Getting ready for Christmas in October? Not for everyone of course, but the Grand-Ducal Palace is already preparing for the holiday season, albeit temporarily and for a specific purpose.
Although it's only October, the Grand-Ducal Palace is already decked out with Christmas decorations, colourful tinsel and Christmas tree baubles – but not for the early arrival of the holiday season!
Instead, the festive setup is part of preparations for the annual Christmas Eve television address by the Grand Duke, which will be filmed in this seasonal setting. Each year, this traditional message is accompanied by a special musical performance to enhance the occasion's festive tone.
This year, the Maîtrise Saint-Cécile choir from Notre-Dame Cathedral, accompanied by the cathedral’s new organ, provided the musical backdrop, following previous performances by the Pueri Cantores children's choir in 2022 and the Luxembourg Chamber Orchestra last year. The choir of 37 singers performed the national anthems, 'Wilhelmus' and 'Heemecht', contributing to a warm, celebratory ambiance for the recorded address.
While the festive recording with the choir has already taken place, the Grand Duke’s speech itself will be filmed closer to the holiday and will be aired on Christmas Eve across all RTL media channels.
