National day – Eve

22 June 2024

Changing of the guard in front of the Grand Ducal Palace

The National Day festivities kick off on 22 June in front of the Grand Ducal Palace with the traditional Changing of the Guard, in which an army honour detachment under the command of Lieutenant Drees Nnganyadi takes part.

The musical arrangement is provided by the Military Band, conducted by Lieutenant-Colonel Jean-Claude Braun, Head of the Military Band.

The Grand Ducal couple in Kehlen

As part of this year's festivities, THR the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess are visiting Kehlen, in the canton of Capellen in the west of the country.

The Grand-Ducal couple are welcomed in front of the "Am Pavillon" music school by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Claude Wiseler, the Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, Max Hahn, the Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth, as well as the Mayor of the municipality of Kehlen, Félix Eischen, the college of aldermen and the municipal council. The Wilhelmus is performed by the Fanfare of Kehlen.

After an initial musical interlude presented by students from the Union Grand-Duc Adolphe (UGDA), TRH the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess attend the unveiling of the artistic work "Ech war dobäi", created especially for the occasion by Jacques Schneider.

In a second musical interlude, 350 schoolchildren give a performance, giving TRH the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess the opportunity to meet representatives of local associations at around thirty different stands set up in the school building's playground.

The Grand Ducal couple's visit ends with a get-together with residents of the Integrated Centre for the Elderly (CIPA).

The Hereditary Grand-Ducal couple in Esch-sur-Alzette

TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess are in Esch-sur-Alzette, the country's second-largest city.

The Hereditary Grand Ducal couple is welcomed on the Place de la Résistance by the Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mars Di Bartolomeo, the Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez, the Minister of Labour and Minister of Sport, Georges Mischo, as well as the Mayor of the City of Esch-sur-Alzette, Christian Weis, the college of aldermen and the municipal council.

After the official welcome, a wreath is laid at the foot of the war memorial. 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 grandstand to follow the parade of around forty associations based in Esch-sur-Alzette.

At the end of a reception hosted by the town of Esch-sur-Alzette, the Hereditary Grand Ducal couple appear on the balcony of the Town Hall. From there, TRH then go to the Place de l'Hôtel de Ville to attend the Escher Volleksfest, a popular festival, and proceed to light the traditional bonfire of the Luxembourg scouts.

Message from the Prime Minister

In the early evening of 22 June, Prime Minister Luc Frieden gives the traditional National Day speech.

Flame torch procession and fireworks in Luxembourg

In the evening, TRH the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, accompanied by TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess, HRH Prince Félix, HRH Prince Louis and HRH Prince Sébastien attend the festivities organised by the City of Luxembourg.

The Grand Ducal couple and the royal children are welcomed by the Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer, and the First Alderman of the City of Luxembourg, Maurice Bauer. After the presentation of the college of aldermen and the municipal council, the Grand Ducal family follows the military band's aubade and the traditional flame torch procession from a platform set up in front of the Town Hall on the Place Guillaume II.

The parade that animates the flame torch procession is composed of firefighters, various local associations and companies based in Luxembourg City, guides and scouts as well as percussion, music, singing bands and folklore groups.

The 17-minute fireworks show from the Pont Adolphe, accompanied by a musical composition by Pol Belardi, performed by Pol Belardi, Jérôme Klein and Niels Engel, brings the official programme of festivities on 22 June to a close.

Press release by the Information and Press Service (SIP)