Luxembourg’s change of throne this year came with a multimillion-euro price tag, Prime Minister Luc Frieden said on Tuesday, after MPs demanded transparency on the public funds used for the celebrations marking the accession of Grand Duke Guillaume.

Frieden told parliament that the state had signed a €3 million contract with RTL/BCE for live-broadcasting the events and another €4 million contract with events firm Atelier, which coordinated the October 4 celebrations across the country, including the scenography on the Red Bridge in Luxembourg City.

“The change of throne was followed very closely abroad,” Frieden said, defending the expenses as part of a major national event.

“These are taxpayers’ money that we all have to pay for,” LSAP parliamentary group leader Taina Bofferding said. Frieden replied that transparency was part of democracy and the responsibility of parliament, adding that all costs would be disclosed in due course..

Local budgets

Several municipalities also contributed to the festivities surrounding the enthronement.

In Grevenmacher, the municipal council approved a €20,000 budget for the Grand Duke’s visit, the council told Virgule.

Dudelange, by contrast, went far bigger. Its council voted through a special credit of €500,000 to fund receptions, concerts, and cultural events, describing the tour of the new Grand Duke as “an official event of high symbolic and protocol importance, testifying to the continuity of institutions and national unity”.

Mayor Dan Biancalana (LSAP) said the expense had not been foreseen in the 2025 budget and required an extraordinary allocation. The funds covered logistics, security, coordination with national services, and hospitality for guests and dignitaries.

Also read:What the change of throne reveals about Luxembourg

The municipalities of Wiltz and Luxembourg City — also stops on the Grand Duke’s tour — said they would provide details of their expenditures at a later date. The capital’s mayor, Lydie Polfer (DP), told MPs she would present a report on costs at the next municipal council meeting.

The week-long programme marking Grand Duke Henri’s abdication and his son’s enthronement was one of the biggest national events in years, broadcast live and followed across Europe. The state is expected to publish a full breakdown of spending once all bills have been settled.

(This article combines information from articles published in The Luxemburger Wort and Virgule. It was adapted and edited by Kabir Agarwal.)