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A new king in sight: Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume becomes deputy!
Grand Duke Henri officially appoints his son Guillaume as deputy. The handover of office is in preparation.
A new king in sight: Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume becomes deputy!
Significant changes in the monarchical succession are imminent in Luxembourg. Grand Duke Henri will officially appoint his son, the Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, as his deputy at 3 p.m. today. This step not only represents a formal transfer of responsibilities, but is also interpreted as preparation for the future handover of office. The 42-year-old Guillaume will take on certain tasks as "Lieutenant-Resentant", while his father, the 69-year-old Henri, will continue to carry out the role of head of state.
The official appointment takes place after the signing of a grand ducal resolution in the palace, followed by a swearing-in ceremony in front of the Chamber of Deputies. Afterwards, a public meeting with the citizens is planned in the square in front of the parliament and the palace, to which many citizens will certainly appear.
The role of the Grand Duke and governance
Henri has been at the helm of the second smallest country in the European Union since October 7, 2000. Last year, on the occasion of Luxembourg's national holiday, he announced that he would make his son governor. This decision was observed by many as it shows an interesting parallel to Henri's own career. He himself was appointed to the office of “Lieutenant-Representant” two and a half years before his father Jean abdicated.
The title “Grand Duke” refers to monarchs who can be classified between a king and a duke. This is reflected in the history of Luxembourg, which is the only currently existing Grand Duchy in the world and has a population of around 670,000 people.
Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume has been married to Princess Stéphanie, a Belgian countess, since October 2012, and the couple have two sons. The royal offspring are already in the public eye, and the responsibility that comes with their role in the monarchy will continue to increase in the future.
Today's appointment not only marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Luxembourg monarchy, but also represents an important moment in the legacy of this traditional institution. While citizens look forward to the ceremony, the question of Grand Duke Henri's future abdication remains unanswered.