Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri abdicated his throne on Friday in favour of his son, Guillaume.
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Henri, 70, had served the tiny duchy in the heart of Europe for 25 years in a largely symbolic role. Guillaume, 43, was to be crowned in a ceremony later on Friday and then greet the public atop a balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace with the royal family at his side.
Henri abdicated in a ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace, built of yellow stone and decorated with spires and ironwork. Guillaume, 43, will shortly be crowned and swear an oath to Luxembourg’s constitution before the 60 elected members of the Chamber of Deputies, the duchy’s parliament.
The new grand duke was expected to greet the public from a balcony overlooking a central square with his family, including his wife, the Belgian-born Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, and his sons, Prince Charles, 5, and Prince François, 2.
Royals from the Netherlands and Belgium were expected to attend the ceremonies. Later on Friday, the new grand duke was to host an evening gala for guests including French President Emmanuel Macron and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
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Over the weekend, Guillaume will make a traditional tour of the nation that will end with a Sunday Mass with Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich at the Catholic Notre-Dame de Luxembourg cathedral.