Emotional Grand Duke Henri celebrates his last National Day as head of state

Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri delivered an emotional speech at the Philharmonie on Monday to mark his final National Day holiday as head of state.

“This national holiday is a moment of great emotion and gratitude for me,” Grand Duke Henri said at the start of his speech, which marked 25 years of his reign. In October, he will hand over the throne to his eldest son, Crown Prince Guillaume.

The grand duke said that over the years his son had proven his commitment, his knowledge and his deep connection to the country. “Guillaume is ready to take on this great responsibility for the country,” Grand Duke Henri added.

Turning to his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, the grand duke told the audience that she had always been by his side. “All these years, I have never been alone. The Grand Duchess has accompanied me with her love, her commitment and her sensitivity,” he said.

He went on to praise her commitment to the poor, to women and girls and to humanitarian causes – the Grand Duchess founded the Stand Speak Rise Up! foundation in 2019 to combat sexual violence against women and girls in war zones and conflict regions.

The grand duke described contemporary Luxembourg as a modern, dynamic and cosmopolitan country that remains true to its roots and values, and spoke about two issues close to his heart, research and the environment.

“We have consistently invested in research and had the courage and vision to invest in space and data technologies as well as supercomputers,” he said. Over the past 25 years, the grand duke said he has regularly taken the opportunity to explore the flora and fauna in his native forests, adding that environmental protection is “essential for our well-being and quality of life.”

And he also addressed the young people of Luxembourg, encouraging them to help Luxembourg progress “with your creativity, openness and responsibility.”

Before the grand duke spoke, Prime Minister Luc Frieden also addressed the audience, saying that Grand Duke Henri had kept a promise he had made when ascending the throne 25 years ago to do his utmost for the country.  

“Even though, as a constitutional monarch, you cannot express a political opinion without consulting the government, your presence and your statements have often sent strong signals that were intended to move Luxembourg in a certain direction,” Frieden said.

“We know that you will continue to work for our country in the future, together with the Grand Duchess, our next grand duke, Prince Guillaume, and Princess Stéphanie,” the prime minister added.

The president of the Chamber of Deputies, Claude Wiseler, referred to the 2008 Euthanasia Law and the change in the monarchy’s role during Grand Duke Henri’s reign as a result. Henri, a devout Catholic, refused to sign the bill allowing euthanasia, after which parliament removed his right to give ‘royal assent’ to laws, though he still has to ‘promulgate’ – formally announce – them.

The concert hall on Kirchberg is the focus of the formal celebrations on the morning of 23 June and is followed by a parade along the Avenue de la Liberté and a mass at the Notre Dame cathedral.

The grand duke was joined at the Philharmonie by his family, members of the government, MPs and dignitaries including representatives of the diplomatic corps.

The grand ducal couple and Crown Prince Guillaume and Princess Stéphanie were then joined by government ministers and military and police chiefs on the royal podium to take in the parade of soldiers, police officers and emergency crews along Avenue de la Liberté. The parade also included a flypast by Luxembourg’s A400M military plane.

Film tells the story of 25-year reign

To mark the grand duke’s silver jubilee, the Luxembourg government has produced a video titled The Story of a Reign: 25 Years Service to Luxembourg. Produced by Paris-based French audiovisual production company Feelingside Productions, the 35-minute film includes testimony from former heads of state.

It also features a moving tribute from Grand Duke Henri to Queen Elizabeth II of Great Britain, who he met as a 21-year-old Crown Prince when she visited Luxembourg in 1976. And the royal couple also reveal some of the quirkier moments of their reign, such as when Grand Duchess Maria Teresa organised a surprise for her husband’s 60th birthday, arranging for him to conduct a full-scale orchestra at the Philharmonie.

The film can be viewed with English subtitles on video sharing platform Vimeo. The password for viewers is: 25ANSDEREGNE

(This report is based on an article originally published by the Luxemburger Wort. Machine translated, with editing, adaptation and additional reporting by Duncan Roberts)