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

[Marengo]

Some photos of the gala of 2001:

Flashback: Royal Gathering in Luxembourg

7 April 2001 The younger generation of European royals gathered in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to celebrate the enthronement of Grand...

queenmathilde.blogspot.com

In attendence indeed most crown princes and Mette-Marit, who was recently engaged to CP Haakon. how youg they all were!

 

[PrincessofEurope]

Some photos of the gala of 2001:

Flashback: Royal Gathering in Luxembourg

7 April 2001 The younger generation of European royals gathered in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to celebrate the enthronement of Grand...

queenmathilde.blogspot.com

Ina ttendence indeed most crown princes and Mette-Marit, who was recently engaged to CP Haakon. how youg they all were!

Interesting that it was the heirs in attendance - now many of them Monarchs for this inauguration

 

[Blog Real]

The Dutch Royal House has announced that King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and the Princess of Orange will be in Luxembourg on Friday, October 3, for the abdication of Grand Duke Henri and the inauguration of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume.

Koninklijk Paar en Prinses van Oranje aanwezig bij troonswisseling Luxemburg

Zijne Majesteit de Koning, Hare Majesteit Koningin Máxima en Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid de Prinses van Oranje zijn vrijdag 3 oktober in Luxemburg aanwezig bij de abdicatie van Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Groothertog Henri en de installatie van Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid Erfgroothertog Guillaume.

www.koninklijkhuis.nl

The Belgian Royal House also confirms that King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth will attend the enthronement of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume.

De Koning, de Koningin en Prinses Elisabeth wonen de e troonsbestijging van Zijne Koninklijke Hoogheid de Erfgroothertog in Luxemburg-Stad bij | De Belgische Monarchie

The Belgian Monarchy website

www.monarchie.be

 

[Marengo]

How lovely that Pss Elisabeth and Pss Catharina-Amalia will be there too!

 

[Blog Real]

Some photos of the gala of 2001:

Flashback: Royal Gathering in Luxembourg

7 April 2001 The younger generation of European royals gathered in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to celebrate the enthronement of Grand...

queenmathilde.blogspot.com

In attendence indeed most crown princes and Mette-Marit, who was recently engaged to CP Haakon. how youg they all were!

But they didn't wear tiaras. I hope if they do an event like this again, there will be tiaras.

 

[Marengo]

We will see. In the Netherlands the inauguration of Queen Beatrix did not have tiaras either, while the one of Willem-Alexander did have so, a day before.Also Guillaume and Stephanie's pre-wedding dinner was a great tiara event, I am not sure if Henri and Maria Teresa had that either [I have seen no photos of it]. But since they will only be there on the 3rd, I am not sure.

Added:

Two days ago Edouard Vermeulen said in the Dutch podcast RoyalTea that Pss Elisabeth came to his shop when she came back from the US, and was very friendly, respectful etc. and that she was picking something for Luxembourg. He said Maria Teresa will also wear NATAN.

 

[muriel]

Interesting that it was the heirs in attendance - now many of them Monarchs for this inauguration

It is the norm for heirs to be present at these events. Will be interesting to see how things are planned this time. For example, will Spain and Denmark be represented by the heirs this time? Or the monarchs? Or will there be no royal representation outside the Benelux region?

 

[iceflower]

An announcement about the foreign guests at the inauguration has been released by the Grand Ducal Court today, September 15:

Trounwiessel | The foreign dignitaries | Cour grand-ducale

monarchie.lu

The Maison du Grand-Duc announces that the following foreign dignitaries will take part in the ceremonies marking the accession to the throne on 3 October 2025.

Kingdom of the Netherlands ​

• Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima
• Her Royal Highness the Princess of Orange Catharina-Amalia

Kingdom of Belgium ​

• Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
• Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Brabant, Princess Élisabeth

Federal Republic of Germany​

• His Excellency Mr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Mrs Elke Büdenbender
  (attendance at the gala dinner only)

French Republic​

• His Excellency Mr Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, and Mrs Brigitte Macron
  (attendance at the gala dinner only)

European Institutions ​

• Her Excellency Mrs Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, and Mr Ukko Metsola
• His Excellency Mr António Costa, President of the European Council

 

[Saragli]

I'm very pleasantly surprised to see the French and German presidents coming. Do we have any info on the gala? I'm very pleased for the turnout for Gui and Steph.

 

[Marengo]

I am surprised president Macron is coming, though like Germany and Belgium he is of course representing a neighbouring country. Although the EU institutions are well represented, Urusla von der Leyen as counsil presdient would have made the trio complete.

Considering the upgrade in attendance, I am also surprised other European royal houses were not invited.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Thank you to all those who have shared links and information.

A dedicated website has been set up by the government and parliament for Grand Duke Guillaume V’s accession to the throne.
A live stream will be available there. The website does not say whether it will be geoblocked.

Trounwiessel - Official website - Luxembourg

Find the full programme of festivities for the accession to the throne, taking place on 3 and 4 October 2025 in Grevenmacher, Wiltz, Steinfort, Dudelange, and Luxembourg City.

www.trounwiessel.lu

Here is the government Information and Press Service’s special issue on Grand Duke Henri’s inauguration in 2000.

https://sip.gouvernement.lu/dam-assets/publications/bulletin/2000/BID_2000_edition_speciale_avenement_trone/BID_2000_edition_speciale.pdf

And this issue covered the additional festivities in 2001 (Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa’s tour of the country and the gala dinner in honor of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte), which were postponed due to Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla's car accident in 2000:

https://sip.gouvernement.lu/dam-assets/publications/bulletin/2001/BID_2001_2/BID_2001_2.pdf

So, if I have understood the links in the previous posts:

Guillaume’s inauguration will enjoy slightly more foreign royal representation than Henri’s: In both cases it will be limited to Belgium and the Netherlands, but in Guillaume’s case the crown princesses will also attend in addition to the monarchs plus spouses.

Guillaume’s inaugural gala, however, will not have any additional royal guests. In addition to the royals who attended the inauguration itself, the only foreign dignitaries to join them at the gala will be the French and German presidents and representatives of the European Union. In contrast, many European royals attended the gala in honor of Jean’s abdication.

I wonder why those differences?


On a side note: A pity the court couldn't get their neighboring crown princess's title and first name correct (it is supposed to be "Princess Elisabeth [without an accent], Duchess of Brabant", not "Duchess of Brabant, Princess Élisabeth"), but unfortunately that is not unprecedented when it comes to the Luxembourg court, which has even misspelled names of its own family members.

 

[duke of poliganc]

Although we are still not sure that there will be a white tie gala with tiaras for the inauguration I remain optimistic as with a new monarch I expect that they will do introductory state visits to mother monarchs shortly after the inauguration

 

[sophie25]

I wasnt fully expecting it but I'm also disappointed that more royal houses won't attend.

 

[taogg]

How lovely that Pss Elisabeth and Pss Catharina-Amalia will be there too!

How lovely that Princess Elisabeth and Princess Catharina-Amalia will be there too! What a surprise, especially for Elisabeth, since she’s studying in the US, I really didn’t expect her to attend.
Edit: I just checked the calendar and saw that October 3 falls on a Friday, so it would actually be more convenient for her to travel back to Europe.

 

[Opals]

What jewelry will Stephanie have access to after the enthronement? Since GD Henri was going to sell a bunch of jewelry a chunk of it must be privately owned and will remain under GD Maria Teresa's control. Is there a family foundation or something for the other jewelry?

 

[Tatiana Maria]

RTL has a rich dossier of English-language news reports about the abdication and accession:

RTL Today - Trounwiessel

today.rtl.lu

 

[Moonmaiden23]

HGD Guillaume and CP Victoria are close friends, or they were in their teens and twenties.

I am surprised that she apparently isn't going to attend.

 

[Somebody]

The tradition is for the fellow Benelux monarchies to attend. I guess if they invited Victoria, they would also need to invite representations from Norway and Denmark. And if the Scandinavians are invited, they might as well invite all European royal houses; and if they do that, why stop and Europe and not invite all monarchies... So, keeping it really small might be the wisest decision, if they don't intend to invite all royal houses.

 

[MissByrd]

We will see. In the Netherlands the inauguration of Queen Beatrix did not have tiaras either, while the one of Willem-Alexander did have so, a day before.Also Guillaume and Stephanie's pre-wedding dinner was a great tiara event, I am not sure if Henri and Maria Teresa had that either [I have seen no photos of it]. But since they will only be there on the 3rd, I am not sure.

Added:

Two days ago Edouard Vermeulen said in the Dutch podcast RoyalTea that Pss Elisabeth came to his shop when she came back from the US, and was very friendly, respectful etc. and that she was picking something for Luxembourg. He said Maria Teresa will also wear NATAN.

I was hoping that Princess Elisabeth would never wear Natan!

 

[Blog Real]

The throne was restored and marked with the monogram of the future Grand Duke Guillaume.

Trounwiessel | Le trône | Cour grand-ducale

monarchie.lu

Cour grand-ducale Luxembourg on Instagram: "#Trounwiessel | Den Troun 👑 Muer wäert den zukünftege Grand-Duc Guillaume an der Chamber säin Eed ofleeën. Bei dëser Zeremonie huet den Troun eng symbolesch Bedeitung am Kader vun dësem institutionellen Ak

5,717 likes, 35 comments - courgrandducale on October 1, 2025: "#Trounwiessel | Den Troun 👑 Muer wäert den zukünftege Grand-Duc Guillaume an der Chamber säin Eed ofleeën. Bei dëser Zeremonie huet den Troun eng symbolesch Bedeitung am Kader vun dësem institutionellen Akt. Dës gewielte Fotell...

www.instagram.com

 

[Marengo]

It says the throne was made around 1850. I wondered if it was made for Luembourg or if the Nassau-Weilbuirgs had taken it from one of their Nassau palaces.

The lion is holding a group of arrows and a sword. This means it must have been made for one of the King-Grand Dukes, WIllem III perhaps. The house of Nassau has simular coat-of-arms but without the arrows and without the sword, which were taken from the coat of arms of the Dutch republic and inserted into the Nassau coat-of-arms.

 

[Stefan]

The throne was restored and marked with the monogram of the future Grand Duke Guillaume.

Trounwiessel | Le trône | Cour grand-ducale

monarchie.lu

Cour grand-ducale Luxembourg on Instagram: "#Trounwiessel | Den Troun 👑 Muer wäert den zukünftege Grand-Duc Guillaume an der Chamber säin Eed ofleeën. Bei dëser Zeremonie huet den Troun eng symbolesch Bedeitung am Kader vun dësem institutionellen Ak

5,717 likes, 35 comments - courgrandducale on October 1, 2025: "#Trounwiessel | Den Troun 👑 Muer wäert den zukünftege Grand-Duc Guillaume an der Chamber säin Eed ofleeën. Bei dëser Zeremonie huet den Troun eng symbolesch Bedeitung am Kader vun dësem institutionellen Akt. Dës gewielte Fotell...

www.instagram.com

It is not the Throne used in 2002 but the one used in 1964

 

[Tatiana Maria]

The lion is holding a group of arrows and a sword. This means it must have been made for one of the King-Grand Dukes, WIllem III perhaps. The house of Nassau has simular coat-of-arms but without the arrows and without the sword, which were taken from the coat of arms of the Dutch republic and inserted into the Nassau coat-of-arms.

Good catch. Nice to see some continuity between the Kings-Grand Dukes and the current Grand Dukes. They may not have been closely related, but legally the Nassaus were the hereditary successors to the Orange-Nassaus in an unbroken line of succession to Luxembourg.

 

[Blog Real]

Message from Tessy, about the new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.

This weekend Luxembourg welcomes their new Grand Ducal couple — Guillaume and Stephanie.

This is a historical event which I as a Luxembourger are proud to witness as the Mother of my two absolutely incredible sons Gabriel and Noah and as a citizen of this incredible nation. My sons look up to their uncle and aunt with love and dedication.

I am confident that their leadership will bring a fresh and energised spirit to the nation.

I know Guillaume and Stephanie fairly well and know that Luxembourg and its people will have a new ruling family that puts their needs second in order to invest all their time and efforts in representing Luxembourg with dignity, integrity, and authenticity.

As former Princess of this wonderful nation i knew this day would come. Yet, having it here now fills me with humility and extreme joy.

Vive Grand Ducal Guillaume, and Vive eis Grande Duchesse Stephanie and Vive eis Groussherzoglecg Famill! Ech drecken iesch fest. Dir macht daat

To our Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Marie Teresa, thank you for your lifelong dedication to our country and the people who call Luxembourg home. Especially, Henri, I am grateful for everything I have learned from you, for the many conversations we have shared about our country, and for the love we both share for Luxembourg. My family and I wish you a wonderful retirement.

Dame Tessy Antony De Nassau on Instagram: "This weekend Luxembourg welcomes their new Grand Ducal couple — Guillaume and Stephanie. This is a historical event which I as a Luxembourger are proud to witness as the Mother of my two absolutely incredib

1,825 likes, 69 comments - tessy_from_luxembourg on October 2, 2025: "This weekend Luxembourg welcomes their new Grand Ducal couple — Guillaume and Stephanie. This is a historical event which I as a Luxembourger are proud to witness as the Mother of my two absolutely incredible sons Gabriel and...

www.instagram.com

 

[principessa]

Is it possible to watch the ceremonies online?

 

[hereditarytitles]

Another opportunity to remind people of herself as a former princess by showing a very old photo of herself with Guillaume. As always she just can't resist putting herself in the spotlight.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Is it possible to watch the ceremonies online?

There is a livestream on the official website for the change of reign.

Trounwiessel - Official website - Luxembourg

Find the full programme of festivities for the accession to the throne, taking place on 3 and 4 October 2025 in Grevenmacher, Wiltz, Steinfort, Dudelange, and Luxembourg City.

www.trounwiessel.lu

 

[Somebody]

A thread has been opened for the festivities taking place for the accession to the throne. From now on all news and footage about the actual events can be shared there.

 

[Somebody]

This news item in the (mainstream) Dutch press about the abdication doesn't paint a pretty picture of Henri's reign. Discussing that it was rather short (25 years compared to his father's 36 years), the less than ideal relationship between Josephine-Charlotte and Maria Teresa, the flamboyant (and not happy with a place in the background) personality of Maria Teresa, the intention to sell the crown jewels, the change in the constitution when Henri refused to sign a law legalizing euthanasia, the issues at court with a culture of fear and Henri's defense of his wife when this became public knowledge.

About Guillaume they mention that he loves cooking and is more extroverted than his father.

 

[principessa]

Is today a bank holiday in Luxemburg or are shops open and you have to go to work?