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National Day 2019
For the public celebration of the birthday of HRH the Grand Duke, members of the Grand Duke's family and the government will attend the festivities organised in Esch-sur-Alzette, Bourscheid and Luxembourg City on 22nd and 23rd June 2019.
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Changing of the guard - Military Band
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Changing of the guard
© SIP/ Charles Caratini
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Changing of the guard
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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The Military Band, conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Claude Braun, Head of the Military Band.
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Arrival of the Grand Ducal coupe in the castle of Bourscheid
© Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue
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The Grand Ducal couple
© Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue
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The Grand Duke presents the CGDIS medals
© Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue
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The Grand Ducal couple
© Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue
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Meeting of the Grand Ducal couple and the local population in the court of the castle
© Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue
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Visit of the castle
© Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue
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Visit of the castle
© Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue
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The Hereditary Grand Ducal couple welcomed by Mars Di Bartolomeo, Félix Braz and Georges Mischo
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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The Hereditary Grand Ducal couple
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the 'Monument aux Morts'
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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In the rue d'Alzette
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Speech by the Mayor of Esch-sur-Alzette, Georges Mischo
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Signing of the Golden Book of Esch-sur-Alzette
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Signing of the Golden Book of Esch-sur-Alzette
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Lighting of the Scouts campfire
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Parade
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Visit of the stands
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Arrival of the Grand Ducal family on boulevard Roosevelt
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Official stand
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Torchlight Procession
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Place de la Constitution
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Fireworks
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Fireworks
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Arrival of the Prime Minister, Minister of State, Xavier Bettel, and his husband at the Philharmonie
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Upon arrival at the Philharmonie
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Arrival of Étienne Schneider, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of the Economy, Minister of Health and his husband
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Arrival of Félix Braz, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Justice and his wife
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Arrival of the Grand Ducal couple at the Philharmonie
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Philharmonie
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Speech by Prime Minister and Minister of State, Xavier Bettel
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Speech by Fernand Etgen, President of the Chamber of Deputies
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Speech by HRH the Grand Duke
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Bob Kneip founder of Kneip Communication being rewarded with the "Officier Ordre de Mérite" honorary distinction
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Jean-Claude Reding unionist and former president of the "Chambre des Salariés" being rewarded with the "Commandeur Couronne de Chêne" honorary distinction
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Michel Wurth, former President of the Chamber of Commerce and President of ArcelorMittal being rewarded with the "Grand Officier Couronne de Chêne" honorary distinction
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Paul Diederich founder and former President of the Fondation Alzheimer being rewarded with the "Commandeur Couronne de chêne" honorary distinction
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Tom Habscheid, athelete, being rewarded with the "Chevalier Ordre de Mérite" honorary distinction
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Frank Elstner, journalist an TV producer being rewarded with the "Commandeur Ordre de Mérite" honorary distinction
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Désirée Nosbusch, actor, being rewarded with the "Officier Ordre de Mérite" honorary distinction
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Fernand Fox, actor, being rewarded with the "Commandeur de l’Ordre de Mérite" honorary distinction
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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The families of Adjudant-major, Luc Derneden (†) and Adjudant-chef, Mike van de Berg (†) receive the "Croix d’honneur et de Mérite militaire en vermeil avec palmes", highest distinction rewarded posthumously
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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Adjudant-chef Joe Cottong being rewarded the "Croix d’honneur et de Mérite militaire en vermeil" and Adjudant major, Remy Eiffes the "Chevalier Couronne de Chêne"
© SIP / Emmanuel Claude
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Exiting the official Ceremonie at the Philharmonie
© SIP/ Emmanuel Claude
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François Bausch, Minister of Defence, Minister of Internal Security salutes the Flag
© SIP/ Charles Caratini
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Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister and Minister of State, salutes the flag
© SIP/ Charles Caratini
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Fernand Etgen, President of the Chamber of Deputies saluting the Flag
© SIP / Charles Caratini
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Inspection of the troops
© SIP/ Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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The official stage
© SIP/ Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Parade
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
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Parade
© SIP / Jean-Christophe Verhaegen
22 June 2019
Changing of the guard in front of the Grand Ducal Palace
National Day festivities will kick off on Friday 22 June in front of the Grand Ducal Palace with the changing of the guard, in which an army detachment of honour will participate under the command of the First Lieutenant Pol Wagener.
The musical arrangement will be provided by the Military Band, conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Claude Braun, Head of the Military Band.
The Grand Ducal couple in Bourscheid
This year, the Grand Ducal couple will be in Bourscheid, in the north of the Grand Duchy.
The Grand Ducal couple will be welcomed in the late afternoon by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Fernand Etgen, the Minister for the Civil Service, Minister for Relations with the Parliament, Marc Hansen, the Minister for Spatial planning, Minister for Energy, Claude Turmes, as well as by Annie Nickels-Theis, Mayor of the municipality of Bourscheid, in the presence of other national and municipal authorities.
The welcome is followed by a guided tour of the castle. The castle was built in the year 1000. It was extended in four stages, the last being completed in 1430.
Following the tour, TRH the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess will head to the Ceremonial square of the castle, where the Grand Duke will present the CGDIS medals. The musical supervision will be provided by the pupils of the local fundamental school and the united choirs of the municipality.
The mayor, Annie Nickels-Theis, will present the renovation works at the Stolzembourg House which was built in 1384 in the outer bailey of the castle. In addition, Marco Van Maris, treasurer of the association 'Friends of Bourscheid Castle’, will explain the four mock-ups of the Bourscheid castle.
The programme will be concluded in the court of the castle by a meeting of the Grand Ducal couple and the local population. Festivities include a puppet theatre, the presence of a magician and street artists, as well as medieval games.
The Hereditary Grand Ducal couple in Esch-sur-Alzette
TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will be in Esch-sur-Alzette, the country's second-largest city.
The Hereditary Grand Ducal couple will be welcomed on the Place de la Résistance by Mars Di Bartolomeo, Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies, Félix Braz, Minister of Justice, Taina Bofferding, Minister of Equality between Women and Men, Minister for Home Affairs, Georges Mischo, Mayor of Esch-sur-Alzette City, as well as by the college of aldermen and the municipal council.
The official welcome will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony at the foot of the 'Monument aux Morts'. TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will then join the official procession through the rue de l'Alzette to reach the Town Hall. There, they will sit in the official gallery to follow the parade of around forty associations based in Esch-sur-Alzette.
At the end of the reception hosted by the mayor Georges Mischo, the Hereditary Grand Ducal couple will greet citizens from the balcony of the Town Hall and will then attend the popular festival known as Escher Volleksfest, where the couple will light the traditional campfire of the Luxembourg scouts.
Message from the Prime Minister
In the early evening of 22 June, Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister and Minister of State, will give the traditional National Day speech.
Torchlight procession and fireworks in Luxembourg
In the evening, TRH the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, in company of the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, HRH Prince Félix, HRH Prince Louis, HRH Princess Alexandra and HRH Prince Sébastien, will attend the festivities organised by the City of Luxembourg.
They will be welcomed by Lydie Polfer, mayor of Luxembourg City, and Serge Wilmes, First Alderman of Luxembourg City, at the intersection of Rue de l'ancien Athénée and Boulevard Roosevelt. Roosevelt. After having been welcomed by the college of aldermen and the municipal council, the Grand Ducal family will follow the serenade of the Military Band as well as the torchlight procession from the official stand.
The parade that will animate the torchlight procession will be composed of firefighters, various local associations and societies based in Luxembourg City, guides and scouts as well as percussion, music and singing bands and folklore groups. Over 2,000 people and 7 floats will be parading through the streets.
The official programme will end with a 17 minute fireworks display over the Adolphe Bridge, which will be accompanied musically by the Military Band.
23 June 2019
Official ceremony at the Luxembourg Philharmonie
On 23 June, an official ceremony will be held at the Luxembourg Philharmonie. It will bring together the members of the Grand Ducal family, members of government, members of parliament as well as representatives of the college of aldermen and the municipal council of Luxembourg City, the Council of State, the judiciary and the diplomatic corps accredited to Luxembourg's Head of State.
The Wilhelmus will be performed by the Military Band on the arrival of the Grand Ducal family members at the Philharmonie, TRH the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, HRH Prince Felix, HRH Prince Louis, HRH Princess Alexandra and HRH Prince Sébastien will be welcomed by Fernand Etgen, President of the Chamber of Deputies, by Xavier Bettel, Prime Minister and Minister of State, as well as by Lydie Polfer, Mayor of Luxembourg City.
For the occasion of the official ceremony, HRH the Grand Duke, Fernand Etgen and Xavier Bettel will give a speech and award honorary distinctions to prominent figures of civilian, economic, sports, cultural and military worlds.
Luxembourg's Philharmonic Orchestra will ensure musical interludes along with the Chamber Choir and the Pueri Cantores of the Luxembourg City Conservatory, as well as with the choir of the Institut européen de chant choral Luxembourg (INECC), under the lead of Pierre Cao. The music programme will include the composition for symphonic orchestra and coir REGIIS OSTIUM (Royal Ouverture) by Ernie Hammes, as ordered by the Minister of State and the Ministry of Culture.
After the official ceremony, the traditional salute of 21 cannon blasts will take place at the Fetschenhaff.
Military parade
This year, the military parade will take place for the first time in the Luxembourg-Kirchberg district.
The military parade on avenue John F. Kennedy, in the presence of the Grand-Ducal couple, the hereditary Grand-Ducal couple, HRH Prince Sébastien, ministers, national authorities, diplomatic corps accredited to Luxembourg's Head of State, will be under the command of Colonel Yves Kalmes, Commander of the ceremony and of the Military Centre of Diekirch. It will consist of army and police detachments as well as civilian detachments.
After the detachments are set up, General Alain Duschène, Army Chief of Staff, Philippe Schrantz, General Director of the Luxembourg Police, and François Bausch, Minister of Internal Security and Minister of Defence, will successively review the troops.
At noon, the Head of State and HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke will review the troops.
After the execution of the triple vive ('long live' in French) by the troops and the national anthem, the military parade will end with a parade of the following corps and associations:
- the Luxembourgish Army - along with an honorary company, a detachment of flags of former battalions and ex-servicemen, a motorised detachment as well as the Military Band.
- the Grand Ducal Police:
- Customs and Excise Agency;
- prison facilities;
- Grand-Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps - CGDIS;
- the Red Cross;
- the Union Grand-Duc Adolphe with four music groups of the Municipality of Sanem;
a low flyover of a C-130 Hercules plane, an A400M plane as well as a KDC-10 plane.
Te Deum
A solemnTe Deum will be celebrated at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg in the presence of the members of the Grand Ducal family.
It will be celebrated by the archbishop of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Hollerich, the Chief Rabbi of Luxembourg Alain Nacache, Rabie Fares, Head of the Muslim community and Panagiotis Moschonas, episcopal of the Greek Orthodox Church in Luxembourg.
The solemn Te Deum will be sung by the Choir of Notre-Dame Cathedral, conducted by Marc Dostert. Paul Bresich will be playing the great organs. Trumpeters of the Military music will play the Sonnerie nationale.
Press release of the Information and Press Service of the Government