The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg joined Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa to celebrate National Day 2024 with a series of events on June 23rd. National Day or Nationalfeierdag marks the Grand Duke’s Official Birthday, and has been celebrated on June 23rd since 1961.
On June 23rd, National Day, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa (wearing Princess Ingeborg’s Pearl Brooch), accompanied by Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, Prince Felix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Gabriel, attended the official National Day ceremony at the Philharmonie Luxembourg.
In his speech, Grand Duke Henri announced that Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume will become the Lieutenant-Representative of Luxembourg in October, a traditional process ahead of his impending Abdication in a few years.
With the Grand Duchess, Prince Guillaume and Princess Stéphanie, I want to inform you that I have decided to appoint Prince Guillaume Lieutenant Representative in the month of October.”
After the ceremony, the Grand Ducal and Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple attended a military parade in the Avenue de la Liberté, where Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duke reviewed the guard.
Later, the Grand Ducal Family attended a Te Deum service at the Cathédral Notre-Dame. It was an inter-religious service with Jewish, Muslim and Orthodox prayers in addition to the Catholic Mass.
The New Year’s Reception instituted 2020 was meant to reduce the strain of events on National Day, so this year’s annual Gala was held in January.
On June 22nd, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa visited Kehlen while Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duke Stéphanie visited Esch-sur-Alzette, before joining the family for the torchlit retreat and fireworks display from the Place de la Constitution.
