Today is a historic day for Luxembourg, as Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume succeeded his father, Grand Duke Henri, as monarch. Following his appointment on 8 October 2024 as Lieutenant-Représentant, Luxembourg now celebrates this momentous event. Grand Duke Guillaume ascended the throne of Luxembourg after swearing an oath in a traditional ceremony on Friday, 3 October 2025. His wife, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, became the new Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
Attending the abdication of Grand Duke Henri and the accession ceremony of Grand Duke Guillaume were King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium with Princess Elisabeth, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands with Princess Amalia, President of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola and her husband Ukko Metsola, and President of the European Council António Costa.
The proceedings began with the signing of the Grand Ducal Act of Abdication by Grand Duke Henri at the Grand Ducal Palace. The ceremony took place in the presence of national dignitaries, including the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Claude Wiseler, the Prime Minister, Luc Frieden, the Deputy Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, Honorary Ministers of State Jean-Claude Juncker and Jacques Santer, as well as the Mayor Lydie Polfer.
Also present were Grand Duke Henri’s four other children. His second son, Prince Félix, was accompanied by his wife, Princess Claire, while Henri and Maria Teresa’s only daughter, Princess Alexandra, attended with her husband, Nicolas Bagory. After being sworn in as Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie greeted the public from the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace together with their sons, Prince Charles and Prince François.
I guess olive & bordeaux is color of the day!
ReplyDeleteBut what is Amalia doing? On her kneed? That’s a bite old fashion this is 2025; exaggerate! The Lux. Familie was dressed well. Belgium also especially Elizabeth; very Nice dress ;) Dutch what do the have with their coats/cape’s that’s a pitty. I would advise leave your coats at home! The colour didn’t do anything bij Máxima dress is boring
DeleteCape time ... I can understand very well that Máxima and Amalia wear (removable) capes instead of coats, because a coat could and would crumple part of the outfit under it, if you remove it inside. So a cape is a good solution. But I don't love those capes attached to the gowns of the other ladies. Maybe MT wears this style to kind of elongate herself, and it works quite well. Bt the new Grand Duchess' gown ... is overdone in more than one respect. Partly because the upper front is shaped like an armour, I cannot get rid of this association. And partly because oh my God, pleats upon pleats upon pleats, where is Stephanie under and inside so much fabric? Amalia's dress is a classic and beautiful, also a good length. Elisabeth: the top part is overdone, the width is too much in relation with the tight skirt part. Mathilde: timelessly elegant (some would say "outdated" :-)), Máxima: sure quite restrained, compared to her usual exuberance, but I don't like the top part and it seems to me that half-sleeves are not my favourite with such a top-heavy and non-summery fabric like this one.
ReplyDeleteWith all due respect 13:02, and muchly appreciating your analysis, I think that the day you become Grand Duchess is absolutely the day to overdo the lot! I can only say bravo and you get to wear what you like today, Stephanie of Luxembourg!
DeleteAs always the Belgian Royal family show the most taste and style.
ReplyDeleteStephanie, so sad, far above her age; Marie-Therese: simple and good; Maxima as Maxima; Amalia: the dress is nice but the cape- coat: oh, please, she is only 21 years old! Alexandra: beautifull dress and coat.
Yes the Belgians my favourite as well
DeleteDear 13:31 , even as a 21 year old, a royal princess will feel the really chilly weather. Absolutely no criticism for a coat over the shoulders between car and indoors, that can be gratefully slipped off and handed to an assistant to then show the dress. She’s doing fabulously and looks stunning.
Delete"Alexandra: beautiful dress and coat". Oh, no, quite the opposite!!
DeleteJe n' aime pas du tout la robe de Stéphanie.
ReplyDeleteA mon goût les plus élégantes sont Maxima et Amalia
Froufrou
La cérémonie tant attendue !
ReplyDelete-La GD Maria Teresa : belle couleur de robe. Néanmoins, je ne suis pas éprise de la cape. De même, une longueur genoux aurait été meilleure à mon avis. Dans l’ensemble, elle demeure une femme qui sait se vêtir avec goût et modernité.
-La GD Stephanie : sa robe n’est point à mon goût. Je comprends qu’elle ait privilégié le confort. Néanmoins, je ne trouve pas cette robe moderne, encore moins élégante.
Après son accession au pouvoir, je suis très enthousiaste quant aux tenues qu’elle revêtira.
-La reine Maxima : belle robe, d’une belle couleur. Une paire d’escarpins de la même couleur aurait été tout aussi harmonieuse. Accessoires et coiffure bien choisis !
-La reine Mathilde : belle robe, d’une tout aussi belle couleur -bourgogne. Une couleur que j’affectionne particulièrement. Accessoires et coiffure tout aussi harmonieux.
-La PH Amalia : quelle joie de la voir vêtue de rouge. Elle est resplendissante.
-La PH Elisabeth : sa robe est totalement à mon goût. Je la trouve moderne, élégante et féminine. Les boucles d’oreilles sont bien assorties à sa robe.
Par contre, j’aurais opté pour une pochette aux couleur et style différents. Outre cela, des cheveux relevés auraient certainement mieux mis en exergue son visage.
Dans l’ensemble, les dames sont jolies. Cependant, certaines tenues sont plus captivantes que d’autres.
-Astrid.
All the ladies look wonderful, each according to their individual style that we now know well. I love the outfits of Maxima, Amalia, Mathilde, Elisabeth, MT and P.Alexandra. The berry and green colours are not only beautiful for the time of year, but also very complimentary to the ladies wearing them. Maxima and Amalia are my standouts. I least like Stephanie's dress, but it is of her style and it is very appropriate for her and her new role. She looks beautiful and radiant.
ReplyDeleteThe young princes, as always, are cute as buttons!
Congratulations to all the family on a job well done, and a job well done to come. May GD Henri and GD MT enjoy a relaxing and happy retirement, doing all the things they enjoy most. I'm sure we will still see them in some official capacity in the future, as we currently do with other retired monarchs, and I look forward to that.
- Anon 9:13
Great look for Stéphanie, elegant and dignified. The colour suits her well, very good hairstyle and hair colour. Also very elegant and chic: Queens Maxima and Mathilde and the two crown princesses.
ReplyDeleteStephanie's dress has a beautiful colour for her but the model with too many fabric makes her look too voluminous. It's a pity. The same goes for Maria Theresa. Maxima and Amalia together in less is more dresses. They really look pretty. But the best by far Mathilde and especially Elisabeth. What a beautiful design and colour.
ReplyDeleteAgree !!
DeleteIt is true the bodice of GD Stéphanie's dress reminds of an armour (@ Anon. 13:02). I think former GD Maria Teresa's dress is a rewear. I saw her in the same or a similar dress a couple of years ago, I think.
ReplyDeleteMany of the royal ladies choosed something in red, wine red, dark purple or aubergine depending on he light. Queen Maxima in khaki and Princess Elisabeth in navy with black stones on the bodice which twinkle when she moves. She is wearing new earrings with dark blue stones. Princess Amalia is dressed too old for her age. They say that Queen Mathilde's dress might be designed by Dior. In fact the neckline remembers a bit the navy velvet dress she wore during the last state visit to France. The children of Maria-Teresa and Henri are dressed too simple for this occasion. Maybe they will be dressed more festive this evening at the gala diner. They said President Macron would be present too and also the German president.
Ich habe das auf der -
ReplyDeletehttps://www.trounwiessel.lu/de.html#live-stream
- verfolgt und will sagen, das Kleid der Großherzogin Stephanie ist prächtig. Es wirkt auf den Bildern nicht, in Bewegung hat sie alles richtig gemacht, die Haare prachtvoll und dezenter Schmuck. Ihre Freundlichkeit, ihr lächeln und ihre Freude überstrahlen selbst des schönsten Himmels blau. Ich finde alle sahen sehr gut zurecht gemacht aus, wie es ihnen scheinbar gefällt. Gefallen hat mir nicht der weiße Hosenanzug mit den viel zu kurzen Hosenbeinen, was das sollte? Der großherzoglichen Familie alle guten Wünsche auch dem baldigen neuen Menschenkind gleich mal mit : ) und allen viel Gesundheit! - Dorothe -
Lux family continues its traditions of being poorly dressed. Stephanie's dress is a pretty color but unflattering and aging. Alexandra's maternity outfit looks uncomfortable and tight in all the wrong places. Claire's suit is weirdly informal, and the jacket is both too wide and too short in the front. MT's obsession with peekaboo outfits continues. Now for a palate-cleanser, the well-dressed Belgians....
ReplyDeleteCouldn’t agree more. Not sure why no one can advise the Luxembourg royals-it’s really surprising how poor their choices are.
DeleteAnd yes, the Belgians, hurrah! Truly amazing. Love what we have seen so far from Elisabeth. She’s different from Mathilde, but in a good way, age appropriate way.
Whilst I have appreciation for the colourful style the Dutch royals have (would be so boring without Maxima and now Amalia!), today’s choices aren’t my favourites on either. Looking for other foreign heads of state, several were announced but unclear if they actually attended.
@Anonymous 14:48 - I agree with your observations about the Luxembourg ladies’ outfits. I don’t love Mathilde’s dress - the top part reminds me of a doily. But Elisabeth looks beautiful. She and Amalia are so poised.
Delete-Royal Watcher
@Anon 15:42 Totally agree with your comments concerning Alexandra's dress. Far too tight, too short, the fabric especially the skirt too light. She obviously wanted to show off her baby bump - but she could have done this in a far more elegant, fluid dress.
DeleteSome disappointments here, but also some pleasant surprises. The ex-Grandduchess Maria-Teresa looked very well put together, very restraint, to not outshine her daughter-in-law. Well done! Queen Maxima did also a good job, I like her look. Catharina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, truly a fab outfit, very classy, not too outgoing. Queen Mathilde's pick might just be my favourite of the day, but then there came her daughter along. Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, oh yes! That is - to me - clearly the best look of the day (daytime events; banquet still to come). So beautiful, so well chosen. Princess Claire - I like the off-white colour on her, but not the pant suit for this more high-profile occasion. Rather on the disappointing side. Princess Alexandra did okay-ish given her being pregnant in what seems the last stage before giving birth. But it also looks boring and also seemed to not fit her comfortably in all places. Also a slight disappointment. The new Grandduchess Stephanie is the example of a basque waist obviously gone wrong. I like this soft blue colour on her, it's wonderful. Also the soft, flowy material is truly nice. The designer just stopped doing what he/she was supposed to do when creating a sort of basque waist halfway through the process. Of course, this might have been what Grandduchess Stephanie had asked for all along, but it looks not quite right. The metres and metres of chiffon gathered around her are just too much. The top, with all the embroidery and the cut (like mentioned) strongly reminded me of a Valkyrie (think Richard Wagner's "Ring of the Nibelung") Else, she looks happy and proud, which is the most important thing anyway. Now, bring on the gala dinner, please!!!
ReplyDeleteComing back to add, that after watching more detailled footage, the best dressed imho might also go to Princess Marie-Astrid, the former Duke's (Henri) sister.
DeleteCongratulations to the new grand royals! It must be a joyous and daunting occasion for their family.
ReplyDeleteAs for the fashion, the rest of the Lux royals all showed well in beautiful gowns. And it seems hard to pull off subtle sparkle during the day, but the other royals from Belgium & Netherlands pull it off beautifully. As for beautiful Stephanie, her hair looks great but I don’t understand the dress. The color is not good on her, especially under daylight, or seasonal, and the design looks almost medieval with the huge front panel. Hoping for a more modern gown tonight!
If I could choose any of the ladies present, I would definitely choose Princess Elisabeth's dress. Definitely the best outfit of the day.
ReplyDeleteStéphanie is starting to look strikingly similar to her mother-in-law Maria Theresa . In the photo where Stephanie and Maria Theresa are sitting next to their husbands, their hairstyles look almost identical (although I assume Stephanie has her hair tied back in a knot). I don't like this outfit of hers. The top looks like armor, there's too much fabric and the color is too pale on her. She would rather wear bolder colors.
Stephanie
For me the princesses Elisabeth and Amalia steal the show. I particularly love the unusual form of Elisabeth’s dress, which is also stunning from the back. As for Stephanie, I’m not a fan of capes but if there’s one day you absolutely do have to wear a cape, it’s rhetorical day you become Grand Duchess! Congrats and good luck to Stephanie and her Grand Duke.
ReplyDeleteOn Stephanie’s day of day, why not look for the positives and join the celebrations? So many comments today written here would hurt for the wearers to hear, were they to read these comments, which they may absolutely do ( especially the young ones). Let’s celebrate women! Let’s look for what is good. And don’t tell me “ it’s a fashion blog so we are allowed to be critical!”… it’s a public blog, yes, but you can remain kind.
ReplyDeleteI trust the welcome-champagne hasn't been to persuasive this afternoon?
ReplyDeleteThe stylist of Stephanie should be fired!
ReplyDeleteAuch am Abend Großherzogin Stephanie in himmelblau : ) Der Großherzog wird sie so besonders schön finden, das Kleid ist gut durchdacht und wohlüberlegt, das macht Weltgeschichte, wir kennen das Geheimnis hinter dieser Wahl nicht. Aber man wird sich an dieses Kleid erinnern, vielleicht entspringt die ganze Idee dazu wirklich einer Figur in Roman, Geschichte oder Oper. Eindeutig bestens gekleidet für den Galaabend perfekt und wunderschön anzusehen, Madame Macron! - Dorothe -
ReplyDeletePost a Comment