The Royal Household of the Benelux Countries—An Example of Abdication During Lifetime

The small monarchical countries of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg (the “Benelux” nations) were devastated by Nazi Germany at the time of World War II, which nonetheless saw their unity with their royal families strengthened. In particular, both Queen Wilhelmina and Grand Duchess Charlotte became a symbol of resistance against the Nazis, and people applauded their return in the end of the war. However, both great sovereigns abdicated their thrones during their lifetime in favour of their daughter and son who had already been able to prepare to succeed to the throne. It became like a convention in the Benelux nations, and spread to other parts of the world—Spain, Japan and Denmark—by the twenty-first century.