Luxembourg remembers 40 key events ahead of National Day celebrations

Ahead of the 25th celebration of National Day during Grand Duke Henri’s reign, Luxembourg has marked 40 key events from the last 25 years.

As Grand Duke Henri is abdicating in October, these are especially significant.

Here are the key events:

1. Grand Duke Henri’s oath of office before the Chamber of Deputies on 7 October 2000.

2. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa took part in the International Conference on the Culture of Peace on 11-12 December 2000.

3. The Grand Ducal Couple’s 20th wedding anniversary on 14 February 2001.

4. The merging of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess’s respective Princely Foundations into the “Grand Duke and Grand Duchess Foundation” on 19 April 2001.

5. The first National Day during Grand Duke Henri’s reign on 23 June 2001.

6. The terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001.

7. The Grand Duchess’s meeting with Professor Yunus on 9 April 2003.

8. The founding of the University of Luxembourg on 10 October 2003.

9. The legislative elections of 13 June 2004.

10. The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg assuming the presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 January 2005.

11. The Grand Duchess being appointed a member of the Board of Directors and Chair of the Executive Committee of the Luxembourg Red Cross on 8 April 2005.

12. The Grand Duchess being named “Eminent Children’s Advocate” by UNICEF on 19 April 2005.

13. The Grand Duke’s reservation about the Euthanasia Law being expressed on 1 December 2008.

14. The Grand Duchess’s visit to Burundi with UNICEF on 2 June 2009.

15. The introduction of absolute primogeniture in the Luxembourgish succession to the throne on 20 June 2011.

16. The wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy on 20 October 2012.

17. The introduction of gay marriage on 18 June 2014.

18. The Grand Duchess’s participation in the International Conference “Women in Economic Decision-Making” in October and November 2015.

19. The Grand Duchess addressing the issue of learning disabilities in Luxembourg on 30 January 2016.

20. The Grand Duchess receiving an audience with Dr. Denis Mukwégé on 27 October 2016.

21. The Grand Duke participating in his first United Nations Climate Change Conference on 6 November 2017.

22. The passing of the law on the promotion of the Luxembourgish language on 20 July 2018.

23. The Grand Duchess making a humanitarian trip to Lebanon on 30 October 2018.

24. The first “Stand Speak Rise Up” forum was held on 26 and 28 March 2019.

25. The passing of Grand Duke Jean on 23 April 2019.

26. The first case of COVID-19 occurring in Luxembourg on 29 February 2020.

27. The birth of Prince Charles on 10 May 2020.

28. The establishment of the Grand Duke’s Household on 9 October 2020.

29. Luxembourg hosting the 2022 European Capital of Culture in Esch in January 2022.

30. The Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022.

31. The new Luxembourg Constitution coming into force on 1 July 2023,

32. The Grand Duchess attending the first academic year of 60 nursing bachelor’s students on 18 September 2023.

33. The Grand Duchess addressing a new aspect in the fight against rape as a weapon of war on 8 March 2024.

34. The meeting of Grand Duke Henri and King Charles III on 27 May 2024.

35. The announcement of the appointment of Hereditary Grand Duke Guilllaume as Lieutenant Representative on 23 June 2024.

36. The Grand Duke attending the Olympic Games in Paris on 26 July 2024.

37. The visit of Pope Francis on 25 September 2024.

38. Hereditary Grand Duke Guilllaume was made Lieutenant-Representative on 8 October 2024.

39. The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess attending the official reopening of the Paris Cathedral on 7 December 2024.

 

40.The Grand Duke leading a large ministerial and economic delegation to participate in “Luxembourg Day” at the Osaka World Expo on 30 May 2025.