Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri, 70, abdicates in favour of his son at ceremony attended by glamorous royals from across the world

Luxembourg installed a new head of state on Friday, with Grand Duke Henri, 70, abdicating the throne and his son Guillaume, 43, taking his place.

Henri revealed in a shock announcement last December that he would be bringing his then-24-year reign to an end.

On Friday, having reached 25 years as head of state, the 70-year-old stepped down during an event at the Grand Ducal Palace, which was attended by a range of guests including Dutch and Belgian royals.

Then, Guillaume was crowned during a ceremony at the palace, where he also swore an oath to Luxembourg’s constitution, in front of the 60 elected members of the parliament, known as the Chamber of Deputies.

Following this ceremony, a gala dinner was planned to be held in Luxembourg City, attended by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

The grand duke role filled by Henri – alongside his Cuban-born wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa – is a largely ceremonial one.

During Henri’s time as head of the state, the government steered the country through various troubles –  notably the 2008 financial crisis, the greatest shock to Luxembourg’s economy since the 1970s.

Henri was educated in France, Switzerland and at Sandhurst military academy in Berkshire.

And his son Guillaume followed a similar path – going to school in London, Switzerland, France and Sandhurst before working in Belgian, German and Spanish firms.

Crown Prince Guillaume is married to Belgian-born Countess Stephanie de Lannoy and they have sons aged five and two.

Luxembourg, which is one of the European Union’s smallest nations and its richest per capita, is a financial powerhouse that hosts important EU institutions like the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank.

The grand duchy is home to many of the banks in the eurozone, reinsurance companies, and managers of hedge funds and money markets.

Guillaume will be Luxembourg’s seventh grand duke since 1890, when the modern monarchy was established. Complex royal politics, as well as the loss of significant territories over the centuries, has meant Luxembourg is not a kingdom. Instead it is the world’s last remaining grand duchy.

Although Guillaume is almost 30 years younger than his father, the new Grand Duke is not expected to change a great deal. The head of state of the world’s last remaining grand duchy puts into effect laws and performs representative functions. 

Henri’s abdication last December marked the second European monarch to step down from their reign in 2024. 

His royal relation Queen Margrethe of Denmark decided to give up the throne after 52 years, making way for her son Frederik to take over as king on January 14 this year.

Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Guillaume (pictured, right) and Grand Duchess Stephanie (pictured, left) are photographed during Friday’s ceremony

FATHER AND SON: Grand Duke Henri (pictured, left) passed his title to his son Prince Guillaume on Friday (photographed together in 20220

During his December 2024 broadcast, the outgoing Grand Duke said he was ‘proud’ to have served his country for a quarter of a century.

He said: ‘It has been a period during which Luxembourg has undergone great changes, and I am proud to have been able to, together with the Grand Duchess, walk this path with you.’

While explaining that ‘the Grand Duke is above political parties and does not interfere in political debates,’ he said, ‘nothing prevents me from speaking out when the fundamental interests of the country and its citizens are at stake.’ 

He continued: ‘This is what I have strived to do over the past 25 years, paying particular attention from the outset to the diversity of our population, the need for coexistence, and sustainability in all areas of our society, so that we can leave our children a healthier country.’  

After the announcement, the Grand Duke appeared very moved and kissed his son whilst the room applauded.

According to the official Palace website, ‘designation of the Lieutenant-Representative traditionally occurs in the process of change of reign’.

‘This is the beginning of a next chapter for our monarchy,’ Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden told local media at the time. 

Grand Duke Henri is the eldest son of the five children of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte and took to the throne in 2000, after his father abdicated following a 36-year reign.

He is married to Maria Teresa Mestre, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. and the pair have five children together; Prince Guillaume, Princess Alexandra, Prince Louis, Prince Félix and Prince Sébastien.