Overview

• The palace has scheduled Henri’s abdication for Friday morning at the Grand Ducal Palace, followed by Guillaume’s oath before the Chamber of Deputies by midday, a balcony appearance, a government reception and an evening gala dinner.
• The program continues over the weekend with official visits on Saturday, a nighttime drone show and concert in Luxembourg City, and a Sunday mass at Notre-Dame Cathedral with Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich.
• New official portraits of Guillaume in military dress and Stéphanie wearing a tiara were released ahead of the transition, with works set for display at the Grand Ducal Palace and in the Chamber of Deputies.
• The grand ducal role remains largely symbolic, with historian Christoph Brüll emphasizing that real political direction lies with the government and that the head of state’s leverage is primarily rhetorical and ceremonial.
• Guillaume, educated in London, Switzerland, France and at Sandhurst, has acknowledged pre-accession nerves and will represent a wealthy EU financial hub facing housing strains, an aging population and heavy cross-border commuting.