On Saturday, a large number of royalty from around Europe joined with members of the extended royal family in Luxembourg to celebrate the birthday of HRH Grand Duke Jean who turned 95 on Tuesday (http://www.chronicle.lu/categoriesluxembourgathome/item/14977-grand-duke-jean-turns-95-today).
After gathering at the Grand ducal Palace, the celebrations included a special anniversary concert at the Luxembourg Philharmonie conducted by Gustavo Gimeno, with Daishin Kashimoto performing violin solo. The programme included Ludwig van Beethoven's Concerto pour violon, Johannes Strauss' La Chauve-Souris; Ouverture, and Piotr Ilitch Tchaïkovski's Eugène Onéguine; Polonaise, followed by Happy Birthday and the presentaion of a special birthday cake. The Irish Guards, of which HRH Grand Duke Jean was Chief of Staff, performed an entrance on bagpipes.
Members of European royalty attending included Archduchess Anna-Gabrielle and Archduchess Catherina of Austria, Prince El Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath of Jordan, King Constantin and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, Queen Sophia of Spain, Princess Irène of Greece and Denmark, Princess Beatrix of The Netherlands and King Philip and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, as well as numerous others.
The current Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa were joined by his siblings and their families as well as their own children and grand-children, including the Hereditary Grand Duke Guliiaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, Prince Félix and Princesse Claire, Prince Louis and Princesse Tessy and their children Prince Gabriel and Prince Noah, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sébastien.
Grand Duke Jean's children and their spouses included Archduke Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria, Prince Guillaume, Princess Sibilla, Prince Jean of Nassau, Countess Diane of Nassau, and Prince Nicolas and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein. His god-children were also there, including Princess Anne de Ligne, Chevalier Charles de Fabribeckers de Cortils et Grâce, and Countess Antonia de Holstein Ledreborg.
Luxembourg's Prime Minister, Xavier Bettel, was in attendance too at the Philharmonie, along with the President of the Philharmonie Luxembourg, Pierre Ahlborn, and the Director General of the Philharmonie, Stephan Gehmacher.
Photos by Geoff Thompson; Photos of cake and Irish Guards by Julien Warnand © SIP.
