Leopold III (3 November 1901 – 25 September 1983) reigned as
King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the
heir apparent, his son
Baudouin. From 1944 until 1950, Leopold's brother,
Charles, served as
prince regent while Leopold was declared incompetent to rule. In 1950, the debate about whether Leopold could return to the throne provoked a political crisis known as the
Royal Question.