National Day is celebrated annually on June 23. Traditionally, it is considered the name day of the country’s ruler, although none of them were actually born on this day.
The name “National Day” is not official and is not enshrined in any legal document. In the laws, June 23 appears as “the day of official celebration of the anniversary of the birth of the Grand Duke.” The holiday traditionally begins on the eve of June 22. However, only 23 June is considered a public holiday.
This year, Luxembourg’s National Day coincided with the 25th anniversary of Grand Duke Henri’s accession to the throne. The occasion was celebrated with particular enthusiasm, especially since Henri will hand over power to his son at the end of the year, making this his last anniversary on the throne.
In anticipation of National Day, Henri and Maria Teresa, accompanied by Guillaume, held a traditional celebration in the garden of Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg. Princess Maria-Astrid, Archduke Christian of Austria and Princess Amalia also attended the celebration. A procession of about 700 people, including local residents and musicians, was led by the mayor of Colmar-Berg.
On June 22, one of the most memorable events took place — a torchlight procession. The event is organised by several organisations and starts at 9:30 p.m. The marchers start at Place du Théâtre, then proceed along Côte d’Eich and Rue du Fossé, ending at Place Guillaume II, where the monarchs’ tribune is located.
At noon on Monday, troops will march along Avenue de la Liberté. The parade will include representatives of the army, police, customs, the Grand Duke’s fire and rescue corps, as well as the prison administration, the Red Cross and musical groups from the Union of the Grand Duke Adolphe. You can also expect a flyover and huge crowds.
