Celebrations for the 25th anniversary of the reign of Grand Duke Henri: June 21 - 23, 2025


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This is the thread dedicated to the festivities to mark the 25th anniversary of the reign of Grand Duke Henri in June 2025.


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:flowers: Happy Posting! :flowers:
 
The programme for the festivities has been released today, April 30:




Saturday, June 21, 2025​


7:30 p.m.

Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will be welcomed by the Mayor of the City of Luxembourg for an official tribute to mark their 25th reign in front of the City Hall.

9:00 p.m.

On Place Guillaume II, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will attend a concert by American jazz singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, with the Luxembourg National Jazz Orchestra and conducted by Gast Waltzing.

10:45 p.m.

At the end of the concert, the Grand Ducal Couple will return to the Grand Ducal Palace to watch a sound and light show retracing the 25 years of the reign on the facade of the Palace.

Sunday, June 22, 2025​


On the eve of the National Day, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will travel to Esch-sur-Alzette in the late afternoon.

Their Royal Highnesses the Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess will visit the commune of Mondercange.

In the evening, the Grand Ducal Couple and the Grand Ducal Family will attend the customary events in the City of Luxembourg. They will follow the torchlight procession before admiring the traditional fireworks display with the public.

Monday, June 23, 2025​


The National Day program will begin with an official ceremony organized by the Government in honor of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke at the Philharmonie Luxembourg, in the presence of the Grand Ducal Family. This year, the ceremony will be themed around the 25th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

After the ceremony, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, the Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess, as well as Prince Sebastian will attend the parade and the military and non-military parades.

Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duke will review the troops.

At the invitation of the Archbishop, a solemn Te Deum will be celebrated in the afternoon at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg in the presence of Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess and the Grand Ducal Family.
 
I hope it will be a lovely celebration of Henri’s reign although he will not complete the 25 years (by a few days/by design).
 
To mark the 25th anniversary of their reign, the Grand-Ducal podcast was launched with Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.
They were interviewed by seven students from the Lycée Européen Luxembourg II in Mamer.

 
I still find it bizarre to celebrate a 25th anniversary of a reign at the point his reign is only 24years and 8months old.

I like the idea of students interviewing them, it works well but would have worked better if backed up by an interview with the Luxembourg media as planned as well IMO.
 
The court has released an overview today, entitled "25 years of reign in 40-dates":




And a playlist of the Grand Ducal Couple has been released:




On June 18 Grand Duke Henri visited the tribute exhibition "Grand Duke Henri: a reign, an era. Philatelic chronicle of a silver jubilee" at the headquarters of POST Luxembourg:


 
June 21 National Day in Luxembourg coincides with the 25th anniversary of GD Henri's accession. The city of Luxembourg published information about the festivities for tomorrow

 
June 21 National Day in Luxembourg coincides with the 25th anniversary of GD Henri's accession. The city of Luxembourg published information about the festivities for tomorrow

No his accession was on 07.10 not in June. They only celebrate his Silver Jubilee which he will actually not reach then.
 
You are right, but then the City of Luxembourg made a mistake or they just meant that it was the year of his accession
 
Sad they did not wait until October 7th for the Celebration. Il will be only an abdicaton and a farewell without glory.
 
Sad they did not wait until October 7th for the Celebration. Il will be only an abdicaton and a farewell without glory.
Waiting for him to reach the actual date would be futile because he won’t reach it. And even if they celebrated, it would most likely be overshadowed by Guillaume taking the throne. So, given that they wanted to celebrate something that will never happen, this might be the better option.
 
Waiting for him to reach the actual date would be futile because he won’t reach it. And even if they celebrated, it would most likely be overshadowed by Guillaume taking the throne. So, given that they wanted to celebrate something that will never happen, this might be the better option.
They could have settled the abdication date for 07.10. So he would reign exactly for 25 years.
 
As far as I remember they had to postpone the Abdication of Grand Duc Henri because of the terrible accident of his younger Brother.
 
As far as I remember they had to postpone the Abdication of Grand Duc Henri because of the terrible accident of his younger Brother.
The abdication of Jean yes was postponed when his son Guillaume was in a serious car accident in September 2000. It was initially set for September 28.

 
They could have settled the abdication date for 07.10. So he would reign exactly for 25 years.
Exactly, and in that case they might have even said that they were going to celebrate the 25th anniversary in June on the National Day as not to overshadow Guillaume's accession to the throne. Or celebrate Henri for example on the eve of his 25th anniversary. Now they are celebrating a non-existent anniversary.
 
The celebrations have started this evening, June 21:






 
It’s so lovely that his elder sister and brother-in-law are taking part in the festivities this year.
 
Video:

More photos:
 
I'm surprised a little bit that Henri's brother Guillaume and Sibilla aren't present as they live in Lux (at least a bit) I think?

It all just seems a little odd to me. BUT that said, its lovely to see the family.
 
The celebrations today, June 23:


** gettyimages gallery 1 ** gettyimages gallery 2 ** ppe gallery **














 
Grand Ducal Family watches fireworks.
 
I'm surprised a little bit that Henri's brother Guillaume and Sibilla aren't present as they live in Lux (at least a bit) I think?

It all just seems a little odd to me. BUT that said, its lovely to see the family.
I am more surprised and a bit concerned that Claire didn't attend yesterday nor today. Her participation during the Octave was also rather limited and she did look quite different from previous occasions. Her daughter Amalia joined her grandparents the previous evening and Felix was present both today and yesterday. Hopefully, she will show up tomorrow.

Edit: She wasn't present tonight either.
Am Abend nehmen I. I. K. K. H. H. der Großherzog und die Großherzogin, begleitet von I. I. K. K. H. H. dem Erbgroßherzog und der Erbgroßherzogin, sowie S. K. H. Prinz Félix, S. K. H. Prinz Louis, S. K. H. Prinz Gabriel, S. K. H. Prinz Noah, S. K. H. Prinzessin Alexandra und Nicolas Bagory, S. K. H. Prinz Sébastien, I. K. K. H. Erzherzogin Marie-Astrid und Erzherzog Christian von Österreich, S. K. H. Prinzessin Margaretha und S.D. Fürst Nikolaus von Liechtenstein, I. I. K. K. H. H. Prinz Guillaume und Prinzessin Sibilla, Catalina Esteve, Schwester S. K. H. der Großherzogin, sowie Nicole Mestre, Schwägerin S. K. H. der Großherzogin, an den Feierlichkeiten teil, die von der Stadt Luxemburg organisiert werden.
Source: Gouvernement Luxembourg

But great to see that both a sister and sister-in-law of the Grand Duchess as well as three of the Grand Duke's siblings with spouses are included. Though it makes you wonder why Jean and Diane aren't joining them.
 
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I am more surprised and a bit concerned that Claire didn't attend yesterday nor today. Her participation during the Octave was also rather limited and she did look quite different from previous occasions. Her daughter Amalia joined her grandparents the previous evening and Felix was present both today and yesterday. Hopefully, she will show up tomorrow.

Edit: She wasn't present tonight either.

Source: Gouvernement Luxembourg

But great to see that both a sister and sister-in-law of the Grand Duchess as well as three of the Grand Duke's siblings with spouses are included. Though it makes you wonder why Jean and Diane aren't joining them.
Oh the Luxembourgian Governement has dethroned Hans Adam and Alois of Liechtenstein and made Nikolaus the Fürst. :)
 
This morning Grand Duchess Maria Teresa shared a nice private photo from yesterday:




And here are photos, videos and a live link for today, June 23:


** gettyimages gallery ** ppe gallery ** ppe gallery 2 **








During the celebration this morning new film about the past 25 years was shown:







 
It was a wonderful celebration with a great evening program for the public! I had been thinking about travelling to Luxembourg for the event, but we had other plans for that weekend.
You can tell that it was carefully prepared. There may be reasons why not all family members were present that are not being disclosed. Claire, for example, could be ill, or one of her children. In such a case, you want to be with your children.
I am always thrilled to see Stephanie and Guillaume; you can tell that they have fully embraced their role as the future ruling couple. They have certainly been well prepared.
 
Glad to see that Jean and Diane attended today but Felix is again on his own... To make it less obvious they could have had him walk with Sebastien (who now walked with Alexandra and Nicolas).
 
Yes I noticed that - it made it much more noticeable that Claire wasn't there and made it look like the plans had been made expecting her to be there - Alexandra, Nicolas and Sebastien all arrived in a small people carrier so Felix could have jumped in with them rather than arriving in his own car by himself.

It was nice thought to see Henri's siblings and partners attend for his last National Day.
 
Perhaps this has already been explained so please forgive me if it has, but is there some sort of abdication signing, passing the torch ceremony? When is Guillaume the new grand duke? Thanks in advance :flowers:
 
Perhaps this has already been explained so please forgive me if it has, but is there some sort of abdication signing, passing the torch ceremony? When is Guillaume the new grand duke? Thanks in advance :flowers:
No, that will take place on 3 October. This is a celebration of Henri's reign (supposedly 25 years; but that would be on October 7 and he abdicates a few days earlier) that was brought forward by several months; see this thread for more information on the abdication/inauguration.
 
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