On the eve of National Day, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa returned to Esch for one final official visit before the Grand Duke's abdication, taking part in a traditional celebration enriched with personal tributes.
Normally, it is the Hereditary Grand Ducal couple who visit Luxembourg's second-largest city to greet young and old and connect with the people. But this year, to mark Grand Duke Henri's official birthday and in light of his upcoming abdication in October, the Grand Ducal couple themselves returned once more to Esch.
The programme remained largely the same, with a strong emphasis placed on tradition. The Grand Ducal couple arrived at the Place de la Résistance, where they laid flowers at the war memorial in a moment of solemn remembrance. They then made their way down the street in a procession, accompanied by Minister of Labour and Minister of Sport Georges Mischo, Chamber President Claude Wiseler, and the entire Esch municipal council. Another procession included local clubs and associations from Esch, who proudly presented themselves to the Grand Ducal couple before everyone moved on to the town hall and reception hall.
There, the couple received a small souvenir: the first page of the city's golden book as they first signed it as an engaged couple, with a photo from that very occasion.
Although the structure of the event remained largely unchanged, the municipality added some heartfelt touches. At each stall during the public celebration, visitors could find vintage photographs of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa from their early years, back when they visited the Minett capital regularly as the Hereditary Grand Ducal couple.
