Thursday 23 June 2016

Luxembourg's National Day celebrations


The Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg with the Hereditary Grand Duchess during the country's National Day celebrations
(photo RTL still)

It's been pretty hot in Luxembourg recently which meant that the country's royals have been out celebrating National Day in very warm weather. If Stephanie and Claire looked ever so slightly flushed, don't get overly royal baby excited. With the thermometer hitting 30 Celsus, pink cheeks were de rigeur. The royals enjoyed all the traditions of this annual event and all with bigger crowds than usual. 




Events got under way yesterday with big visits by the Grand Duke and Duchess and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Duchess. Henri and Maria Teresa headed to Troisvierges on the eve of National Day. As the afternoon of June 22nd progressed, they arrived in the town where after an official welcome, they laid a wreath as is traditional. They then saw a presentation from a local school before heading off into the summer heat to meet some of the big number of people who had turned out to see them.


The Luxembourg Royal Family always visits Esch-sur-Alzette every year on National Day Eve and this year it was the turn of Guillaume and Stephanie to head there on the afternoon of June 22nd. Lots of people and lots of tradition saw them lay wreaths in front of a big crowd before enjoying a rather large walkabout. Yes, Stephanie does look a bit tired and a bit, well, flushed but for now we're going hot weather rather than heir on the way.

The whole Royal Family came together in the evening to watch a procession and then settle back and enjoy some music and fireworks.


 


Princess Claire struck a style success with her striped trouser suit with Princess Tessy hot on her heels in the hot weather with a pair of emerald green trousers that took some beating.




The morning of National Day itself saw the royals attending the traditional official ceremony at the Philharmonie which included speeches and the presentation of awards. It also meant another change of clothes with lots of green, a random spot of peach from Princess Alexandra and Maria Teresa in her favourite blue ombre coat.  
There was no hiding from the heat as Henri, Maria Teresa, Guillaume and Stephanie led the dignitaries at the military parade.




The whole family was back together in the afternoon for the Te Deum at the Cathedral with Stephanie showing a fondness for the kind of bandage hat that has got Queen Mathilde of the Belgians into so much trouble in the past.






The day was due to end with a gala evening - cue more clothes changes and a bit of sparkle. The final event is set to take place indoors which will no doubt give everyone a break from the never ending warmth of this year's celebrations. National Day in Luxembourg first came about during the reign of Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte whose birthday, January 23rd, was considered too wintry for a big celebration and so June 23rd was chosen instead. This year, the royals got the warm weather she had hoped for as they celebrated and very sunny it all was, too.

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