25 years on the throne: how Luxembourg celebrated National Day 2025
Ray Hennessy, Unsplash
The celebrations on 23 June began at 9:45 a.m. with an official ceremony at the Philharmonie Luxembourg. It was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of the reign of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke and was attended by members of the Grand Ducal family, deputies, members and former members of the government, representatives of the judiciary, the diplomatic corps and the Luxembourg City Council.
Official speeches were made by the Grand Duke, President of the Chamber of Deputies Claude Wiseler and Prime Minister Luc Frieden. Musical accompaniment was provided by the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra and choirs under the direction of Gast Waltzing. The ceremony will be followed by the traditional 21-gun salute.
At 12:15 p.m., the Grand Duke and the Grand Duke-Heirarch will review the troops before the parade begins. Under the command of Colonel Alain Schoeben, units from the Army, Police, CGDIS Fire and Rescue Service, Customs, Prison Service and Red Cross will march on avenue de la Liberté. This will culminate in a demonstration of the new CLRV armoured vehicles designed to replace the Dingo.
The air part will be provided by a police H145M helicopter, an Airbus A330 refuelling aircraft and a Belgian Air Force A400M cargo plane piloted by Luxembourg officers. This will emphasise not only the military symbolism but also the European integration of the Grand Duchy.
The bank holidays in Luxembourg is not only a secular but also a spiritual date. A solemn Te Deum will be held in Notre Dame Cathedral in the presence of the monarch's family. Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich will open the prayer service, followed by speeches by Chief Rabbi Alain Nacache, Muslim Imam Hafiz ef. Hilmija Redžić and Anglican Chaplain Geoff Read. This interfaith unity emphasises the pluralistic spirit of the country.
Musical accompaniment will be provided by the St Cecilia Chapel, conducted by Marc Dostert, with Paul Breisch at the organ. A military band will play the national anthem.
The year 2025 marks a symbolic milestone in the reign of Grand Duke Henri, who has led the country since October 2000. These 25 years have been characterised by stability, European integration and institutional maturity. In contrast to neighbouring monarchies, where debate about the role of royal power has intensified, in Luxembourg the Grand Duke has remained a consolidating figure. His regular public appearances as well as his participation in public affairs help to maintain public consensus.
