After four scheduled appearances across the country on Saturday, the second day of the throne accession celebrations reached their final stage in Luxembourg City, marked by a grand spectacle on the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge, a dazzling drone show, and a concert on the Glacis, where thousands of residents gathered despite the unsettled weather.
The Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge, also known as Red Bridge, was chosen as a symbol of unity and resilience within Luxembourg's society.
Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie led a procession of around 2,000 people representing different facets of Luxembourgish society. Participants crossed the bridge in eight trams, one after another, before joining the festivities on the Glacis.
'We are not celebrating one person, but our identity'
Taking the stage at the Glacis, Grand Duke Guillaume addressed the crowd with a heartfelt message of gratitude, expressing how deeply touched he was by the many personal gestures he had received. He said it meant a great deal to him to share this historic moment directly with the people of Luxembourg, praising the nation's strength and solidarity. "We Luxembourgers are tough", he remarked, adding that "a bit of autumn rain would not dampen our spirits".
He concluded by underlining the country's diversity and sense of belonging: "This evening, we are not celebrating one person, but our identity, our diversity, our history, and our future. We are celebrating Luxembourg."
Drone show lights up the sky
The evening continued with a dazzling drone show lasting nearly eight minutes, featuring 325 drones flying in formation over Luxembourg City. The illuminated symbols represented both the reign of Grand Duke Henri and the transition to his son, Grand Duke Guillaume, while also highlighting the diversity of the nation.
Concert on the Glacis: a tribute to Luxembourg's music scene
The night culminated in a grand concert on the main stage at the Glacis, attended by the Grand Ducal couple. The event featured 27 performances by artists from across Luxembourg, celebrating the country's vibrant music scene. One of the standout moments came when singer Stephany Ortega performed from the rooftop of a nearby bank overlooking the square.
The show was hosted by Philip Crowther and Désirée Nosbusch, who opened the evening by welcoming the seven "godparents" who had accompanied Grand Duke Guillaume on his weekend tour of the country: chef Lea Linster, cyclist Andy Schleck, athlete Patrizia van der Weken, "An American in Luxembourg" Mike McQuaide, table tennis champion Ni Xia Lian, tennis player Anne Kremer, and actor Jules Werner.
The line-up featured a rich mix of genres and generations, with performances by Cosmokramer, Napoleon Gold & Krick, Jackie Moontan, Edsun, Oke, Adriano Selva, Tali, Tuys, Francis of Delirium, Fred Barreto and Daniel Migliosi, Hunneg-Strëpp, Reis-Demuth-Wiltgen, Benjamin Kruithof, d’Cojellico’s Jangen, Stephany Ortega, Parity, Myura, Maz Univerze, Nicool & Stephany Ortega, De Läb, Alfalfa, Zero Point Five, Laura Thorn, klein., Krick, RAFTSIDE, Faux Real, and NOSI – a true showcase of Luxembourg's creative energy and diversity.
