In just over a month, the country will witness a historic moment as Grand Duke Henri formally passes the crown to his eldest son, with the promise of a long weekend of celebrations.

Preparations for the coronation of Luxembourg’s future Grand Duke, Prince Guillaume, are entering their final stages. The programme includes the entire grand ducal family appearing on the palace balcony after the symbolic “passing of the torch,” a walkabout by the new Grand Duke in front of Luxembourg City Hall, visits to four municipalities, an orchestral concert with a tram ballet, and a dazzling nighttime drone show.

The enthronement ceremonies will take place on 3, 4, and 5 October 2025, marking the official transfer of the throne from Grand Duke Henri to Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg who has served as lieutenant-representative since 2022. The festivities will unfold across Luxembourg City and the four municipalities selected for the enthronement tour.

Although the overall framework of the three-day celebrations were announced in early May, further details were revealed on Monday morning, offering a clearer picture of how the historic accession will unfold.

Throne accession in Luxembourg City 

This is the historic day of accession that Grand Duke Henri alluded to in mid-2024, when he unexpectedly announced during the National Day celebrations that he would pass the reins to his son, Prince Guillaume. The exact date of 3 October  remained under wraps for months, with the Court carefully following protocol.

On Friday, 3 October, the official ceremonies will begin at the Grand Ducal Palace with Grand Duke Henri’s abdication at 10am, followed an hour later by Prince Guillaume’s swearing-in before the Chamber of Deputies. Soon after, the entire family will step onto the palace balcony for a moment of history that Luxembourgers rarely experience in their lifetimes.

In the afternoon, the new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Stéphanie will visit Luxembourg City Hall, meet the public on the Knuedler, and continue to the Cercle Cité for a grand reception. The day’s events will culminate in a gala dinner at the palace.

A Saturday spent meeting the locals

The inauguration “tour” on Saturday will take the new Grand Ducal couple through four lucky municipalities: Grevenmacher, Wiltz, Steinfort, and Dudelange. The grand finale will be in Luxembourg City.

On the first full day of his reign, Grand Duke Guillaume will meet residents across the country, aiming to “honour their diversity, their expertise, their achievements, as well as the cultural and community scene.”

The programme begins at 1pm in Grevenmacher, where the couple will meet civil representatives, volunteers, and professionals dedicated to sport. In Wiltz, at 2.40pm, Prince Guillaume will celebrate diversity and community spirit with a gathering and a special musical performance. By 4.30pm, in Steinfort, he will pay tribute to the kindness and solidarity of healthcare staff and patients at the Intercommunal Hospital of Steinfort.

From 6pm in Dudelange, Prince Guillaume will attend a choreographed performance tracing the transformations of society in a city marked by its rich industrial past. Finally, at 8pm, the couple will return to the capital for the day’s highlight: a “dynamic and orchestral” spectacle on the Red Bridge. As the show unfolds, Guillaume and Stéphanie will step onto the bridge, accompanied by representatives of society and a multicolored ballet of trams.

A solemn Sunday

The coronation weekend will conclude on a spiritual note with a solemn Te Deum on Sunday at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City. The service will be presided over by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich and will mark the official end of the celebrations.

RTL will provide live coverage throughout the weekend, including Friday’s ceremonies, Saturday’s inauguration tour, and Sunday’s religious service.

Further details can be found by clicking  trounwiessel.lu

Read also: Grand Ducal House unveils official programme for October Accession to the throne