National Day Gala *

Photo: Charles Caratini / SIP

Drumroll please... To my and hopefully also your utter delight, there was a picture of the gala event of the Luxembourgish national day celebrations released. Let's pause for a moment of applause here.

Alright... Both Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie are wearing gowns that we have seen on them before. The Grand Duchess is sporting the same Elie Saab gown that she wore to the pre-wedding dinner of her oldest son last October which she topped off with the Belgian Scroll Tiara and rather substantial pearl earrings. Meanwhile, the Hereditary Grand Duchess is is repeating the pink Valentino dress she wore to the private birthday ball of Princess Maria Galitzine and Nina Peers de Nieuwburgh.

Let's pause for another moment of applause for what is happening on Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie her head, shall we? We shall!

Photos: Getty Images / Charles Caratini / SIP / Cour grand-ducale

Once again she dug deep into the family's jewel vault - I love her for that! - and unearthed another rarely seen tiara of the Grand Ducal Family. In fact, it is a bit of a mystery one. For a long time, many of us, including humble me, assumed that the amethyst tiara worn by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa on the left picture was a remodelling of the amethyst and pearl or diamond tiara worn by Princess Marie-Astrid during the 1970's and 1980's (right picture). Thanks to the Hereditary Grand Duchess, we now know that the amethyst and pearl or diamond tiara is still in existence. Well done, your highness!

In not the most surprising move of the year, Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume looked dashing in their black gala uniforms of the Luxembourgish army, which they top of with the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau.

Let's hope that the Grand Ducal gods - also known as the cour - will be generous with us and also release pictures of Prince Louis, Princess Tessy and Princess Alexandra attending the gala reception (if they were present) for the members of the government, the bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, the Council of State, representatives of the judiciary, heads of the administration and foreign ambassadors.

You can catch a few glimpses of the gala reception in this RTL video (starting at 2:33).