Saturday's festivities will be "once in a lifetime", according to Atelier's Laurent Loschetter on Friday during a TV interview with RTL on "De Journal."

The main man behind the royal festivities on Saturday, Laurent Loschetter from Atelier, is no stranger to organising large-scale events. But according to him, this weekend will be a “once-in-a-lifetime” event.

It’s a huge logistical task, mainly because the celebrations are taking place all across the country. For months, teams have been laying the groundwork in various locations in preparation for the big day.

The weather, Loschetter admits, remains the only factor beyond their control. Another key element this time is the close collaboration with residents, with many people across the country directly involved in the celebrations.

Still, organisers must consider how much they can reasonably expect from participants in case of bad weather. In Dudelange, for instance, around 300 children are set to perform, some of them fragile. It’s a question of responsibility, Loschetter said, explaining that the team must carefully decide under what conditions performances can safely go ahead.

When it comes to technical elements like the stage and the drone show, there are clear parameters. For example, drones cannot take off once wind speeds reach a certain level.

Ahead of the royal tour, organisers spent a great deal of time discussing with the new Head of State. It quickly became clear that on his first “working day” as Grand Duke, meeting the people was of great importance to him. The idea behind the nationwide tour is to ensure that people from as many regions and social backgrounds as possible have the chance to meet him in person.

The Red Bridge will play a central role in the festivities, as the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will walk across it into the capital. Along the way, they will meet people representing themes and causes that are close to their hearts. The couple will begin their walk alone in Kirchberg and arrive in the city together with 1,800 people.

Once in Luxembourg City, the celebrations will include a first for the country: a 360-degree stage on the Glacis, where for an hour and a half musicians from all types of genres will perform for the public.

When asked about the costs of the event, Loschetter acknowledged that it’s a fair question to ask. However, he noted that it’s difficult for the moment to calculate a precise sum. “Each municipality has its own budget, and all the data still needs to be compiled”, he explained. What matters most to him as head organiser is that all funds were invested in artists who are active in Luxembourg. He is proud that they managed to achieve this, he concluded.