The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg joined Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa to celebrate National Day 2025 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, this year being the final of the reign of Grand Duke Henri.
On National Day, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, 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, this year marking the Grand Duke’s Silver Jubilee ahead of his Abdication in October, with the Grand Duke giving a speech:
Twenty-five years have passed since I took the oath of office before you, driven by a sincere desire to serve our country with loyalty, respect and dedication.
Throughout all these years, I have never walked alone. At my side, at every moment, my dear wife, the Grand Duchess, has also devoted herself with love and sensitivity.
Through her actions in favor of the most vulnerable, her support for women and young girls, and for humanitarian causes, she embodied the values of solidarity and humanity which are at the heart of our national identity.
Together, we have experienced great joys, overcome challenges, shared your hopes and your concerns.
At every moment, we have drawn from your trust and your friendship a renewed strength to pursue our mission.
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 extended 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 in Luxembourg was held in January.
On June 22nd, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa visited Esch-sur-Alzette while Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duke Stéphanie visited Mondercange, before joining the family for the torchlit retreat and fireworks display from the Place de la Constitution.
The previous evening, the Grand Ducal Family marked the Grand Duke’s Silver Jubilee with a walkabout on Place Guillaume II and a reception hosted by the City of Luxembourg, concluding with a Sound and Light show in tribute to the Grand Ducal Couple projected onto the façade of the Palais Grand Ducal.
Follow