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Friday, 3 October marked a historic day for Luxembourg as Prince Guillaume became Grand Duke following the abdication of his father, Grand Duke Henri.
A historic event
On Friday, 3 October, Luxembourg celebrated its new Grand Duke, Guillaume. At 43 years old, he succeeds his father, Grand Duke Henri, whose reign lasted 25 years. Henri had announced on 24 December last year, during his traditional end-of-year speech, that he would abdicate on 3 October 2025 in favour of his son. To mark the occasion, three days of festivities were organised across the country.
Grand Duke Guillaume and his father, Grand Duke Henri © PHOTO: Gerry Huberty
Several thousand people attended the accession to the throne in the world’s only Grand Duchy. The three days were filled with festivities celebrating an event that happens only rarely and that drew curiosity from many, even beyond Luxembourg’s borders. Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie were able to make their first public appearance as the new Grand Ducal couple, warmly welcomed by the gathered crowds.
For the occasion, the "Theater" tram stop was even renamed "Trounwiessel" and was announced on every tram by the voice of Grand Duke Guillaume himself.
Another highlight of the coronation was Prince Charles, the eldest son of Guillaume and Stéphanie, who the couple decided to bring along to the ceremony. The young five-year-old Prince was seen covering his ears on the red carpet in response to the noise of the accompanying military music. The Grand Duke’s son certainly made an impression and brought smiles to many faces.
The Grand-Ducal couple and Prince Charles © PHOTO: Chris Karaba
A weekend of celebrations
The festivities began on Friday, 3 October with Grand Duke Henri’s abdication ceremony, followed by the swearing-in of Grand Duke Guillaume. Afterwards, the Grand Ducal family appeared on the Palace balcony to greet the public. Several other public encounters took place throughout the afternoon. In the evening, a gala dinner was held with numerous distinguished guests. Several leaders and heads of state from neighbouring countries attended the coronation, including the royal families of Belgium and the Netherlands, as well as French and German presidents Emmanuel Macron and Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The French president also held a private meeting with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Luc Frieden.
The Grand-Ducal couple and their distinguished guests © Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue & Kary Barthelmey
On Saturday, 4 October, the new Grand Ducal couple embarked on a tour across the country, meeting the public in five different towns. They visited Grevenmacher, Wiltz, Steinfort, and Dudelange, before concluding in Luxembourg City with a show on the Pont Rouge. The day ended with a ceremony at the Champ du Glacis, followed by a drone show and performances by Luxembourgish artists.
On Sunday, 5 October, a "Te Deum" mass was held at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City, presided over by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich. He concluded his speech by exclaiming, "Long live the Grand Duke, long live the Grand Duchess!", thus bringing the three days of celebrations to a fitting close.
Successful festivities despite a few setbacks
The events were slightly disrupted by Storm Amy, which placed Luxembourg under a yellow weather warning and forced some artists to cancel their performances on Saturday afternoon. The drone show, however, was able to go ahead despite last-minute concerns about the weather.
In the end, everything went smoothly overall, and Luxembourgers came together to properly welcome their new Grand Duke.
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