Gala banquet is sparkling showcase end to the day Luxembourg got a new ruler

The new ruler of Luxembourg has raised a toast to friendship as he oversaw a glittering gala banquet to end the day of his accession.

Grand Duke Guillaume and his wife, Grand Duchess Stephanie, welcomed kings, queens, princesses and presidents to the Grand Ducal Palace in the heart of Luxembourg city for the glittering evening which brought to an end hours of ceremony marking the start of his reign.

The ne Grand Duke and Grand Duchess greeted their guests just inside the palace doors with royalty including Princess Amalia and Princess Elisabeth, heirs to the thrones of the Netherlands and Belgium, walking the red carpet outside.

Grand Duchess Stephanie chose one of the most symbolic tiaras in Luxembourg’s royal collection for her first gala as consort of the country. She wore the all diamond scroll tiara that was brought to Luxembourg by Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium when she married into the country’s royal family in 1953. Stephanie was also born in Belgium and the tiara has special links for her. It’s so important to her, she also wore it for her first official painted portraits as Grand Duchess which were unveiled on the eve of her husband’s accession.

The new consort also chose to change back into the pale blue gown she had worn earlier in the day for the gala dinner. The full length dress, with voile cape effect sleeves, had been worn for the ceremony in which Guillaume’s father, Grand Duke Henri, abdicated and for the formal swearing in of the new Grand Duke as Head of State in the Chamber of Deputies.

Queen Maxima also chose blue for the evening gala, arriving in a fitted midnight gown covered in lace cut out details. She wore the stunning sapphire tiara that belongs to the Dutch royal family and which she chose for the day of her own husband’s accession as King of the Netherlands in 2013.

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians stuck to her earlier colour choice of burgundy and arrived in an evening gown that featured lace details on the off the shoulder neckline and full length sleeves. She wore one of Belgium’s most important tiaras, the Nine Provinces.

However, it was the heirs to the throne who stole the show. Mathilde’s daughter, Princess Elisabeth, wore the tiara she’s used since turning 21. It’s an all diamond diadem that was bought for her. However, that wasn’t enough sparkle this time round for the heir to the Belgian throne. Elisabeth chose a full length, silver sequin column dress for the gala.

Also on top glitter mode was the heir to the Dutch throne who arrived in an off the shoulder emerald green ball gown. The bodice was covered in sequins which faded into the deep, flared skirt. Amalia chose one of the most famous tiaras in the impressive Dutch collection, wearing Queen Emma’s all diamond tiara and adding some of her family’s celebrated emeralds to her outfit.

Inside, they were joined by the President of France and the President of Germany at the banquet. Grand Duke Guillaume led the speeches, raising a toast to his parents, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, before asking his guests to raise their glasses to friendship.