Luxembourg's National Day 2005
-22.06.2005: The day before-
Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume visited Esch/Alzette on 5.30 pm and was greeted by mayor Lydia Mutsch and minister of interior Jean-Marie Halsdorff for the celebrations of National Day in the small city Esch/Alzette.
Luxembourg city celebrated the Grand Ducal family traditionally with a big public festival on the eve of the National Day.
The National Day debuted with the official wreath laying on the "Monument aux morts de la force publique" on the "Kanounenhiwwel" (hill of cannons) and the changing of the guards in front of the Grand Ducal palace on the early afternoon before the Grand Ducal couple was visiting Ehnen, a village on the river Mosel.
In the dusk the members of clubs and organizations arrived near the "Gëlle Fra" (Golden Lady- a national monument of Luxembourg dating from the World War II and a symbol for freedom and independence
)with torches and were moving towards the tribune with the honour guests (among them the Grand Ducal family without absent Prince Felix and Prince Louis). After the torch march the military music played under the leadership of lieutnant-colonel André Reichling two marches and the national anthem "Ons Heemecht" to honour the sovereign. Beautiful fireworks concluded the evening before the National Day.
-The National Day 23.06.2005-
According to tradition the official celebrations of the Natioonal Day were introduced with the "Prise d'armes" of Luxembourg's army on 9.30 am. With participating members of Luxembourg's army and police in this military parade, who took place with the 60th anniversary of the liberation and the 50th birthday of the military center of Luxembourg, the Grand Ducal family is honoured and its a symbol of respect and loyalty towards the population.
For Grand Duke Henri it has been the fifth "Prise d'arme" since his throne achievement in October 2002 and for his oldest son Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume it was the third time, that he accompanied his father to greet the troops.
The miltary parade was followed by the traditional
Te Deum mass in the Cathedrale Our Lady in Luxembourg starting on 11 o'clock with Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sebastien being present as well as Lord Chamberlain Jean-Jacques Kasel, aumônier Georges Vuillermoz, lady-in-waiting Danièle Wagner and Captain Gery Mevers. The archbishop Fernand Ranck remembered Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte who has left us in January 2005.
Below some pictures from
seegerpress which were not yet posted here: