SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

European Royals

Solemn commemorations as royals lead Ardennes tributes

The King and Queen of the Belgians and the Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg remembered those who fought at the Battle of the Bulge as commemorations for the 80th anniversary took place.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde joined Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa for events in Hamm in Luxembourg on December 15th to mark the anniversary of the Battle, which is also known as the Ardennes Offensive.

They laid wreaths in memory of those who lost their lives during the campaign which took place in the winter of 1944 after Nazi German forces launched a campaign to destroy Allied lines and stop use of the Belgian port of Antwerp.

The offensive began on December 16th 1944 across the forests of Ardennes and continued for almost six weeks, leading to a huge loss of life.

The Belgian king and the Grand Duke of Luxembourg also visited American Military Cemetery at Hamm to commemorate those who died.

Events also took place in Bastogne which had been at the heart of the fighting. At the heart of their commemorations were the veterans who survived the fighting. King Philippe welcomed several US soldiers, all now 99 years old, to the Belgian Royal Palace ahead of his trip to Luxembourg.

Along with Grand Duke Henri, King Philippe met others during the weekend events marking the anniversary. All had come to remember their fallen comrades.

Later, the Belgian king and queen and the Luxembourg Grand Duke and Duchess joined veterans for the traditional Ceremony of the Nuts at Bastogne. It commemorates the famous response of the US Brigadier General, Anthony McAuliffe, when the Germans sent a message asking him to surrender at the start of the battle. He replied ”nuts” and now, on the anniversary of the start of the battle, nuts are thrown from the balcony of the Town Hall.

About author

Royal Central is the web's leading source for news on the Monarchies of the world.