Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg Appoints Son Prince Guillaume to New Royal Role, Kickstarts Transfer of Power

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince Guillaume (M), Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, waves from the balcony of the Chamber of Deputies alongside Luc Frieden (L), Prime Minister of Luxembourg and Jean-Claude Wiseler, President of the Chamber of Deputies on Oct. 8, 2024.Photo:Harald Tittel/picture alliance via Getty

Harald Tittel/picture alliance via Getty

Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg has a new royal role as he prepares to reign one day.

The festivities then moved to the Chamber of Deputies for Prince Guillaume’s swearing in at 3:30 p.m. local time before a return on foot to the Grand Ducal Palace.

A Lieutenant-Representative is comparable to the role of a royal regent, and the Grand Ducal Courtsaidthat such an appointment is traditional in a change of reign. While Grand Duke Henri remains head of state, the shift will enable him to delegate certain duties to his eldest son and expected successor, thegovernment of Luxembourgsaid.

JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP via Getty

Voluntary abdication has become an informal tradition in Luxembourg, and Grand Duke Henri, 69, served as Lieutenant-Representative for his father, Grand Duke Jean, for nearly three years before he acceded to the throne on Oct. 7, 2000.

Luxembourg is a representative democracy in the form of a constitutional monarchy, and while Grand Duke Henri hasn’t hinted when he may abdicate one day, the Lieutenancy Ceremony kickstarts a transfer of power that will help prepare Prince Guillaume to reign one day.

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Guillaume’s lieutenancy is the sixth in the history of the Grand Duchy, andRoyal Centrallikened it to a “dress rehearsal” for when the Crown Prince and Hereditary Grand Duke accedes one day.

The father and son spoke with journalists Claude Zeimetz and Maurice Molitor about the key appointment and their futures in apodcast-style interviewthat the Grand Ducal Court shared on the day of the Lieutenant-Representative ceremony.

Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden signs the Grand Ducal Decree establishing the nomination of His Royal Highness Prince Guillaume as “Lieutenant-Representant” of his Royal Highness the Grand Duke as Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Luxembourg Heritage Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg stand at attention during the lieutenancy ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg on Oct. 8, 2024.JEAN-CHRISTOPHE VERHAEGEN/AFP via Getty

“I’ve known for a long time that this moment was coming,” Prince Guillaume said in a snippet shared toInstagram, per a translation into English. “But when he arrives, it’s a completely different matter.”

Grand Duke Henri made the surprise announcement on June 23, Luxembourg’s National Day, that he planned to appoint Prince Guillaume as Lieutenant-Representative in October. The Oct. 8 date — which is the day after the 24th anniversary of his own accession — was announced the following month.

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.Cour grand-ducale Luxembourg/Instagram

Cour grand-ducale Luxembourg/Instagram

“I would like to inform you that I have decided to appoint Prince Guillaume as Lieutenant-Representative in October,” the Grand Duke said in June, per a translation. “It is with all my love and confidence that I wish him the best of luck.”

source: people.com