Luxembourg’s Royals Celebrate National Day

The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg has spent the past two days celebrating their National Day, which is also known as the official birthday of the Grand Duke.

On June 22nd, the Grand Duke and Duchess visited the town of Oberanven, in the municipality of Niederanven, as one of the first events to mark the occasion. They began at the Niederanven Town Hall, where the couple customarily signed the guest book, before they spent some time greeted the people who came to see them. Whilst in Oberanven, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa planted an oak tree during the opening of a local park, Parc de l’Europe.

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his younger sister, Princess Alexandra, were also out on the 22nd, visiting the city of Esch-sur-Alzette. The duo laid a wreath at the War Memorial in the city’s Resistance Square. They were joined by the Mayor of Esch-suz-Alzette, Lydia Mutsch, for a walkabout through the city, before appearing on the balcony of the Hotel d’Ville.

That evening, the Grand Ducal Family came out in force (minus Prince Félix), for the traditional torchlight procession through City of Luxembourg, before fireworks took place just before midnight.

On June 24th, National Day, the family attended a Te Deum service at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City. Specatators required sunglasses when looking in the direction of the Grand Duchess – Maria Teresa was wearing a shiny hot-fuschia dress and overcoat, certainly from the NATAN design house, and a matching pill-box hat. Princess Tessy’s hat also provided a flash of colour – aqua blue – while Princess Alexandra chose a more subdued dusty-rose dress under a sheer organza coat. Following the conclusion of the service, a 101 gun salute was sounded from the Fetschenhaff.

A military parade then took place on Liberty Avenue in the city, with the family present. The divisions and organisations taking place in the parade were, naturally, the Luxembourg army, the Luxembourg police, the administration of Customs and Excise, the Prison Service, the Emergency Services, the Luxembourg Red Cross, the Luxembourg Air Rescue, the musical garrison of l’Union Grand-Duc Aldolphe and Philharmonic Society Larochette. In the evening, a gala dinner was hosted by the Grand Duke at the Grand Ducal Palace.

Filed under Luxembourg
Tagged Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, Military, National Day, Prince Louis of Luxembourg, Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg, Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg, Princess Tessy of Luxembourg.