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Prince Guillaume is the next Grand Duke of Luxembourg. The royal will succeed his father on Oct. 3, 2025. Grand Duke Henri, who has been the head of state since 2000, announced in his 2024 Christmas speech that he will abdicate in favor of his son days before the 25th anniversary of his own accession.
"For most of my generation, the time has now come to retire. It's a natural process that has its raison d'être. This also applies to me. On our last National Day, I announced the appointment of Prince Guillaume as Lieutenant-Représentant. Today, the Grand Duchess and I are pleased to share with you that Prince Guillaume and Princess Stéphanie will succeed us on October the 3rd, 2025," the Grand Duke said in his remarks. "I know that they will do their utmost to contribute to the well-being of our country."
1. He was born on Nov. 11, 1981 in Luxembourg.
2. He is Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa's eldest child.
3. He has four younger siblings: Prince Félix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sébastien.
4. He became the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg after his father's accession to the throne on Oct. 7, 2000.
5. He married his wife, Princess Stéphanie, on October 20, 2012 at the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg.
6. He and Stéphanie have two kids. They welcomed their first child, Prince Charles Jean Philippe Joseph Marie Guillaume, on May 10, 2020. Their second son, Prince François Henri Luis Marie Guillaume, was born on March 27, 2023.
7. He has been a member of the Scouts since he was a child, and in 2019, he became the Chief Scout of Luxembourg.
8. According to the Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg's website, Guillaume "is passionate about playing the guitar."
9. He is a godparent to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium's son Prince Emmanuel.
10. The royal is said to enjoy tennis, skiing, swimming and water sports.
11. He is fluent in five languages, Luxembourgish, French, German, English and Spanish, per the Grand Ducal Court.
12. His father appointed him Lieutenant-Représentant in October 2024.