National Day 2025

On the occasion of the public celebration of the birthday of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke, the Grand Ducal couple and their children, together with members of the Government, will attend the festivities organised in Mondercange, Esch-sur-Alzette and Luxembourg City on 22 and 23 June 2025. The 2025 edition is particularly significant, as it marks the 25th anniversary of the reign of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke.

22 June 2025

Changing of the guard in front of the Grand Ducal Palace

The National Day festivities will begin on Sunday, 22 June at 4 pm in front of the Grand Ducal Palace, with the Changing of the Guard, in which an Army honour detachment, under the command of Lieutenant Joé Kayser, will take part.

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

The Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple in Mondercange

This year, TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duchess are visiting Mondercange, in the canton of Esch-sur-Alzette, in the south of the country.

The Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple is welcomed at 5 pm on the village square, the Duerfplaz, by the Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies, Mars Di Bartolomeo; the Minister for Family Affairs, Solidarity, Living Together and Reception of Refugees, Max Hahn; the Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth; the Minister of Health and Social Security, Martine Deprez; and the Mayor of Mondercange, Jeannot Fürpass. The Wilhelmus is performed by the Mondercange Municipal Band.

Following the presentation of the local authorities, TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duchess lay a wreath at the war memorial.

At the "A Bosselesch" centre, a meeting space for both young and elderly residents, the Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple visits the exhibition "10 Years of A Bosselesch". Explanations are provided by Lisa Bremer, Head of Department at the association ‘Gestionnaires d’infrastructures, de services sociaux et d’intégration’ (GIM asbl). The visit is followed by an exchange with the residents.

TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duchess then proceed to Molter Park to attend a ceremony that includes, among other elements, a speech by Mayor Jeannot Fürpass and a musical performance by pupils of the Mondercange primary school, accompanied by the Mondercange Municipal Band and the 'Monnerecher Jongbléiser.

A visit to various stands offers the Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple an opportunity to meet with representatives of local associations. The Hereditary Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duchess then light the campfire in the presence of resident guides and scouts.

The programme concludes with an exchange with the residents of Mondercange during a reception hosted by the municipality.

The Grand Ducal couple in Esch-sur-Alzette

On the eve of National Day, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess attend the celebrations in Esch-sur-Alzette, the country’s second-largest city.

At 5 pm, the Grand Ducal Couple is welcomed on Place de la Résistance by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Claude Wiseler; the Minister of Sport and Minister of Labour, Georges Mischo; the Mayor of the City of Esch-sur-Alzette, Christian Weis; as well as by the Board of Aldermen and the Municipal Council.

After the official welcome, a wreath is laid at the foot of the war memorial. TRH the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess then walk along Rue de l’Alzette, accompanied by the official procession. The route includes several stops highlighting key moments in the history and recent development of the City of Esch-sur-Alzette. Upon arrival at City Hall, the Grand Ducal Couple takes their place on the official stand to watch a parade featuring around forty local associations.

Following a reception hosted by the City of Esch-sur-Alzette, the Grand Ducal Couple greets the public from the balcony of the Town Hall, before attending the Escher Volleksfest public festival, where they light the traditional campfire 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 the Grand Duchess, accompanied by TRH the Hereditary Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duchess, attend the celebrations organised by the City of Luxembourg. They are joined by HRH Prince Félix, HRH Prince Louis, HRH Prince Gabriel, HRH Prince Noah, HRH Princess Alexandra and Mr Nicolas Bagory, HRH Prince Sébastien, HI&RH Archduchess Marie-Astrid and Archduke Christian of Austria, HRH Princess Margaretha and HSH Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein, HRH Prince Guillaume and HRH Princess Sibilla, as well as Catalina Esteve, sister of HRH the Grand Duchess, and Nicole Mestre, sister-in-law of HRH the Grand Duchess.

The Grand Ducal Couple, the royal children and members of the Grand Ducal Family are welcomed by the Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer, and the First Alderman, Maurice Bauer. After the presentation of the college of aldermen, 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 procession of associations taking part in the torchlight parade — comprising around 2,500 participants — includes firefighters, various local sports and music associations from the City of Luxembourg, guides and scouts, as well as multicultural groups representing singing, dance and folklore.

The fireworks display, launched from the Adolphe Bridge, lasts 17 minutes and is accompanied by a musical composition by Maxime Bender. It marks the conclusion of the official programme of the 22 June festivities.

23 June 2025

Official ceremony at the Luxembourg Philharmonie

The National Day programme begins at 9.45 am with the official ceremony organised by the Government in honour of HRH the Grand Duke at the Philharmonie Luxembourg, in the presence of the Grand Ducal Family.

This year’s theme is the 25th anniversary of His Royal Highness’s accession to the throne. It brings together members of the Grand Ducal Family, Deputies, members and former members of the Government, as well as members of the Council of State, the judiciary, the municipal council of the City of Luxembourg, and the diplomatic corps accredited to Luxembourg.

Upon the arrival of HRH the Grand Duke at the Philharmonie Luxembourg, the Wilhelmus is performed by the Military Band. TRH the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess, accompanied by their children and grandchildren, are welcomed by the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Claude Wiseler, the Prime Minister, Luc Frieden, and the Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, Lydie Polfer.

During the official ceremony, HRH the Grand Duke, Claude Wiseler and Luc Frieden deliver speeches.

The musical accompaniment is provided by the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, together with the chamber choir and the Pueri Cantores of the Conservatoire of the City of Luxembourg, under the direction of Gast Waltzing.

After the official ceremony, the traditional cannon blast salute of 21 cannon blasts will take place at the Fetschenhaff.

Military parade

The military parade on avenue de la Liberté is under the command of Colonel Alain Schoeben, Commander of the Forces and Commander of the Troops. It consists of army and police detachments as well as civilian detachments.

After the detachments are set up and the entry of the army and police flags, General Steve Thull, Army Chief of Staff and Pascal Peters, General Director of the Luxembourg Police successively review the troops. The Minister of Defence, Yuriko Backes, and the Minister for Home Affairs, Léon Gloden, then review the troops.

The Prime Minister, Luc Frieden, the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Claude Wiseler, HRH Prince Sébastien, HRH the Grand Duchess and HRH the Hereditary Grand Duchess then take their seats in the official grandstands.

At 12.15 pm, the Head of State and HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke review the troops.

After the execution of the triple "vive" ("long live" in French) by the troops and the national anthem sung by Sergeant Stéphanie Schlink, the military parade ends with a parade of the following corps and associations:

• the Luxembourg Army is represented by an honour company and the Army flag with full escort, a group of international flags (Eurocorps, Belgium, the Netherlands), a detachment of flags from former battalions and veterans, a detachment from the Army’s Elite Sports Section (SSEA), a motorised detachment, and the Military Band;
• the Police Lëtzebuerg – with a honorary company and the flag of the grand-ducal police with a large escort, a detachment of the canine group and a motorised detachment;
• the Customs and Excise Agency – with a foot company, a detachment of the canine group, the "Douane's Musek" and a motorised detachment;
• the Prison Administration – with a foot company and a detachment of the canine group;
• the Grand Ducal Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) – with a foot company and the flag of the CGDIS, a section of the canine group and a motorised detachment;
• the Red Cross – with a section of the canine group and a motorised detachment;
• the Union Grand-Duc Adolphe, made up of 9 music societies from the commune of Clervaux.

The parade features several low-flying aircraft, including an H145M police helicopter; an Airbus A330 transport and refuelling aircraft from the Multi Role Tanker Transport Unit (MRTT); and an A400M transport aircraft from the 15th Wing of the Belgian Army Air Component, piloted by Luxembourg officers.

Te Deum

In the presence of members of the Grand Ducal Family and national authorities, a solemn Te Deum is be celebrated at the invitation of the Archbishop, at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg. The welcome address by Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, Archbishop of Luxembourg, will be followed by speeches from Alain Nacache, Chief Rabbi of Luxembourg; Hafiz ef. Hilmija Redžić, Head of the Muslim Community of Luxembourg; and Reverend Geoff Read, Chaplain of the Anglican Church in Luxembourg.

The solemn Te Deum is sung by the 'Maîtrise Sainte-Cécile de la cathédrale Notre-Dame de Luxembourg', conducted by Marc Dostert. Paul Breisch plays the symphony organ. The Sonnerie nationale is played by trumpeters of the Military Band.

Press release by the Information and Press Service (SIP)