On the occasion of the celebration of the 60th birthday of Son Altesse Royal le Grand Duc on Tuesday 23 June 2015, members of the Luxembourgish Royal Family this week attended numerous events held in his honour.
The celebration commenced last Sunday with two religious ceremonies, first at Trinity Church on Rue de la Congregation, and later at the Orthodox Cathedral of Saint Nicholas where SAR le Grand Duc was represented by Mr. Pierre Bley, Marshal of the Court.
The time-honoured ceremony of the changing of the guard in the forecourt of the Grand Ducal palace took place on Monday 22 June, with a musical accompaniment provided by the Military Band assisting in marking the beginning of the festivities. As part of an age-old tradition, the Royal Family appeared on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace, converged under umbrellas against the summer downpour, to wave at on-lookers and pose for family photographs.
Later that day, Leurs Altesses Royales le Grand-Duc Héritier et la Grande-Duchesse Héritière were welcomed at the Place de la Résistance in the city of Esch-sur-Alzette by the Président de la Chambre des Députés, Mars di Bartolomeo, as well as ministers and other political figures of Esch-sur-Alzette. The heirs to the throne then laid flowers at the War memorial on the Place de la Résistance, before appearing on the balcony of the Hôtel de Ville in Esch-sur-Alzette and participating in the burning of the Luxembourg Scouts campfire.
Leurs Altesses Royales le Grand-Duc et la Grande-Duchesse travelled to Mondorf-les-Bains, where they were greeted by Ministre du Travail, de l'Emploi et de l'Economie Sociale et Solidaire, Nicolas Schmit; Ministre de la Culture et du Logement, Maggy Nagel; and the Bourgmestre de la Commune de Mondorf-les-bains, Mr. Les Delles. The Grand Ducal couple then walked along the Rue du Moulin to discover the history of the village, stopping at the Synagogue, Burgvogt and 'Home Saint Louis'.
The Grand Ducal couple were then met by Mrs. Rachel Zirovnik, Mayor of Mondorff (France) at the former border post between the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and France. The visit concluded with the presentation of awards to firefighters by SAR le Grand Duc at Bierger-a Kulturhaus.
On the eve of SAR le Grand duc's birthday, a traditional firework display was fired from the Park Dräi Eechelen, as a festive opening to National Day.
On the day itself, an official ceremony took place at the Philharmonie, attended by members of the Royal Family as well as Members of Parliament, representatives of the Collège Echivinal de la Ville de Luxembourg and members of the Conseil d'Etat and Chambres des Députés.
This was followed by the release of twenty-one cannon shots from the Festchenhaff, and a military parade along Avenue de la Liberté performed by troops in official uniform.
At Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Luxembourg, Leurs Altesses Royales le Grand-Duc et la Grande-Duchesse, accompanied by Altesses Royales le Grand-Duc Héritier et la Grande-Duchesse Héritière and Leurs Altesses Royales le Prince Félix, la Princesse Claire, le Prince Louis, la Princesse Tessy, la Princesse Alexandra and le Prince Sébastien, participated in a mass service of 'Te Deum laudamus'.
The ceremony was followed by a final reception at the Palais Grand-Ducal, attended by MPs; representatives of the Magistrature; Chefs d'Administration, and members of the Chambre des Députés and Conseil d'Etat.
Top Photo: Grand Ducal Family on the Balcony of Palais Grand Ducal (Philip Munn)
Middle Photo: Members of Luxembourgish Military at Military Parade (Sarah Graham)
Bottom Left: Military members hold up Luxembourgish flag (Sarah Graham)
Bottom Right: The traditional changing of the guards at Palais Grand Ducal (Philip Munn)
