Luxembourg witnessed a rare display of royal pomp on Friday as thousands gathered in the capital to celebrate the accession of Grand Duke Guillaume, who became monarch following the abdication of his father, Henri, after a 25-year reign.
Guillaume, 43, formally took the oath before parliament in a green military uniform with a yellow sash, pledging to be a ruler who “builds bridges between generations, between tradition and innovation.” His father, 70, looked visibly moved during the ceremony, having earlier signed his abdication in the presence of foreign royals including the Dutch and Belgian sovereigns.
After the swearing-in, the new grand duke and his wife, Stephanie, greeted cheering crowds from the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace, where supporters waved Luxembourg’s red, white and blue flag. “I am very excited about these festivities,” said local businessman Nicolas Graas, noting that the celebrations had put his small country of 680,000 firmly in the spotlight.
Foreign dignitaries including European Parliament president Roberta Metsola and European Council chief Antonio Costa walked a red carpet between palace and parliament, while French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier are expected at a gala dinner.
Guillaume, the eldest of five children, becomes the seventh sovereign of the House of Nassau-Weilburg, which has ruled Luxembourg since 1890. Educated in Luxembourg, Switzerland, Britain and France, he is seen as potentially more open and approachable than his predecessors, though not expected to bring sweeping change to the ceremonial monarchy.
Married since 2012 to Belgian countess Stephanie de Lannoy, Guillaume is father to two young sons. Celebrations of his accession will continue nationwide through the weekend.
