On the eve of his accession, Luxembourg’s soon to be Grand Duke is immortalised on canvas

The first official painted portraits of Luxembourg’s soon to be ruler have been released on the anniversary of his accession.

With just hours to go until Prince Guillaume becomes Grand Duke, three paintings have been unveiled which will act as official portraits of the new Head of State and of his consort, Princess Stephanie.

The first shows Guillaume, currently Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, in military uniform. He will become Commander-in-Chief of Luxembourg’s forces on his accession.

The portrait is by Louise Pragnell who is one of three artists chosen to commit the likeness of the new Grand Duke to canvas to mark the start of his reign and to provide official portraits.

In the painting, Guillaume stands in a room in the Grand Ducal Palace next to a table which shows the time approaching 11 in the morning. That is deeply significant as the abdication of Guillaume’s father, Grand Duke Henri, takes place at 10am meaning that from 10.01am, Guillaume will be ruler and Commander in Chief. He makes his oath of allegiance before the Chamber of Deputies at exactly 11am.

Another portrait, by Luxembourgish artist Roland Schauls, also hints at the change of power. Guillaume is again shown in military uniform with his hand on a book, as if he is about to swear an oath.

Louise Pragnell has also created a portrait of the new Grand Duchess. Guillaume’s wife, Stephanie, will be consort from October 3 and her first official painting shows her dressed in blue and wearing a tiara only used by past Grand Duchesses.

Princess Stephanie chose the Belgian Scroll tiara, an all diamond piece that was brought to Luxembourg by the grandmother of her husband, Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte. She was born a Princess of Belgium and the tiara was a wedding gift to her from the Societe Generale bank when she married Jean, then heir to the throne of Luxembourg, in 1953. It’s a symbolic choice for Stephanie as only Josephine Charlotte and the current Grand Duchess, Maria Teresa, have been seen wearing it and this denotes a change of times.

The portraits will be hung in the Chamber of Deputies as soon as the reign of Guillaume begins.

In 2026, all three will be taken to the Feschmaart National Museum where they will be on show.