The new Grand Duchess of Luxembourg had a major mum moment as she and her husband went on a mini tour of the country as a new reign began.
Grand Duchess Stephanie makes a mum move
Grand Duchess Stephanie, along with Grand Duke Guillaume, were on a day long set of visits just hours after he took the throne and they brought their two young sons along with them.
And five year old Prince Charles, now heir to the throne, was feeling the chill of the damp and grey autumn day.
So mum, Stephanie, popped him on her lap and took her arms out of her own coat before wrapping her little boy up in it and snuggling him to keep him warm.
Every parent has been there and it was a very relatable moment from a Grand Duchess who has already become the popular face of the new look monarchy in Luxembourg.
Just hours before, Stephanie and her husband had given their first interview as ruler and consort of Luxembourg. Stephanie told Luxembourg TV that she would be 100% a mum in private and 100% a Grand Duchess in public. However, the roles soon merged and she looked rather happy about it.
The new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess have insisted on their children being an integral part of the ceremonies that have taken place in Luxembourg to mark the start of the new reign.
On October 3, the day that Guillaume succeeded to the Grand Ducal throne on the abdication of his father, Henri, the couple brought five year old Prince Charles to the Chamber of Deputies where the new Grand Duke took his oath.
The prince, now the youngest heir to a throne in Europe, sat with his grandparents to watch his father make his solemn pledge and then speak of his devotion to Luxembourg.
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It was revealed that this hadn’t been part of the original plan for the accession ceremonies but had been added into the events at the request of Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie to ensure their young son was part of this historic moment and to underline the continuity of the monarchy in Luxembourg.
Charles was beautifully behaved through the ceremony which took place in a hushed silence as tributes were paid to the outgoing Grand Duke, Henri, and praise was heaped on the new ruler, Guillaume.
Two year old Francois didn’t take part in that ceremony but joined his parents and his older brother on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace to greet crowds later.
The two young princes also joined their parents for parts of the whistlestop tour through Luxembourg which followed the accession. Grand Duke Guillaume began the five stop visit at Grevenmacher where the spotlight was put on sports and communitu support.
Family tour Luxembourg at start of reign
From there, the whole family went to Witz for a celebration of multiculturalism. Over the summer, locals and visitors have been recording short videos about themselves and these have been turned into an art installation that was shown during the musical celebration.
Prince Francois loved the music, at one point heading to the front of the dais his family was sitting on to join in the moves, much to the approval of his parents who smiled and clapped along.
Then it time for Grand Duke Guillaume to head to Steinfort where he joined a party for his accession held at a community hospital. He celebrated with patients and met staff to thank them for their work and to show his support for those who can’t be part of bigger festivities but who want to take part however they can.
Grand Duchess Stephanie got her children safely home before joining her husband in Dudelange for another music and dance show celebrating diversity and mulitculturalism.
The final stop on the tour was in the heart of Luxembourg City where Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie enjoyed an unusual and spectacular concert. The couple were treated to a musical performance on the Grand Duchess Charlotte bridge which dominates the city. It was named after Guillaume’s great grandmother whose reign transformed Luxembourg and its royal family.
A night of music followed, with thirty local artists involved, and thousands taking to the streets to celebrate.
Grand Duke Guillaume was joined by his parents, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, as well as his siblings.
And Stephanie had made sure her two little ones were tucked up in bed in another mum moment for this brand new Grand Duchess.
