Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg Abdicates After 25 Years

On October 3, after a 25-year reign, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg officially abdicated the throne, passing power to his eldest son, Crown Prince Guillaume. The solemn ceremony of the transfer of power, which took place at the ducal palace and was broadcast live, symbolizes a change of generations in one of Europe's richest and most stable monarchies.

The ceremony was attended not only by members of the ducal family, including Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and the now new Grand Duke Guillaume with his wife, Princess Stéphanie, but also by the political leadership of Luxembourg, headed by Prime Minister Luc Frieden. The importance of the event was also emphasized by the presence of the leaders of neighboring countries, namely King Philippe of Belgium, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Unlike in many other monarchies where the monarch reigns until the end of his life, Henri's abdication was a planned and smooth transition. He had announced his intention back in June, continuing the tradition started by his father, Grand Duke Jean, who also abdicated voluntarily in 2000.

Grand Duke Henri's quarter-century reign was marked by the country's modernization and prosperity, but also by one constitutional crisis. In 2008, guided by his Catholic faith, he refused to sign a law legalizing euthanasia, which led to a constitutional amendment and a significant reduction in the monarch's powers, leaving him with a purely ceremonial role.

Now, the 43-year-old Grand Duke Guillaume, who enjoys the love and respect of the people, takes the helm of Luxembourg.

He is considered a well-prepared leader who has represented the country on the international stage for many years, focusing on economic diplomacy, technology, and social issues. With his wife, Stéphanie, they have two sons, Charles and François, ensuring the continuity of the Nassau-Weilburg dynasty.