© RTL
On Tuesday, October 8, Grand Duke Henri will begin the gradual transfer of power to his son, Prince Guillaume, who will take the oath and be appointed as the Lieutenant Representative, marking the first step in his journey toward assuming the leadership of the state.
RTL and Radio 100,7 conducted an exclusive interview with Grand Duke Henri and Prince Guillaume prior to the swearing-in of the Hereditary Grand Duke as Lieutenant Representative in the Chamber.
Despite having prepared for it throughout his life, Grand-Duke Henri's heir, Guillaume, understands the historical significance of this Tuesday, 8 October. "I am stressed. I have known for a long time that this moment would come. But when it arrives, it is a whole different matter, and I am a bit nervous."
Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume will, after taking an oath before the Chamber of Deputies, become Lieutenant-Representative of his father. This symbolic step will lead him, on a date yet to be determined, to take his place and assume his functions as head of state.
The date of the throne change remains a secret
The exact date when Grand Duke Henri will officially abdicate in favour of his eldest son remains a mystery to the Grand Ducal family. He himself served as Lieutenant Representative under Grand Duke Jean from 1998 to 2000 for two and a half years. This time, there is also expected to be a relatively short transition phase. More details were not revealed in the interview.
The small advisory circle at the court is already in the process of being reshuffled in view of the throne change, so that the new Grand Duke can work with a completely new team afterwards. However, this will also be done in a gentle transition, emphasises Prince Guillaume. There is already a list of names, but who the new Grand Marshal will be has not yet been decided.
"I am 42 years old. I have solid experience as an heir, and I feel well prepared." Prince Guillaume shared.. "At 42, one is still young and has many new ideas to implement. So, this was ideal for me, and I thank my father for the trust he gives me."
For his part, Grand-Duke Henri welcomes this new stage with serenity. "We have been planning this for years with the Grand-Duchess, Prince Guillaume, and Princess Stéphanie. I think we must prepare." He expresses that he is mainly "happy" to gradually pass the torch. "I don't really like the word retirement, but it feels like that, yes..." he confesses, having ascended to the throne himself on 7 October 2000, 24 years ago.
The parallel extends between the two men, as Henri was 42 years old in March 1998 when he became Lieutenant-Representative of Grand-Duke Jean. "I think this is a good sign." It was also he who opened the door to this transition, aware that the duration of his reign requires a gradual approach. "The lieutenancy facilitates all of this. We are indeed the only country in the world where this form of transition exists, and it is a very good thing."
With this new role as Lieutenant-Representative, the Hereditary Grand-Duke will be able to "get more involved" in the life of the state. "This is a whole other aspect of responsibilities, getting familiar with international politics and diplomacy, the decrees to be signed, the entire legislative aspect, which I do not know perfectly either."
Guillaume will also be responsible for signing Grand-Ducal decrees, which he will initial with "We, Henri..." in his father's name. But he assures that he will maintain his current activities, such as economic missions and his commitment to Luxembourg scouts.
Prince Guillaume: a committed family man
Prince Guillaume insists on actively participating in his children’s upbringing. Each morning, Prince Charles attends preschool, and in the evenings, the children are lovingly tucked into bed. For Prince Guillaume, balancing family life with professional responsibilities is essential, just as it is important for his children to grow up in a nurturing family environment.
To facilitate this, the family plans to build a dependency next to the Château de Berg. This sustainable family home, designed in a classic style, will blend harmoniously with its surroundings and be financed using the family’s own resources.
The project is currently undergoing adjustments to align with the local development plan (PAG). According to Prince Guillaume, the Château de Berg is simply too large and lacks the privacy necessary for a family-friendly atmosphere. Renovating it would not only be prohibitively expensive but also nearly impossible.
Following the throne change, Grand Duke Henri and his wife, Maria Teresa, will return to Fischbach, in keeping with tradition. Meanwhile, the Château in Colmar-Berg will be designated for official events and will open further to the public.
