Sparkly Spotlight: A Closer Look at the Gala Jewels

As the last act of National Day, the Grand Ducal Family hosted a reception for the members of government, the bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, the Council of State, representatives of the judiciary, heads of the administration and foreign ambassadors. Because I love all things sparkly and I'm predictable like that, here's a jewel spotlight on the Grand Ducal ladies.

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Grand Duchess Maria Teresa topped off her gala appearance with the Belgian Scroll Tiara (which is really nice but it's getting a bit boring because it is slowly becoming the only tiara she seems to wear). She fixed her sash with Princess Ingeborg's Pearl and Diamond Brooch that has been owned by no less than four European royal families. Rounding off her ensemble are her two-coloured pearl earrings and several rings.

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Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie opted for the tiara and earrings of the Turqouise Parure. Luckily, she swapped the usual necklace for the grander turquoise necklace of the Grand Ducal Family, which is a thing on beauty - and I don't even particularly like turquoises in gala jewellery. She also wore several rings.

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Princess Claire went for a sleak look choosing the Grand Duchess Adelaide Tiara and diamond earrings that are part of the grand ducal collection but rather rarely worn.

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Princess Alexandra chose to accesorisse with the Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara, earrings formerly belonging to her paternal grandmother Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, as well as a bracelet featuring a large aquamarine and a diamond ring.

What's your verdict? Which jewel appearance did you like best and which tiara could you have done without?

All the Photos from National Day

Photo: Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu

Here is a convenient list of links to more pictures (and a few videos) than you will probably ever care to look at from all the different National Day celebrations... To learn more about the events, simply click on the name of the event.

Visit to Esch-sur-Alzette

Wort

RTL (incl. video)

Tageblatt

Journal
L'essentiel
Cour

Visit to Larochette

Wort

RTL (incl. video)

Tageblatt

Journal
Cour

Torchlight Parade

Wort

RTL

Tageblatt

Journal
Cour

Official Ceremony

Wort

RTL

Tageblatt
Cour
Shortened RTL broadcast

Military Parade

Wort

RTL

Tageblatt
L'essentiel
Cour
Full RTL broadcast

Te Deum

Catholic Church
Wort
L'essentiel

PPE

Cour
Full RTL broadcast

Gala
Cour
PPE

Sparkle in Luxembourg: National Day Gala

Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli

While yours truly died a thousand deaths watching a certain World Cup game, the Grand Ducal Family brought their A-game for the National Day gala at the palais grand-ducal - I do hope they had a TV hidden somewhere for the German and Swedish ambassadors - hosting the members of government, the bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, the Council of State, representatives of the judiciary, heads of the administration and foreign ambassadors for a reception featuring tiaras, gowns, dashing gentlemen and, for the first time since 2015, orders for the ladies. (Last time this happened, we later got official portraits so keep your fingers crossed!)

Photo: Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa shined in Elie Saab and the Belgian Scroll Tiara, Princess Ingeborg's Pearl and Diamond Brooch and pearl earrings. Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie sported the Turquoise Tiara and while it isn't a particular favourite of mine, I'm glad she got out the large turquoise necklace to accompany it. Princess Claire accessorised her Alexander McQueen gown with the Grand Duchess Adelaide Tiara and Princess Alexandra wore what I believe the Aquamarine Bandeau Tiara with an Elie Saab gown. All the members of the Grand Ducal Family wore the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau except for Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie and Princess Claire who have Luxembourg's second hightest order, the Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau.

More pictures of the night at the cour with more close-ups hopefully becoming available tomorrow.

First Sketch of the Emerald Art Deco Tiara

Photo: Collection Chaumet, Paris

We haven't seen the Emerald Art Deco Tiara - a.k.a. the most Wonder Woman-esque of all royal tiaras - in quite a while and I must say that even though it isn't one of my favourite pieces of the Grand Ducal Collection, I kinda miss it. Who knows, maybe we will get to see it this evening? In any way, this National Day certainly brought up a new interesting perspective on the tiara, namely the 1925 scatch of the tiara above.

While I was watching RTL's coverage of the Te Deum and wondered whether I have done this a few too many times, the commentators starting talking about Art Deco, an exhibition currently being shown at the Musée national d'art et d'histoire Luxembourg (MNHA) and a tiara owned by the Grand Ducal Family featuring a very large emerald. Curious me couldn't help but googling and found a sketch of said tiara, originally a gift from Prince Felix to Grand Duchess Charlotte, by Chaumet. Unfortunately, I haven't yet been able to find out whether the Emerald Art Deco Tiara is currently on display at the museum but I will let you know if I do.

Grand Ducal Family Attends Te Deum

Photo: Screenshot RTL

The Grand Ducal Family continued the National Day celebrations by attending the Te Deum mass at the Cathédral Notre-Dame de Luxembourg this afternoon. The Te Deum used to be the focal point of the National Day festivities but was replaced by a secular ceremony a few years ago. It's still held but in slightly smaller fashion in the afternoon. As it has been for a while now, the Te Deum was an interreligious one, concelebrated by the Catholic archbishop of Luxembourg, the chief rabbi of Luxembourg, the imam of the Muslim community and an Anglican priest. 

Photo: Screenshot RTL

While Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Princess Claire and Princess Alexandra sported the same outfits as this morning with the additions of hats or fascinator, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie went for a different dress. (More on all the National Day fashions tomorrow curtesy of our lovely Heaven who is already busy putting it all together.)

Photo: Screenshot RTL

Like every year, the climax of the thanksgiving service was the "Domine salvum fac magnum ducem nostrum" - "Oh Lord, save our great leader" or something along those lines if my Latin serves me right - played in a different arrangement every year. Other musical pieces traditionally featured were the national anthem, Ons Heemecht, the grand ducal anthem, De Wilhelmus; as well as the Sonnerie nationale, which gets me every year, it's such a majestic piece.

Photo: Screenshot RTL

And a bit of further trivia to round off this post (thanks to a conversation I had on Twitter earlier today): Did you know that the Te Deum is celebrated to praise and thank the Lord for the well-being of the head of state? However, it wasn't customary for the head of state to attend this mass back in the day of Grand Duchess Charlotte who never did, because it was thought inappropriate for her to attend a mass for her blessing. Instead, Prince Felix, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean and Prince Charles did sitting where the Grand Ducal Family does now - Grand Duchess Charlotte's daughter were also in attendance though they were seated in the royal box. 

A New Face at the Military Parade

Photo: Screenshot RTL

Those who have followed the Grand Ducal Family for many years will probably know that the Military Parade usually meant a quick break for most members of the family in a National Day jam-packed with various events. The Parade, which includes participants of the army, police and civilian forces as well as - my personal favourite - rescue dogs, is usually attended by the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess as well as Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess. There was a new face for the Military Parade this year though: Prince Sébastien.

Photo: Screenshot RTL

The youngest son of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess graduated the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst last year and subsequently joined the Luxembourgish army as a Lieutenant, as the first of the Grand Duke's children apart from the Hereditary Grand Duke. As a member of the armed forces, he joined his parents, oldest brother and sister-in-law for the Parade in the Avenue de la Liberté - and we will likely see him again in the years to come. Prince Sébastien arrived together with Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie and did not participate in the review of the troops by the Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duke. 

Photo: Screenshot RTL

This was, however, not the first Military Parade for Prince Sébastien and some of his siblings have also attended when they were children or young adults. Sometime in the early-2000's it became common practise though that only Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa as well as Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume were present for the event. Since 2013, the Military Parade has naturally also been attended by Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie.

Luxembourg Marks National Day With Official Ceremony and Military Parade

All photos: Lex Kleren / Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu

Haut ass Nationalfeierdag - today is National Day in case your Luxembourgish isn't up to scratch. This morning, the festivities of the Grand Duke's official birthday kicked off with the not-so-new anymore official ceremony. First introduced in 2013, the secular ceremony took place at the Salle de concerts Grande-Duchesse Joséphine-Charlotte of the Philharmonie Luxembourg this year. The Grand Ducal Family was out in quite a force to mark the occasion.

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, Prince Félix and Princess Claire, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sébastien all joined the government, deputies and representatives of the municipal council of the City of Luxembourg, the Council of State, the judiciary and the diplomatic corps for the main event of National Day.

As part of the ceremony, the Grand Duke, President of Parliament Mars Di Bartolomeo and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel gave speeches and presented honorary awards to deserving Luxembourgers. The music was provided by the Luxembourg Philharmonic Orchestra, the Chamber Choir and the Pueri Cantores of the Conservatoire de la Ville de Luxembourg as well as the choir of the Luxembourg European Choral Institute. After the end of the official ceremony, 21 canon salutes were fired from the Fetschenhof to honour the Grand Duke.

As of the publication of this post, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess as well as the Hereditary Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duchess should be making their way to the Avenue de la Liberté for the military parade. Both Henri and Guillaume will have changed into their uniforms for the occasion. The military parade traditionally also includes representatives of the police as well as aid, emergency and security services.

More photos from the Official Ceremony at Wort.

Grand Ducal Family at Torchlight Parade

Photo: Lex Kleren / Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu

We got a full house for National Day this year: After the visits to Esch-sur-Alzette and Larochette yesterday afternoon, the Grand Ducal Family rounded off the day by attending the traditional torchlight parade last night - and out in full force they were! Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa brought along not only Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie but also Prince Félix and Princess Claire, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra as well as Prince Sébastien for the event on the eve of the Grand Duke's official birthday.

Photo: Guy Wolff / Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu

The torchlight parade features firefighters, scouts and basically everyone who is old enough to hold it carrying (surprise, surprise) torches. In addition there are folklore and musical groups and associations performing. The torchlight procession is part of the street festival taking place in the city on the day prior to the National Day. The pre-celebrations were rounded off by a fireworks display watched by the Grand Ducal Family from the balcony of the Place de la Constitution.

More photos from Wort.

Grand Ducal Couple Visits Larochette

Photo: Guy Wolff / Luxemburger Wort / wort.lu

While Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie kicked off the National Day celebrations with a visit to Esch-sur-Alzette, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa started their National Day shenanigans with a visit to Larochette. Named Fiels in Luxembourgish and Fels in German, Larochette is a small town in central Luxembourg, in the canton of Mersch. The grand ducal couple was greeted by local mayor Natalie Silva and Deputy Prime Minister Xavier Bettel as well as a variety of other local dignitaries.

Photo: Guy Wolff / Luxemburger Wort / wort.lu

After being introduced to other local authorities, first up on the Grand Duke's and Grand Duchess' agenda in Larochette was a visit to the "Elise de Roebe" Day Centre of the Stëftung Hëllef Doheem (Help at Home Foundation). This was followed by a tour of the old town including a meeting with young people at the Maison des Jeunes, dedicated to the integration of the non-Luxembourg population, and a visit to the Museum of Textiles, which is located in an annex of the old Jhangeli train station, a former narrow-gauge railway connecting various towns in the Grand Duchy.

Photo: Guy Wolff / Luxemburger Wort / wort.lu

After a speech of Mayor Silva at the Place Bleech, the Grand Duke awarded six honorific distinctions to deserving Luxembourgers. The event was framed by different musical pieces. The Larochette visit was rounded of by a public fair including a folk dance presentation that gave Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa to chance to mingle and exchange words with the local population. They also made sure to sign the golden book before the left the city.

More photos from Wort.

Almost National Day: Guillaume and Stéphanie Visit Esch-sur-Alzette

Photo: Lex Kleren / Luxemburger Wort / wort.lu

Luxembourg's National Day is fast approaching. Tomorrow the Grand Duchy will celebrate the Grand Duke's official birthday and we will have a fest of our own featuring hats, tiaras and uniforms. The official festivities all over the Grand Duchy always start on the eve of National Day though - so, you know, you can let loose and use National Day for recovery (or something along those lines)...

Photo: Lex Kleren / Luxemburger Wort / wort.lu

The first grand ducal appearance of the National Day celebrations we got in form of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie who paid the traditional visit to Esch-sur-Alzette. The duo was welcomed in the Grand Duchy's second largest city in front of the local mayor Georges Mischo, the President of the Chamber of Deputies Mars di Bartolomeo, additional members of the Chamber of Deputies and the government as well as local politicians.

Photo: Lex Kleren / Luxemburger Wort / wort.lu

After the laying of a wreath of flowers at the war memorial in the Place de la Résistance, they made their way to the city centre of Esch. On the place in front of the town hall, the Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess watched a parade of the associations and clubs of the town. This was followed by a short reception hosted in the honour of the royal guests at the town hall and an appearance on the balcony. Afterwards, Guillaume and Stéphanie made their way to the Escher Volleksfest, a public fair celebrating National Day, where they mingled with the people and lit a fire together with young scouts.

More photos at Wort.