As Grand Duke Henri prepares to step back after nearly 25 years on the throne, Luxembourg reflects on the key milestones of his reign and the gradual transition of power to his son, Prince Guillaume.
RTL has compiled 70 years of archives to look back on the reign of Grand Duke Henri, ahead of what will be his final National Day at the helm of the Luxembourg state.
Now aged 70, Grand Duke Henri is set to celebrate 25 years on the throne in October 2025. Born on 16 April 1955 at Betzdorf Castle, he is the eldest of five children of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.
Henri completed his secondary education in both Luxembourg and France, earning his baccalaureate in 1974. He then continued his studies at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the UK, where he received his officer’s commission in 1975. Following this, he enrolled at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, obtaining a degree in Political Science in 1980. It was during his time at university that he met his future wife, Maria Teresa Mestre.
The couple married on Valentine's Day, 14 February 1981, at Luxembourg Cathedral. They went on to have five children together.
Ten key moments of his reign
On 7 October 2000, Grand Duke Henri officially took the oath before the Chamber of Deputies, committing to uphold the Constitution and the laws of Luxembourg, as well as to protect national independence, territorial integrity, and individual freedoms.
On 14 February 2001, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, surrounded by their five children.
On 9 April 2003, during an official mission with UNESCO in Bangladesh, the Grand Duchess met Professor Muhammad Yunus, known as the "banker to the poor". This meeting marked the beginning of a lasting friendship with the man who would later be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in microfinance.
On 10 October 2003, the University of Luxembourg was established. Today, with 7,000 students from 150 countries, the institution has become a success story that benefits young people, academic research, the economy, and the country as a whole.
Tragedy struck on 10 January 2005 with the passing of Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, marking a period of national mourning.
On 1 December 2008, the Grand Duke expressed reservations about a law on euthanasia, citing reasons of personal conscience. This sparked a constitutional crisis which ultimately led to a reduction in his powers, though it also prompted constitutional reforms adopted in 2023.
On 20 June 2011, he introduced gender equality in the line of succession to the throne, a significant step for the monarchy in Luxembourg.
On 18 June 2014, he signed into law the legislation legalising same-sex marriage. Luxembourg had already been a pioneer in decriminalising homosexuality as early as 1974.
On 23 April 2019, the nation mourned once again with the death of Grand Duke Jean at the age of 98.
Most recently, on 23 June 2024, during his National Day address at the Philharmonie, the Grand Duke announced his decision to appoint Prince Guillaume as his Lieutenant Representative starting in October, marking the beginning of a gradual transition of power.
Transition of power
This handover signals the first step in Grand Duke Henri’s progressive withdrawal from public duties after nearly a quarter of a century on the throne. It also marks the start of the transfer of responsibilities to Prince Guillaume, who is 42 years old.
Speaking to dignitaries and the royal family at the Philharmonie, the Grand Duke expressed warm wishes and full confidence in his son as he takes on greater responsibilities. In conversation with RTL, he explained that he felt it was time to slow down and give Guillaume more room to lead.
On behalf of himself and his wife, Henri also shared his happiness at regaining a sense of freedom and returning to what he described as a more "normal" life. An avid sportsman, he had ascended to the throne in 2000 following the abdication of his father, who had reigned for 36 years.
Prince Guillaume, the eldest of Henri and Maria Teresa’s five children, began his schooling in the small commune of Lorentzweiler before attending secondary school in Luxembourg City. Following in his father's footsteps, he studied in Switzerland and then enrolled at Sandhurst in the UK. He later earned a double degree in literature and political science from the University of Angers in France.
Since 2012, he has been married to Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy. The couple has two sons, Charles, born in 2020, and François, born in 2023.
© PATRICK VAN KATWIJK / Dutch Photo Press / dpa Picture-Alliance via AFP
