On Friday 23 June, Luxembourg's national day, the Grand-Ducal couple and the Hereditary Grand-Ducal couple attended the official ceremony and concert at the Philharmonie in Luxembourg-Kirchberg with members of the government and other dignataries, as well as members of the public who were lucky enough to get (freee) tickets.
This was the second year in a row in which the national day formal celebrations were held at the Philharmonie, following the Grand Theatre being used the previous year. The current government marked a change in the official ceremony which had tradionally been held at the Notre Dame Cathedral, which still hosts a Te Deum service attended by the BGran dDuke and members of his family.
As well as the concert by Luxembourg's military band, the Grand Duke bestowed honours on a number of people from different secors and society.
Following this ceremony and concert, and the 21-canon salute from Fetschenhaff, the Grand Duke and other members of the royal family departed for other official engagements, including the military and civil defence parade on the Avenue de la Liberté in Luxembourg city centre.
Photo © SIP / Charles Caratini, tous droits réservés (L-R): Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister and Minister of State; Liliane Ries-Leyder, President of Aide à l’enfance de l'Inde; HRH the Grand-Duke; Mars Di Bartolomeo, President of the Chamber of Deputies
