Duke Leopold III was a prominent figure in the history of Belgium, serving as the country's monarch from 1934 until his abdication in 1951. Born on November 3, 1901, he was the son of King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth. His reign was marked by the challenges of World War II, during which Belgium was invaded by Germany in 1940. After the war, Leopold faced controversy over his decision to surrender to the Germans, leading to a political crisis. In 1950, he returned to the throne after a period of exile, but public discontent prompted him to abdicate in favor of his son, Baldwin I, in 1951.