Christmas Eve marked a first for the reign of Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg when he gave his first Christmas address to the Luxembourgish people as monarch.
Grand Duke Guillaume stood in front of a Christmas tree with the official portrait of his wife, Grand Duchess Stephanie, hanging in the background.
He called speaking to the people for the first time as monarch an honour and reflected on his first speech upon his accession to the throne in October.
“When I ascended the throne on 3 October, I spoke of values such as solidarity, openness, tolerance, and cohesion. These are not just words on paper. They are values we live by every day, and values that build bridges between people in our society,” he said.
The Grand Duke thanked everyone for the warm reception he had received as monarch and promised that he and his wife “will strive to be present throughout Luxembourg society.”
Grand Duke Guillaume spoke of connection and how “symbols of this season that we see all around us remind us of the enduring values of Christmas. The lights that brighten our streets and homes shine most beautifully when the winter nights are darkest. They are symbols of hope in uncertain times.”
Like his Belgian counterpart, he spoke of the ongoing war in Ukraine and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.
“Christmas calls on us to remember that joy is only complete when it is shared. Together, we must strive to build a society where every family can share the gifts of dignity and fairness,” he later stated.
His Royal Highness stressed the importance of dialogue and doing good for others.
“For believers, Christmas is a particularly special time of year. Faith gives us hope and reminds us that light is present even in the most difficult times. The star that shone over Bethlehem was a sign: it pointed the way and invites us to look to the future with hope and confidence,” Grand Duke Guillaume added.
The Grand Duke closed by calling the Luxembourgers family and his hope that 2026 will bring everyone closer.
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