Grand Duke Guillaume Kicks Off Reign with Tour of Luxembourg

Following his swearing-in one day earlier, Grand Duke Guillaume marked his first working day on Saturday 4 October 2025 with a tour of Luxembourg, visiting five locations that reflect the diversity of the country’s society.

Not even the wind and rain could dampen the new Grand Duke’s spirits as he enthusiastically travelled to all four corners of the Grand Duchy before returning to the capital for the day’s grand finale.

Grevenmacher: Sports & Volunteering

The tour began in Grevenmacher in eastern Luxembourg around 12:30. Grand Duke Guillaume was welcomed at the “Op Flohr” stadium by Luxembourgish retired tennis player Anne Kremer, Mayor Monique Hermes and other local officials, along with Luxembourg’s Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism, Lex Delles, the Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, and Moselle “Wäikinnigin” (Wine Queen) Jill Wagner.

Children active in football and athletics guided the Grand Duke around the pitch. Inside the stadium, about 100 young players were training. Local clubs representing athletics, handball, taekwondo, football and table tennis were present. Grand Duke Guillaume exchanged with volunteer trainers, referees and club presidents, posed for a group photo on the pitch and received a symbolic gift at the end of his visit. A public reception was planned afterwards.

Wiltz: Diversity & Community Spirit

The Grand Duke then travelled north to Wiltz, together with his wife and sons, arriving in Wiltz around 14:20 for the “Wëllkomm zu Wooltz” intercultural festival. The Grand-Rue had been transformed into an open-air stage, with a 150-metre-long (covered) table where hundreds of people dined together throughout the day.

At Wiltz Castle, the Grand Ducal family were welcomed by table tennis champion Ni Xialian and writer Mike McQuaide (“An American in Luxembourg”), Mayor Carole Weigel and municipal officials, Luxembourg’s Minister of Agriculture, Food and Viticulture, Martine Hansen, and the Minister for Culture, Eric Thill, as well as invited guests, local association representatives and randomly selected Wiltz residents. Hundreds of people gathered at the amphitheatre to watch an inclusive theatre performance by “com-guck”, an interactive video projection from the “Schwätz mam Grand-Duc” (Speak with the Grand Duke) project and music from the Pueri Cantores youth choir and Naomi Aye & Band. The musicians performed a specially composed collaborative final piece before the Grand Ducal couple received another symbolic gift. The festivities continued in Wiltz after their departure around 15:30.

Steinfort: Healthcare & Solidarity

The Grand Duke next visited the intermunicipal hospital (HIS) in Steinfort, in western Luxembourg. He held a private exchange with healthcare workers and patients, paying tribute to their role in society. He was welcomed by Luxembourgish chef Léa Linster, Mayor and HIS President Sammy Wagner, HIS Director General Luc Gindt, the Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, Max Hahn, the Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, and the Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth.

Dudelange: Societal Transformation & Cultural Creativity

Around 17:40, the tour continued in Dudelange, in southern Luxembourg, where the Grand Ducal couple attended a dynamic street performance in Place Thierry Van Werveke, telling the story of the south through dance, acrobatics, freerunning, percussion, circus, music and spoken word. They were welcomed by athlete Patrizia Van der Weken and actor Jules Werner, as well as Mayor Dan Biancalana and other local officials, Ministers Hahn, Deprez and Roth, plus the Minister of Education, Children and Youth and Minister of Housing and Spatial Planning, Claude Meisch, and the Minister of Sport and Minister of Labour, Georges Mischo.

After Dudelange, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess made their way to Luxembourg City for the tour's grand finale. More on this in a separate article.

UPDATED to include details of the Dudelange visit.