Grand Duke won't be drawn on actual abdication date

Don’t ask, they’re not telling!

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg knows exactly when he officially plans to abdicate in favour of his son, but he’s not prepared to tell us just yet.

And don’t bother asking Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, who, on Tuesday, became Lieutenant-Representative and is the ‘unofficial’ power behind the throne now. He’s not telling either.

In a sit-down interview on Tuesday amidst the official business, Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume spoke about the change in leadership, which each taking turns to praise the other while sliding in the teaser that they know which date is circled on the future calendar.

“All in good time,” Grand Duke Henri teased.

Luxembourg’s Grand Dukes have a long tradition of abdicating their thrones, and on Tuesday, Henri began the process of transferring power to his son. This means that from now on, Guillaume will be in charge of the day-to-day ruling and representing; Henri retains the title and style of Grand Duke.

In the past, this process of Lieutenancy to abdication has taken two or three years. Henri himself acted as Lieutenant-Representative on behalf of his father, the late Grand Duke Jean, from 1998 to 2000. And Grand Duke Jean undertook the same duties between 1961 and 1964, when he officially succeeded Grand Duchess Charlotte.