Friday, August 15, 2014

National Day: State Ceremony and Garden Party

Photos: Liechtensteiner Vaterland / Vaterland.li
While the rest of the (Catholic) world is celebrating the Feast of Assumption of the Virgin Mary today, the Principality of Liechtenstein is having its national day. First taking place in 1940, August 15 was actually chosen as national day for that exact reason: The day already was a public holiday in the Principality and it thus meant that no day of productivity was lost. (Plus, the late Prince Franz Josef's birthday was on August 16 but I just love the thriftiness of Liechtenstein's government, "No, you really don't need another day off, dear citizens.")

While this year in general is the year of the silver throne jubilee of the Prince Hans-Adam II, today's national day marks the 10th anniversary of Hereditary Prince Alois becoming his father's regent in 2004. Reasons enough for a numerous attendance by members of the Princely Family: Thus far I spotted the Prince Hans-Adam and the Princess Marie, the Hereditary Prince Alois and the Hereditary Princess Sophie with three of their four children Princess Marie-Caroline, Prince Georg and Prince Nikolaus, as well as Princess Tatjana and her husband Philipp von Lattorff with their children Lukas, Elisabeth, Marie, Camilla, Anna, Sophie and Maximilian. In addition, there were Prince Nikolaus, Prince Stefan, Prince Michael with his daughters Princess Thera and Princess Gisela as well as Princess Maria-Pia. A special guest was Countess Giorgiana of Arco-Zinneberg, youngest daughter of Archduchess Maria Beatrix of Austria.

During his speech the President of Parliament Albert Frick thanked both the Prince and Hereditary Prince for their contribution and work for the Principality. Even though he believes it is too early to summarise Prince Hans-Adam's reign, Frick said that Liechtenstein joining both the United Nations in 1990 and the European Economic Area in 1995 will always be connected to the Fürst's name. He added that the ten years of Hereditary Prince Alois' regency have assured the country's population that the Principality is in very good hands.

Since becoming regent in 2004, Hereditary Prince Alois has always held the speech traditionally given by the head of state on national day and this year was no different. During his speech he talked about how every citizen of Liechtenstein should make their own little contribution to the balance of the state budget by only taking government benefits and subsidies when it is really necessary, and a number of other topics.

After the end of the official ceremony on the castle meadow, Liechtenstein's population and tourists are traditionally invited by the Princely Family to come join them for a garden party in the - surprise, surprise - gardens of Schloss Vaduz where everyone can have a drink and mingle with their serene and royal highnesses.

Almost 100 visuals of the official ceremony and the garden party can be found at Vaterland. Volksblatt has a video of the Hereditary Prince's speech.

6 comments:

  1. Hi, who is that lady standing next to Princess Marie-Caroline? Is she the daughter of Princess Tatjana?

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  2. No, that's Countess Giorgiana of Arco-Zinneberg, daughter of Archduchess Maria Beatrice of Austria, older sister of Prince Lorenz of Belgium, and Count Riprand of Arco-Zinneberg. She's friends with Princess Marie-Caroline.

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  3. I'm a little bit disappointed-No pictures of Princes Tatjana and her family?

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  4. Check our more recent post for more pictures, also of Princess Tatjana and her family: http://lux-arazzi.blogspot.de/2014/08/ps-pictures-videos-and-more.html


    The website who usually has the most and best pictures, hasn't uploaded any yet so stay tuned!

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  5. Hi, could you tell me why Prince Wenzel didn't attend the national day this year?

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  6. I haven't heard anything, he was probably either sick or otherwise busy.

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