Tuesday marked a significant milestone for the Luxembourg royal family as Grand Duke Henri appointed his son, Prince Guillaume, as Lieutenant-Representative.
In this role, Guillaume will take on most of his father’s constitutional powers, representing an initial step toward Grand Duke Henri’s abdication.
This appointment follows a tradition within the Luxembourg monarchy; Henri himself was named Lieutenant-Representative in 1998 by his father, Grand Duke Jean.
Henri ascended to the throne on October 7, 2000, after his father’s abdication. He will celebrate 25 years of reign in 2025, but during his 69th birthday in April, he revealed his intention to appoint his eldest son, Guillaume, to this important role.
In a joint interview prior to the ceremony, Grand Duke Henri did not disclose the exact date he plans to abdicate but mentioned, according to The Luxembourg Times, that it would not be a lengthy wait: “It won’t take forever.” Speculation suggests that his abdication may coincide with the 25th anniversary of his reign and his 70th birthday next year.
With Prince Guillaume’s new responsibilities come significant duties, such as signing documents into law and participating in state visits. “I really want to give Prince Guillaume a lot more responsibility because I think I really need to slow down,” the Grand Duke stated.
Guillaume married Stéphanie de Lannoy in 2012, and the couple has two young sons—Prince Charles, age four, and 18-month-old Prince François. There will be no changes to Princess Stéphanie’s role, and she will continue with her regular public engagements.
Local media reports that a privately funded annex is being constructed for Guillaume, Stéphanie, and their family on the grounds of the royal family’s residence at Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg, with plans for the move to take place when Guillaume becomes Grand Duke.
Meanwhile, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa will relocate to Fischbach Castle in central Luxembourg.
In addition to Guillaume, Henri and Maria Teresa are parents to Prince Félix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Sébastien. The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess also have eight grandchildren, including the newest addition—Princess Alexandra’s daughter, Victoire, who was born in May.
