Hundreds of people, including European royalty, thronged Luxembourg Friday to witness the enthronement of Grand Duke Guillaume as monarch after his father, Henri, officially abdicated ending a 25-year reign in the tiny EU nation.

Wearing a green military uniform topped by a yellow sash, Guillaume, 43, formally acceded to the throne during a ceremony at the parliament in the eponymous capital.

Guillaume took the oath of service before lawmakers, foreign dignitaries, and his father, who, in a matching uniform, appeared emotional as he listened to his son's inauguration speech.

After the ceremony, the new Grand Duke and his wife, Stephanie, are to greet the public in the historic district of Luxembourg city, according to the official programme.

Earlier, Henri, 70, formally signed his abd

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