Late on Tuesday morning, the Grand Duke welcomed his cousin, King Philippe of Belgium, and his wife, Queen Mathilde, at the Gare in Luxembourg City - an unusual meeting place, given that most guests arrive by plane. The official reception for the royal couple took place at 11.20am in front of the Grand Ducal Palace.
The delegation will then visit the National Monument of Luxembourg Solidarity at the Kanounenhiwwel, to lay a wreath, before returning to the palace for lunch. Later in the afternoon, the public may be able to catch a glimpse of the group as they proceed to the Corniche for an academic seminar at 4.50pm.
Further events on the programme are a visit to the Diekirch military centre in Herrenberg to commemorate those who lost their lives while in service to their country.
The royal couple will be accompanied by a delegation of over 200 people, including politicians such as the deputy Prime Minister Didier Reynders, as well as a number of business representatives. The delegation will participate in a symposium concerning space travel, a visit to the SES headquarters, a symposium about the future of construction and more. The final day of the visit will comprise a trip on the Marie-Astrid down the Moselle river to visit the Institut Viti Vinicole in Remich.
This visit is to underline the links between Luxembourg and Belgium, some 25 years after the last state visit conducted by King Albert II and Queen Paola. The current royal couple last visited Luxembourg in December 2013, although this was not an official state visit.
