# Abdication of Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 2000 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 7, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdication-of-grand-duke-of-luxembourg-in-2000/538670 "2010-05-07T19:02:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdication-of-grand-duke-of-luxembourg-in-2000/538670/1 "2010-05-07T19:02:58Z")
The old dude: [Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean,_Grand_Duke_of_Luxembourg) His son, successor and incumbent: [Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henri,_Grand_Duke_of_Luxembourg) Why’d the old dude retire - just too old? Scandal? Decided it was time to let Junior have the job? Something else? ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdication-of-grand-duke-of-luxembourg-in-2000/538670/2 "2010-05-07T19:33:56Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdication-of-grand-duke-of-luxembourg-in-2000/538670/3 "2010-05-07T20:52:49Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > 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. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdication-of-grand-duke-of-luxembourg-in-2000/538670/4 "2010-05-07T21:44:08Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > 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] ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 7, 2010, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/abdication-of-grand-duke-of-luxembourg-in-2000/538670/5 "2010-05-07T21:48:25Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Which is in direct contrast to the UK or the Scandinavian monarchies. Would you want Charles to be King?