Luxembourg’s Crown Prince Guillaume will be appointed lieutenant-representative of the grand duke in October. It’s an additional step of transition to the next generation. Pictured is the crown prince with his wife princess Stéphanie, standing on the balcony of the town hall in Esch-sur-Alzette, on the country’s national day, Photo: SIP

Luxembourg’s Crown Prince Guillaume will be appointed lieutenant-representative of the grand duke in October. It’s an additional step of transition to the next generation. Pictured is the crown prince with his wife princess Stéphanie, standing on the balcony of the town hall in Esch-sur-Alzette, on the country’s national day,  Photo: SIP

Crown Prince Guillaume will be appointed lieutenant-representative of Grand Duke Henri, the Grand Duke announced on the morning of national day, Sunday 23 June, during his speech at the Philharmonie.

will take a further step towards his retirement in October, he announced on the morning of Sunday 23 June at the Philharmonie during his speech on National Day: he will appoint as his lieutenant-representative. This came as a surprise, as the announcement was not included in the speeches that had been sent to the country’s media under embargo.

“It is with all my love and confidence that I wish him good luck,” said the grand duke, in the official announcement sent by the royal court.

In his first text, Grand Duke Henri said: “Despite all these challenges, Luxembourg’s democracy remains strong and is based on stable institutions. Our economy is showing signs of recovery. We are continuing to invest in innovation for sustainable growth. Initiatives to prepare our younger generations are essential for our future. Luxembourg has always been an open country. Our cultural diversity is an invaluable asset. Only together can we overcome the challenges and seize the opportunities that lie ahead.”

This position at the grand ducal court allows the grand duke to delegate certain tasks to his future successor for an indefinite period, while remaining the grand duke. “I think the grand duke has prepared himself extremely well,” said prime minister (CSV), interviewed by RTL from the Philharmonie. “We’ve been talking about it for a while. National day is a particularly good occasion because the grand duke is a symbol of our nation, a symbol of the continuity of the state (...). He has my full support.”

As the court’s website points out, this will be the sixth time this scenario has occurred, the last having taken place in 1998 and ended two years later with the abdication of Grand Duke Jean in favour of Prince Henri, then crown prince.

- The first lieutenancy was that of Prince Henri of the Netherlands, appointed by his brother, King Grand Duke William III, on 5 February 1850 (sworn in on 24 October 1850). It lasted for almost 30 years, until Prince Henri’s death on 13 January 1879.

- The second lieutenancy was that of Prince William of Nassau, later Grand Duke William IV, to whom his father, Grand Duke Adolphe, then aged 85, entrusted the powers of lieutenant-representative on 4 April 1902 (sworn in on 14 April 1902). It ended with his accession to the throne on the death of Grand Duke Adolphe on 17 November 1905.

- The third lieutenancy took place on 19 March 1908 (sworn in on 2 April 1908), when Grand Duke Wilhelm IV, due to his state of health, appointed his wife, Grand Duchess Marie-Anne, as lieutenant-representative. This lieutenancy ended on 13 November 1908, when the regency was established.

- The fourth lieutenancy was that of the Crown Prince Jean, who was appointed lieutenant-representative of Grand Duchess Charlotte on 28 April 1961 (sworn in on 4 May 1961). It ended on 12 November 1964 with the abdication of Grand Duchess Charlotte in his favour.

- The fifth lieutenancy was held by Prince Henri, then crown prince, from 3 March 1998 (sworn in on 4 March 1998). This ended on 7 October 2000, with the abdication of Grand Duke Jean in his favour.

This is “a normal procedure, but at the same time a historic one, which opens the page of a new chapter,” stressed the prime minister, speaking to RTL at the Philharmonie.

This article was first published in French on . It has been translated and edited for Delano.

Related articles