![King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, Henri Grand Duke of Luxembourg and King Philip of Belgium attend the 60 years Benelux Council celebration at the Royal Palace on June 5, 2018 in Brussels, Belgium.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/people.com/thmb/aM6jLJ4m07HEVuF-X9JN-P2cJ3M=/1500x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(764x160:766x162)/Grand-Duke-Henri-041924-4-eaab268515204788a6898e8cb4f44032.jpg)
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Queen Margrethe of Denmark kicked off the year by making history as the first Danish monarch to voluntarily step down from the throne in nearly 900 years, and another sovereign is reportedly toying with the same idea.
In a new interview with La Libre, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg said he "intends to retire at some point," but didn’t reveal when it might happen. The throne is poised to pass to his eldest son and destined successor, Prince Guillaume.
"All this is planned in family consultation. I find that it is very important to give young people a perspective," Grand Duke Henri told the French outlet in an interview published on April 16, his 69th birthday, according to The Daily Beast.
"There are plans, it will happen," he continued — and there already may be a date.
![Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Prince Guillaume of Luxemnbourg attend the military parade of National Day on June 23, 2022 in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.](https://people.com/thmb/ZQq0J5hE2gn1GA5dtibcPUMaUjk=/4000x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/Grand-Duke-Henri-041924-3-263efc732aed4732af26470db064ae1a.jpg)
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When La Libre asked the duke if he had chosen a date for his abdication, he reportedly replied, "Yes, but I won’t tell you that!"
“I am a happy man. But I could not choose my destiny,” Grand Duke Henri was further quoted as saying.
Henri acceded in October 2000 when his father, Grand Duke Jean, abdicated at age 79 following a 35-year reign. The head of state of Luxembourg (population: 672,050) is styled as Grand Duke or Duchess, and voluntary abdication has become somewhat of an informal pattern.
Grand Duke Jean inherited the throne when his mother Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicated in 1964, and she stepped up into the royal role when her elder sister, Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide, abdicated in 1919.
![Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg arrive for the Civil Wedding Of Her Royal Highness Alexandra of Luxembourg & Nicolas Bagory At Luxembourg City Hall on April 22, 2023 in Luxembourg, Luxembourg.](https://people.com/thmb/3qcmDPnexLDJO1_wPWKmA-DQigY=/4000x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/Grand-Duke-Henri-041924-2-186d5cab002c4ab393ec0e59db280793.jpg)
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Grand Duke Henri and his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, are parents to five adult children, Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prince Felix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sebastien — and grandparents to seven. Prince Guillaume, 42, is next in the line of succession, followed his young sons Prince Charles, 3, and Prince François, 1, whom he shares with his wife, Princess Stephanie.
The royal family of Luxembourg, which Forbes ranks as one of the wealthiest countries in the world, is further set to expand when Princess Alexandra and her husband Nicholas Bagory welcome their first baby, due this spring.
![LUXEMBOURG - JUNE 23: Prince Louis of Luxembourg, Princess Claire of Luxembourg and Prince Felix of Luxembourg, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Princess Stephanie, Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg, Prince Sebastien of Luxembourg pose for photographers before the official dinner for National Day at the ducal palace on June 23, 2018 in Luxembourg, Luxembourg. (Photo by Sylvain Lefevre/Getty Images )](https://people.com/thmb/v3GO2UzkRv4D0AfHzOtG6Jvq-Q8=/4000x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(939x438:941x440)/Princess-of-Luxembourg-110722-01-2000-9deda17794a44512b047ffbcfcdb9232.jpg)
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Whether his intentions of abdication loom near or far, Grand Duke Henri spent his 69th birthday in a dedicated way: at work. The royal and his wife paid a state visit to Belgium from April 16 to April 18 at the invitation of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and they capped the first day with a glamorous banquet at the Royal Castle of Laeken.
Grand Duke Henri and King Philippe, 64, are first cousins and share back-to-back birthdays. The two got the birthday festivities started by blowing out candles on a raspberry tart in a snap the Belgian Royal Palace shared to Instagram on April 15.
![King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium arrive with Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchesse Maria Teresa of Luxembourg for a gala dinner at the Royal Castle of Laeken on April 16, 2024 in Brussels, Belgium](https://people.com/thmb/zb5QSNjnn0ZRltnYYo55TPDikHQ=/4000x0/filters:no_upscale():max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749x0:751x2)/Grand-Duke-Henri-041924-1-5218f151c8cf41648490cc9ee2b2dfa3.jpg)
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