New Military Flag Unveiled on Grand Duke Guillaume’s Birthday

On his 44th birthday, Grand Duke Guillaume presided over his first St Martin’s Day ceremony as Head of the Army, marking a symbolic moment with the unveiling of a new military flag at the Härebierg base.

The new standard proudly displays the Grand Duke’s monogram on one side and the national Red Lion emblem on the other, representing both tradition and continuity. The ceremony also marked the final official event for outgoing Chief of Staff Steve Thull.

During the event, Chaplain Nicolas Wenner described the Grand Duke as a “symbol of the unity and independence of our homeland,” while reflecting on today’s global uncertainty: “We are not at war, but we are no longer at peace.”

Defence Minister Yuriko Backes echoed this concern, stressing that “the defence of our freedom, our democracy, and an open society must have the highest priority.” She announced plans to propose a significant pay increase for young soldiers, underlining that military service is “not just any job” and must be made more attractive as Luxembourg strengthens its defence commitments.

Join the community of your own - #1 home-grown LuxExpats app
SignUp Free : luxembourgexpats.lu