Grand Duke Guillaume marked his first National Day as head of state

Grand Duke Guillaume, who officially became Head of State on 3 October 2025, presided over a civic ceremony to mark Luxembourg’s National Day for the first time. Speaking at the Luxembourg Philharmonic, he described the recent transfer of power as a moment that reaffirmed the institutional stability and continuity of the monarchy. At the same time, his speech focused primarily on issues of collective responsibility and the need to pass on democratic values to future generations.

According to the Grand Duke, the functioning of democracy depends not on the actions of individuals, but on the collective efforts of society as a whole. He emphasised that the younger generation will soon have to take on the responsibility of governing the country: drawing on the experience of their predecessors, young people must develop critical thinking and seek their own paths to development that are appropriate to the challenges of the times.

At the same time, the Head of State highlighted the social risks associated with increasing digitalisation, noting that constant virtual communication cannot replace genuine face-to-face interaction.

Reflecting on the traditions of National Day, the Grand Duke highlighted their symbolic significance: the torchlight procession reflects the collective nature of support for democracy, whilst the military and civilian parades demonstrate that preserving freedom requires the personal commitment of every citizen. In concluding his speech, he welcomed the recent agreement between Luxembourg’s social partners, which helps to strengthen the country’s traditions of political dialogue and the search for compromise.

In his address, Prime Minister Luс Frieden described the current celebrations as particularly significant, as they are taking place under the leadership of the new Head of State. Expressing his gratitude to the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess for their active work in the regions, the head of government reaffirmed that Luxembourg would continue to staunchly uphold the principles of democracy, peace, freedom and the protection of human rights. These fundamental values, he said, ensure that citizens can coexist in a spirit of mutual respect and responsibility. Luc Frieden also expressed confidence in the country’s future, attributing this not to a simplification of global political processes, but to the population’s enduring willingness to contribute as much as they can to the country’s development.

Claude Wiseler, Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies, focused on domestic social issues, drawing attention to the gradual decline in public optimism. He noted that an increasing number of citizens are consciously avoiding the news due to its heavy and distressing nature. Recognising the psychological predictability of such a reaction, the politician expressed serious concern about a possible decline in social engagement, which is of critical importance to democratic institutions. In this regard, he called for an objective assessment of existing structural weaknesses, whilst actively developing the country’s strengths, the chief of which remains its historical focus on achieving consensus and maintaining social cohesion.