# Coronation imminent: on Friday, Luxembourg gets a new monarch **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2025, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553 "2025-10-01T07:31:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/1 "2025-10-01T07:31:39Z")
As some of you know, I am a resident of the small European country of Luxembourg. And right now, we are all abuzz with the upcoming transfer of power from our currently reigning monarch to his son. Both my kids are among students who will be joining class field trips to attend the ceremonies, for example. It’s a big deal here. And yet, I’ve looked around a bit, and as far as I can tell, this event is getting zero coverage (or close to it) in the international media. There is, of course, a lot of other competing news right now, and we’re pretty obscure on the world stage, so that’s perhaps not surprising. Nevertheless, a royal coronation is a glitzy, glamorous spectacle, so I’m posting this with some basic information and some local news articles, for anyone who’s interested. First, some basic questions: **Luxembourg is a monarchy? So you have a king?** Not a king, a Grand Duke (or occasionally Grand Duchess). We’re the only Grand Duchy in the world. **So the old Grand Duke died, and his son gets to take over?** Nobody died. Grand Duke Henri announced his abdication a few months ago. On Friday, he officially steps down and his son Guillaume becomes Grand Duke. **Is Henri sick? Was there a scandal? Why did he quit?** Not really. Luxembourg has a longstanding tradition where the monarch retires and hands off power. We haven’t had a Grand Duke (or Duchess) die in office for more than a hundred years. (That said, this is a royal family, so there’s always a little bit of scandal. But ours are boring, compared to the shenanigans in Buckingham Palace. Most recently, there was some finger-wagging because the Grand Duke’s wife apparently yelled at some of the house staff one time.) **If the Grand Duke is a reigning monarch, does he have any power? I thought Europe was pretty much democratic.** The Grand Duke’s office is strictly ceremonial. His is the final signature on every law after it’s passed by the legislature, judicial appointments are made in his name after they’re agreed by the relevant panels, and so on, but his role is entirely symbolic. (This wasn’t always the case. A couple of decades ago, Henri refused to sign off on an assisted-suicide law, on religious grounds. The legislature swiftly assembled to make a Constitutional adjustment explicitly stating that the Grand Duke has a duty to affirm, full stop. He is now, fully and officially, just a rubber stamp.) **What’s it like living in a monarchy?** It’s mostly the same as any other Western democracy, except you see portraits of the Royal Couple behind the counter at a fair number of local businesses (just like you’ll see the Thai king on the wall at many Thai restaurants). Also, our **[national patriotic holiday](https://luxembourg.public.lu/en/society-and-culture/festivals-and-traditions/national-day.html)** (akin to the American Fourth of July) is held in the name of the Grand Duke. Feel free to ask any other questions, if you like, and I’ll try to answer. Here’s some local news coverage about the Friday transition. Rundown on the events planned: > **[Everything in one place: From abdication to accession: Luxembourg's royal...](https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2339767.html)** > > As Luxembourg readies to ring in a new Grand Ducal era, read up on our final breakdown of the royal transition and what to expect on the big weekend, including details of festivities and live coverage on RTL Today. Puff-piece biography on the incoming Grand Duke: > **[Luxembourg's Royals: Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume: A life in the public eye](https://today.rtl.lu/luxembourg-insider/history/a/1280229.html)** > > In our ongoing series on Luxembourg's Royals, RTL Today delves into the history of the Grand Ducal family. Interview with a constitutional law professor discussing the place of the monarchy in modern Luxembourg: > **[Accession to the throne: Hopes for a 'less turbulent' monarchy under...](https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2341203.html)** > > In RTL Radio’s Interview with constitutional law professor Luc Heuschling on Tuesday, Heuschling suggests Luxembourg's monarchy remains popular due to its perceived pragmatic value, but faces a critical juncture as it balances modern public... Category page on the same site with a bunch more articles in English (_Trounwiessel_ literally means “change of throne” in Luxembourgish): > **[RTL Today - Trounwiessel](https://today.rtl.lu/dossier/trounwiessel/news)** And finally, this is the only international news story I could find about the event (there’s nothing on CNN, The Guardian, etc.): > **[Pop art adds splash of colour to Luxembourg's coronation](https://uk.news.yahoo.com/pop-art-adds-splash-colour-061422637.html)** > > As Luxembourg awaits the coronation of a new Grand Duke, local artist Jacques Schneider is planning to jazz up the occasion with a splash of pop art. Among them is a black-and-white portrait of the current Grand Duke, Henri, in a military... ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/2 "2025-10-01T08:09:49Z")
_“The new king same as the old king”_ - The Who - _Won’t Get Fooled Again_ (I really do not know…kinda amazed there are still kings though) ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/3 "2025-10-01T09:47:14Z")
I have to agree that the upcoming coronation has not been the talk of the town, here in Canada. I had read a small article about the succession a few months ago. I think most people in North America couldn’t tell you much about Luxembourg, and many would think it’s the same thing as les Jardins du Luxembourg. Flying under the radar may be a winning strategy in today’s world. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/4 "2025-10-01T11:19:30Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > And yet, I’ve looked around a bit, and as far as I can tell, this event is getting zero coverage (or close to it) in the international media. FWIW, I saw a small article in my local German newspaper yesterday about the event, but of course we’re neighbors and have close ties, so this isn’t surprising. But no big deal either, I bet if you asked random people here who is or will be Luxembourg’s Grand Duke, more than 99 % would draw a blank. The most famous Luxembourger here would be [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Juncker), but he used to be president of the European Commission after all, a position with real political power. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/5 "2025-10-01T11:24:15Z")
I’m impressed by how non-elderly Henri is. It’s good to see royals retiring while still fully vigorous. Despite his purely ceremonial role, that suggests he’s been able to do it diligently. We should all do something similar about elected politicians. All life appointments end when turning 70 and nobody can be elected to take office on/after turning 70. Or some other suitable age, but make it near the age ordinary people retire, not 20 years later. Gerontocracy is inherently bad. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/6 "2025-10-01T11:32:44Z")
Just in case it is not clear: Guillaume, the name of the new king, means William. In Spain he will be called el rey Guillermo, the Germans call him Guillaume, although they could translate it as Wilhelm, like the last two Kaisers. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/7 "2025-10-01T11:34:22Z")
> [@EinsteinsHund](#): > > The most famous Luxembourger here would be [Jean-Claude Juncker](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Claude_Juncker), but he used to be president of the European Commission after all, a position with real political power. We’re used to being largely unknown outside our borders. If you ask the average person to identify a Luxembourger, they’ll probably draw a blank, unless they’re a politics nerd and remember Juncker. _Maybe_ a serious cinema fan would name Vicky Krieps, who’s been pretty successful in Hollywood over the last few years, but I wouldn’t count on it. That said, Luxembourg has produced a couple of famous names that people generally don’t connect to the country. Hugo Gernsback, the sci-fi author and editor whose name is immortalized as the Hugo Award, was Luxembourgish, for example. And the character of Doctor Mabuse, still recognizable to fans of pulp storytelling, was invented by a Luxembourger. All in all, I suspect most people here are content to continue staying out of the spotlight. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/8 "2025-10-01T11:36:51Z")
> [@Pardel-Lux](#): > > the Germans call him Guillaume, although they could translate it as Wilhelm, like the last two Kaisers. Nitpick: the Willis were not the last two German Kaisers, but there was a small period when Friedrich III held the reign, in the Dreikaiserjahr (Three Kaisers Year) of 1888. ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/9 "2025-10-01T11:37:40Z")
That is correct: well nitpicked! ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/10 "2025-10-01T11:41:58Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > As some of you know, I am a resident of the small European country of Luxembourg. I didn’t know, and thanks for this post! Keep us up on how everything goes. More facts about your beautiful little country are eagerly welcomed! ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/11 "2025-10-01T11:41:58Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > We’re used to being largely unknown outside our borders. If you ask the average person to identify a Luxembourger, they’ll probably draw a blank, unless they’re a politics nerd and remember Juncker. _Maybe_ a serious cinema fan would name Vicky Krieps, who’s been pretty successful in Hollywood over the last few years, but I wouldn’t count on it. And cycling fans like me will remember Andy Schleck, winner of the Tour der France 2010. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/12 "2025-10-01T11:43:08Z")
Is it an actual coronation? With a crown? I thought only the British monarchy did that any more. Most EU royals just have a swearing in, like any old president. ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/13 "2025-10-01T11:50:07Z")
Just a swearing-in. At least that’s how the various announcements have described it. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/14 "2025-10-01T11:52:47Z")
Americans of a certain age would be more familiar with the “Grand Duchy” of Fenwick. > [@SanVito](#): > > Most EU royals just have a swearing in, like any old president. Some of them if they want to get really fancy have the old crown and various other paraphernalia on display in a table during the ceremony. I mean why futz about trying to fit the thing to a new head every 30 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/15 "2025-10-01T11:54:56Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > We’re used to being largely unknown outside our borders. Nothing against your fine country, but is there any real reason that anyone outside of Luxembourg ought to have much interest in it? 682k population, 1000 sq miles. A tax haven with an abundance of rich bankers. I admit I may at times confuse Luxembourg with Lichenstein. Which one was featured in the documentary The Mouse That Roared? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/16 "2025-10-01T11:58:57Z")
Hey! Liechtenstein and Monaco will remind you, these are _Sovereign Principalities_. Not just Better-than-Adequate Duchys. And there used to be a lot more Luxembourg but then the Napoleonic Wars happened. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 12:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/17 "2025-10-01T12:29:27Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Liechtenstein and Monaco will remind you, Yeah - visited Monaco last year. Their grand foundation story was some guy snuck into the city dressed up as a monk or something, opened the city gates at night to let in his army, and stole the joint. So now, several centuries later his billionaire playboy descendant sits on a throne as the serene poobah. While they have pretend soldiers marching up and down in front of their Disney palace. 🙄 ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/18 "2025-10-01T15:10:28Z")
Years ago, I used to sometimes talk with co-workers in Esch-sur-Alzette. But otherwise I don’t spend much time thinking about Luxembourg. I think one of my old classmates/Facebook friends lives there now, I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/19 "2025-10-01T15:19:09Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Americans of a certain age would be more familiar with the “Grand Duchy” of Fenwick. Or the Grand Duke from _Cinderella_, though he wasn’t the reigning monarch. ---
**Author:** ![Die\_Capacitrix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/die_capacitrix/32/9_2.png) [@Die\_Capacitrix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Die_Capacitrix)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2025, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553/20 "2025-10-01T15:24:06Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > And finally, this is the only international news story I could find about the event (there’s nothing on CNN, The Guardian, etc.): I couldn’t find anything on the local news, or the Zurich news, but I did find this article, which is also available in German: > **[Prince Guillaume becomes the new Grand Duke of Luxembourg](https://www.bluewin.ch/en/entertainment/prince-guillaume-becomes-the-new-grand-duke-of-luxembourg-2895630.html)** > > On October 3, Grand Duke Henri will hand over the throne to his son Guillaume after 25 years as Head of State. Heads of state and crowned heads are expected. There is no mention of anybody from the Swiss Federal Council attending the coronation. Is there any reason it’s this Friday, besides the fact that it’s fairly close to exactly 25 years? > [@Cervaise](#): > > Both my kids are among students who will be joining class field trips to attend the ceremonies, for example. Is school canceled, or is a national holiday and everything’s canceled? Happy Trounwiessel! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/coronation-imminent-on-friday-luxembourg-gets-a-new-monarch/1023553.md?page=2)