Grand Duke Henri; Credit: © Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli

On Christmas Eve, Grand Duke Henri delivered a traditional televised Christmas address in which he touched on a number of topics.

Looking back at 2019, he described it as bringing "sadness, but also joy, remembrance and hope", reflecting that feelings draw people together.

He recalled the death of two soldiers in an accident at the army's the munitions depot at the Waldhof last February, and the 75th anniversary of Luxembourg's liberation, both referencing WWII. He also recalled the death of his own father, Grand Duke Jean, in April, and mentioned the solidarity shown from the entire nation when a tornado hit the south of the country in the summer and caused significant damage.

He referenced the "huge success" of the "Speak Speak Rise Up" forum, which was held at the initiative of the Grand Duchess in March. And he also mentioned the great honour and joy for the Catholic Church in Luxembourg as Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich was elevated to become a cardinal in Rome; another piece of good news was that Prince Guillaume and Princess Stéphanie are expecting their first child next year.

He mentioned the changing world and the environment and that we, as individuals or as a collective, should adapt. He also touched on modernity: "Modernity should not presuppose that one gives up one's roots and loses one's identity. The values on which our coexistence is built should not be so strongly relied on that one no longer recognises them. Man must be able to build his life on solid foundations, and make repairs." On this, he confirmed that the "institutional and democratic framework in which we have been evolving for decades gives us great political stability. This framework is also the basis of the freedom of expression and rights and freedoms guaranteed to all citizens. They are not, however, a matter of course, but a worthy acquisition to which you must always employ".

He said that it is important to have ideals and preconceptions, or at least to believe in firm values, and that culture, language and traditions are also important components and part of the cement upon which our cohabitation is built.