The celebrations of the coronation of Grand Duke Guillaume brought Luxembourg to life for three days. They offered a splendid occasion for communion between the sovereign and his people, shining a light on solidarity and human bonds.
Jean-Michel Gaudron
Neither wind nor rain dampened the spirit of the Luxembourg population, who wholeheartedly embraced the ceremonies marking the transfer of power from Grand Duke Henri, Head of State for 25 years, to his son Guillaume, now sovereign following his swearing-in on Friday 3 October at the Chamber of Deputies.
"I want to be the Grand Duke who builds bridges between generations, between tradition and innovation," declared Grand Duke Guillaume in his first speech. "We stand at the dawn of a major technological revolution, driven by artificial intelligence. It will transform our lives, our environment, and even our democratic institutions. Such changes can create uncertainty about the world of tomorrow. In an increasingly digital world, we must nurture human connections more than ever. Each of us carries the responsibility to build bridges and forge the bonds that bring us closer together."
It was precisely on the Grand Duchess Charlotte Bridge, linking the Kirchberg district to the city centre, that one of the most symbolic parts of the festivities took place. The bridge hosted a parade of eight trams, each embodying one of the nation’s strong pillars (such as living together, resilience, resources, entrepreneurship and Europe).
Luxinnovation played an active role in this colourful spectacle, represented by a team of six volunteers in the colours of the national innovation agency, each carrying a keyword that reflects their daily mission: Créativité (French), Future, Disrupt, Empower (English), Innovéieren (Luxembourgish) and Fortschritt (German).
"Tonight we are celebrating much more than one individual; we are celebrating our diversity, our history and our future. We are celebrating Luxembourg," said Grand Duke Guillaume at the opening of the grand concert that brought Saturday’s festivities on the Place des Glacis to a close.
