Luxembourg gets a brand new ruler and consort today and it will all happen in historic ceremonies in the heart of the tiny country.
Grand Duke Henri, who has reigned for 25 years, will step aside in favour of his eldest son, Prince Guillaume.
He’ll become the new Grand Duke and his wife, Stephanie, will become the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. The heir to the throne will be their elder son, Prince Charles, who is just five years old.
It’s set to be a day of pageantry and emotion – here’s what to expect as a new reign begins.
Simple ceremony to sign away a throne
The day of history begins at 10am, Luxembourg time, as Grand Duke Henri walks into a state room at the Grand Ducal palace for a simple ceremony in which he will sign an instrument of abdication.
He will be accompanied by his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. His son, and the soon to be new ruler, will also be at his side. Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie will watch as Henri writes his name across the document. In that instant, power shifts and Guillaume and Stephanie are transformed into the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg.
A formal promise to start a new reign
The new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will then travel the short distance to Luxembourg’s parliament where, just after 11am, Guillaume will make a pledge in the Chamber of Deputies in his swearing in ceremony.
Stephanie will watch – it is expected other members of the Grand Ducal family will also be present. The King and Queen of the Belgians and the King and Queen of the Netherlands will watch the abdication and accession with the two countries’ heirs, Princess Elisabeth and Princess Amalia.
Emotional appearance on the palace balcony
At 12.15pm, the new Grand Duke will lead Luxembourg’s royal family out on to the ducal palace balcony for the first time.
(Suicasmo, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wiki Commons)
Large crowds are expected to gather to see Guillaume, Stephanie and their two children, Charles and two year old Francois. It’s also an opportunity to mark the end of the reign of Grand Duke Henri.
People and politicians at the start of a new reign
At 1.10pm, the new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are due at Luxembourg Town Hall and soon afterwards, will go on a walkabout at the Place Guillaume II where they will meet wellwishers.
(© Maison du Grand-Duc / Christian Aschman)
At 1.50pm, they are due at a reception being held by the government. It will mark the culmination of an historic morning which transformed a prince into a ruler.
Gala dinner to start a new reign
On the evening of the first day of his reign, the new Grand Duke will host a gala dinner at the Grand Ducal Palace. The Kings and Queens of the Netherlands and the Belgians will be there along with the President of France and the President of Germany.
(Cour Grand Ducal Instagram still/ fair use)
This could also be tiara time as the royal family will be in full gala mode. The new Grand Duchess may even wear the biggest tiara in the royal collection for the first time. The Empire tiara has been the preserve of Luxembourg’s Grand Duchess for a century and, as of 10am on October 3 2025, only Stephanie is allowed to wear it.
