he did it in favor of his son.
The Benelux countries have a tradition of their ruler stepping down and retiring.
Which is in direct contrast to the UK or the Scandinavian monarchies. The Netherlands hasn’t had a monarch actually die on the throne since 1890 (also the last they had a king; Wilhelmina & Juliana both abdicated in favour of their daughters. There’s been speculation that Queen Beatrix might break with tradition and reign until she dies.
Belgium doesn’t really have a tradition of monarchs abdicating as a form of retirement. Leopold III was the only Belgian monarch to abdicate and that was the result of a pretty severe constitutional crisis.
[hijack] A quick reading on Wackypedia :rolleyes: sounds like Leo 3 got screwed by NOT being a pussy. What’s the SD on that? [/hijack]
Would you want Charles to be King?