This year's Christmas Eve address marked Grand Duke Henri's last before his son, Prince Guillaume, ascends the throne on 3 October 2025.
A cherished tradition in the Grand Duchy, the Head of State's annual Christmas message is broadcast each Christmas Eve.
This year’s address, however, held special significance, as it marked the final Christmas message from Grand Duke Henri before the upcoming transition of the throne.
The Christmas message, a staple of the holiday season, usually reflects on pressing national issues and broader themes of unity within the Grand Duchy. During particularly challenging times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, Grand Duke Henri has used the platform to offer words of reassurance and encouragement to the population.
This year, the Grand Duke took the opportunity to announce the official date of the transfer of power. Prince Guillaume, who was appointed Lieutenant-Representant on 8 October 2024, will ascend to the role of Grand Duke on 3 October 2025.
The 2024 address will therefore stand as Grand Duke Henri’s final Christmas message to the nation, with Prince Guillaume set to deliver his first address in the role next year.
To mark the end of an era, our colleagues at RTL assembled a video review of the Grand Duke's Christmas speech over the past 25 years.
