Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri abdicated his throne on Friday in favour of his son, Guillaume. Henri, 70, served the tiny duchy in the heart of Europe for 25 years in a largely symbolic role.

Guillaume, 43, was crowned in a ceremony before he greeted the public atop a balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace with the royal family at his side, including his wife, the Belgian-born Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, and his sons, Charles, 5, and François, 2.