Luxembourg Army bids farewell to Commander-in-Chief

At the Herrenberg base in Diekirch, the Luxembourg Army held a solemn farewell ceremony for Grand Duke Henri, who completed 25 years of service as Supreme Commander. The ceremony was a milestone event before his official abdication, which will take place on 3 October.

For the last time, Henri walked alongside the assembled troops, saluted the soldiers and expressed his appreciation for their service. The ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Yuriko Backes and Army Chief of Staff Steve Thull, underscoring the high status and significance of the moment.

As a token of gratitude, the army presented the monarch with a symbolic gift - a sabre with an engraved "H" under the crown and an inscription on the scabbard: "25 years - Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Luxembourg. Thank you for your dedication." The army's official social media page says the sabre symbolises recognition for "exemplary support to the army over all these years - first as a prince and then as a duke".

With Henri's abdication, the country is entering a new era: on the first weekend of October, Luxembourg will celebrate the accession of Crown Prince Guillaume to the throne.