The fourth Croatian president took the oath on the Constitution of the Republic of Croatia before Constitutional Court President Jasna Omejec and other Constitutional Court judges.
The event was attended by 88 state delegations, including eight heads of state from Southeast and Central Europe, representatives of international organisations in Croatia, as well as delegations of the Croatian government and parliament, and public figures.
Grabar-Kitarovic reached the square by funicular railway, passing through two rows of citizens and historical military units from throughout the country. Accompanied by her husband Jakov, she came on stage to a fanfare, her arrival marked by a shot from the Gric Cannon and the peal of the bells of St Mark's Church.
After the national anthem "Our Beautiful Homeland" was played and a minute's silence was observed for the fallen in the 1991-1995 Homeland War, Grabar-Kitarovic was sworn in for a term of five years and began her inaugural speech.
The inauguration ceremony was held amid tight police security and was covered by more than 300 journalists.