will enthrone a new head of state on Friday, as Grand Duke Henri abdicates his throne to son Guillaume.
Grand Duke Henri, 70, will end his 25-year reign of the small European nation, that has a population of about 680,000 people, in a ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace.
The 43-year-old Guillaume will then be crowned and swear an oath to Luxembourg’s constitution in front of guests such as the Dutch and Belgian royal couples.
President and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron will be among those who will later attend a gala dinner in Luxembourg City.
Grand Duke not expected to change status quo
Although Guillaume is almost 30 years younger than his father, the new Grand Duke is not expected to change a great deal.
The head of state of the world’s last remaining grand duchy puts into effect laws and performs representative functions.
However, many expect the 43-year-old to offer a slightly warmer touch to the job.
Luxembourg is one of the European Union’s smallest nations and its richest per capita, seen as a financial powerhouse that hosts important EU institutions like the European Court of Justice and the European Investment Bank.
Transition began in 2024
Grand Duke Henri began a transition period in 2024 after saying he wished to “slow down.”
Guillaume, who has two sons, was educated in Luxembourg and Switzerland before attending Sandhurst Military School in the .
He then earned a double degree in arts and political science from the University of Angers in France.
After he is sworn in on Friday, the new grand duke will greet the public from a balcony overlooking a central square. Over the weekend he will take a traditional tour of the small nation before ending with Sunday Mass at the Catholic Notre-Dame de Luxembourg cathedral.
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