From abdication to accession: Luxembourg's royal weekend guide

Friday marks a historic moment in the Grand Duchy's modern history: After 25 years on the throne, Grand Duke Henri will formally abdicate and his eldest son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, will take over as Luxembourg's new head of state.

Luxembourg has been a Grand Duchy since 1815, with Guillaume now becoming the country's 10th sovereign.

While the actual transition is taking place on Friday, the change has been a year in the making. Ever since Grand Duke Henri officially announced his plans to stand down – following in the footsteps of his father Grand Duke Jean and grand-mother Grand Duchess Charlotte, who both abdicated and named their successors Lieutenant-Representative – Guillaume has steadily been taking over the responsibilities of the state head to ensure a smooth transition.

Preparations have also been in full swing across the country. Flagship companies like Luxair have quite literally started spreading the message across the skies with a special accession branding on their planes, and Guillaume's face features prominently on Luxembourg's new euro coin, as well as numerous goodies designed for the special occasion.

In the run-up to the transition, the House of the Grand Duke also unveiled Guillaume's new monogram.

And with a wide range of ceremonies and festivities scheduled across the country between Friday and Sunday, the country will be able to watch closely as the formal abdication of Grand Duke Henri and subsequent swearing-in of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume ring in a new era for Luxembourg.

The royal transition, from ceremonies to festivities

The accession to the throne will be marked by several days of celebrations. Official ceremonies will take place in Luxembourg City on Friday, 3 October, including the abdication of Grand Duke Henri at the Grand Ducal Palace at 10am, and the swearing-in of Guillaume as the new Grand Duke in the Chamber of Deputies at 11am.

At 12.15pm, the Grand Ducal family will then make an appearance on the balcony of the Palace, marking Guillaume's first public appearance as the new sovereign.

A brief reception at the Luxembourg City town hall follows at 1.10pm before the new Grand Ducal couple is scheduled to meet the public at Place Guillaume II at 1.25pm. The government will then hold a final reception at Cercle Cité at 1.50pm, while the day is rounded off with a gala diner at the Palace at 7pm.

On Saturday, 4 October, public festivities will be held at symbolic locations across the country as the Grand Ducal couple embarks on a one-day tour of Luxembourg.

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, Guillaume will celebrate diversity and community spirit with a gathering and a special musical performance.

By 4.30pm they will arrive in Steinfort, where the new Grand Duke will pay tribute to the kindness and solidarity of healthcare staff and patients at the Intercommunal Hospital of Steinfort. At 6pm in Dudelange, he will attend a choreographed performance tracing the transformations of society in a city marked by its rich industrial past.

As of 8pm, attention will once again turn to the capital for the spectacular conclusion of public festivities. Starting off is a large-scale performance on the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge, featuring eight trams that each represent themes important to the new Grand Duke, including a stunning 1,600 participants and live music. At 10pm, a drone show will be held at Glacis square, followed by 32 local artists performing on a stunning 360-degree stage.

Throne handover rehearsals held at Luxexpo on 13 September 2025. / © Domingos Oliveira

Also to be expected are a number of prominent faces from the Grand Duchy, ranging from polyglot star reporter Philip Crowther to Michelin-starred chef Léa Linster and Tour de France–winner Andy Schleck.

Note that the bridge will be closed for preparations and the show, with tram services between the Philharmonie and Place de l'Étoile also suspended on Saturday evening.

On Sunday, 5 October, the Grand Ducal Family will attend a Te Deum at Luxembourg's Notre-Dame Cathedral, held by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich and formally rounding off the royal transition weekend.

Live coverage on RTL Today

As per usual for Luxembourg's most significant milestones, RTL Today will also be there to provide you all of the latest updates, pictures, and videos in a dedicated live ticker from Friday to Sunday. So even if you are unable to join any of the festivities in person, know that we got you covered from start to finish.