Grand Duke Henri's Abdication and Guillaume's Inauguration: Information and Musings

[hereditarytitles]

From what I have observed in the last months , and to me it looks like they have equally shared their duties:
Henri remains the head of state of Luxembourg and represents the country both at home and abroad.
Guillaume as regent takes on certain tasks assigned to him by his father.
He supports Henri in promoting the country's interests abroad and in supporting businesses and economic initiatives.
Guillaume also supports Henri in other areas, such as representing the country at official events and maintaining relations with other states.
I would also think that this is the norm.

 

[Somebody]

He already did most of that. There was no reason to appoint him lieutenant-representative if that was the sole purpose. It seems they just did it to indicate a future change or reign without truly changing things (other than Guillaume being tasked with some minor official tasks such a as receiving ambassadors presenting their credentials).

As TM observed, instead of doing less, they seem to do more (essentially MT) in this last year of Henri’s reign (and the 6 months prior to that).

 

[tommy100]

Yes it makes no sense to me, other than being the tradition to signify a change in reign. I suppose Guillaume may have taken on more "behind the scenes" stuff but it really does seem since making Guillaume Lieutenant Representative Henri and MT have gone a public duties blitz to try and end of a high (then diminished it somewhat with their recent antics)

 

[maria-olivia]

Pictures, interviews , highlights as the one of the Grand Duchess in magazine Elle- Luxembourg, to make their Reign unforgettable. ? It is the Third Abdication in the Grand Ducal House , but the worse one because of Maria Teresa.

 

[tommy100]

I can see your point. The withdrawal and blasé notification are an interesting contrast to the grand-ducal couple seeming to maintain as high a profile as before regardless of the Hereditary Grand Duke’s current office as Lieutenant-Representative (that is, the regent who carries out the monarch’s constitutional functions as their substitute) under Article 58 of the Constitution.

I welcome being corrected by posters who follow the family more closely, but unlike in Liechtenstein, I am not sure an outside observer would even be able to discern that Guillaume and not Henri is currently the official acting regent of Luxembourg.

That said, I am not familiar with the previous pre-abdication regencies in Luxembourg, so perhaps that is the norm.

At the recent state visit to Luxembourg by the President of Italy I didn't see any difference in role for Guillaume as Lieutenant Representative that what he has always undertaken during such visits as Hereditary Grand Duke.
TBH I don't think MT would be supportive of the idea of Gui and Steph being transitioned into the spotlight as, say, Jean seemed to do with Henri. I think it will be spotlight on her until the abdication then she will do loads of interviews about her new "freedom". I honestly can't see her spending all that much time in Lux as the wife of the abdicated Grand Duke. Paris and Biarritz will prove too appealing IMO.

 

[Somebody]

MT doesn't spend much time in Luxembourg as the Grand Duchess (more so in France), so I expect she will spend even less time in the country after the abdication.

 

[maria-olivia]

Grande Duchess Charlotte and Grand Duc Jean were great Monarchs , par exemple their attitude during WW2. Heditary Grand Duke Guilaume will succeed a Grand Duke whose Prime Ministers before Xavier Bettel closed their eyes .

 

[iceflower]

The official monogram for the then Grand Duke Guillaume, that will be used from October 3 on, has been presented today:

Avénement au trône | Le monogramme du futur Grand-Duc Guillaume | Cour grand-ducale

Site officiel de la famille grand-ducale luxembourgeoise, le rôle de Chef de l'Etat du Grand-Duc.

monarchie.lu

Cour grand-ducale Luxembourg on Instagram: "👑 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 D’Maison du Grand-Duc huet d’Éier de Monogramm vum zukünftege Grand-Duc Guillaume virzestellen, dee formell vum 3. Oktober 2025 u benotzt gëtt. De Monogramm mat den zwee Buschtawen „G“ ass

73 likes, 0 comments - courgrandducale on July 1, 2025: "👑 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐰𝐢𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐥 D’Maison du Grand-Duc huet d’Éier de Monogramm vum zukünftege Grand-Duc Guillaume virzestellen, dee formell vum 3. Oktober 2025 u benotzt gëtt. De Monogramm mat den zwee Buschtawen „G“ ass symmetresch gespigelt an huet...

www.instagram.com

 

[Tatiana Maria]

It is nice that they consulted the monograms of earlier monarchs, selected a Luxembourgish designer and consulted with the future grand duke and his wife.

Although the announcement states the monogram will be formally in use from the day of Guillaume's accession and appear on the uniforms of the Army, the Police, the Prison Service, Customs and Excise and Fire and Rescue Corps, will the uniforms really all be altered on October 3 to replace Henri's monogram with Guillaume's, or will it be a gradual change as uniforms are replaced?

 

[doro]

It's a pity the Roman numeral five is missing

 

[Blog Real]

Will Guillaume be called Guillaume V when he ascends the throne?

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Will Guillaume be called Guillaume V when he ascends the throne?

I'd be surprised if he did not, as they still refer to the previous one (reigned 1905 to 1912) as Guillaume IV on the official website.

ETA: The filename of his monogram in the official announcement is also "GuillaumeV".

 

[Blog Real]

The visual identity for the weekend of accession to the Throne was released, as well as the schedule of events.

The programme:
The programme for the Accession to the Throne will be spread over several days: on Friday 3 October, the official ceremonies will be held in Luxembourg City; on Saturday 4 October, a large public celebration will be held in several symbolic locations around the country; on Sunday 5 October, the Grand Ducal Family will also take part in a Te Deum celebrated at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg. These events will be broadcast live on television and online.

Official ceremonies for 3 October 2025:
10:00 a.m.
Abdication ceremony of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri at the Grand Ducal Palace

11:00 a.m.
Inauguration ceremony of His Royal Highness Grand Duke William at the Chamber of Deputies

12:15 p.m.
Appearance of the Grand Ducal family on the balcony of the Palace

1:10 p.m.
Welcome to the City Hall

1:25 p.m.
Meeting of the new Grand Ducal couple with the public at Place Guillaume II

1:50 p.m.
Reception at the Cercle Cité hosted by the government

7:00 p.m.
Gala dinner at the Grand Ducal Palace

Accession au trône | La campagne "Trounwiessel" | Cour grand-ducale

Site officiel de la famille grand-ducale luxembourgeoise, le rôle de Chef de l'Etat du Grand-Duc.

monarchie.lu

 

[Tatiana Maria]

The tour through Luxembourg meeting representatives of various sectors of society will be a lovely start to the new Grand Duke's reign.

According to the schedule, the interregnum will only last for one hour.

For those who do not know: Pursuant to the constitutional reforms of July 1, 2023, Guillaume will not automatically become the new Grand Duke at the moment his father abdicates. Instead, when Henri abdicates, the throne will become vacant and the Government will act as "Head of State" until Guillaume swears the oath of office. This new system was inspired by Belgium.

See Articles 57 and 61 of the Constitution of Luxembourg.

Legilux

legilux.public.lu