King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Amalia arrived in Luxembourg on Friday morning to attend the coronation. The trio were met at the palace by Grand Duke Henri and his wife Maria Teresa, who officially abdicated shortly afterward. Amalia performed a striking curtsy upon her arrival.
This isn't the first time Amalia has bowed to the knee; she has previously done so for the Spanish king and the British coronation of Charles V. There's a different story behind her curtsy in Luxembourg. Such a bow is normally reserved for kings and queens. A grand duke is ranked below the king, but the noble title is held in higher regard than that of prince or princess.
Also noteworthy: Willem-Alexander and Máxima arrived before their daughter. Amalia was kept waiting for a while, after which she also arrived in a separate car. The princess seemed to have to take a few extra steps and quickly hurried to her parents to greet the abdicating Grand Duke.
The Dutch representatives, greeted with applause by the audience, arrived shortly after King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, and their eldest daughter, Princess Elisabeth. The Dutch and Belgian royal families are the only foreign royalty present on Friday.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg has officially abdicated. The 70-year-old Henri signed the abdication declaration, followed by Prime Minister Luc Frieden. Later Friday morning, Henri's eldest son Guillaume will be officially sworn in as the new Grand Duke.
Frieden then took the floor for a short speech in which he thanked the departing Grand Duke. He said, among other things, that the Luxembourg people "couldn't have wished for a better monarch" in Henri. The Grand Duke fulfilled his duties "with heart and soul" and dedicated his life "to serving our country with unwavering loyalty," Frieden said. He also offered warm words for Henri's wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. The Prime Minister then addressed Guillaume, the new Grand Duke, and promised that the people, "just as they did with your grandfather and your father," would stand behind him.
The audience included the rest of the Luxembourg royal family, Luxembourg politicians, and other dignitaries. King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima had a good view from the front row. They sat next to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. Their daughters, Princess Amalia and Princess Elisabeth, sat in the second row.
Henri announced in his Christmas speech that he wanted to pass the throne on to Guillaume after 25 years. Last October, the Hereditary Grand Duke had already been appointed his father's lieutenant-representative, giving him greater powers. This was a first step toward Henri's abdication.
