Seldom saw such a cheering crowd in Luxembourg

April 14, 1945, today 80 years ago: Grand Duchess Charlotte returns from exile – a triumphal moment. Your arrival is kept strictly secret. For the safety of travelers, Luxembourg and Allied authorities coordinate the return trip with extreme discretion. It was only on the morning of the same day that the government informs the population with sober posters: « D’Arrong as Frou Matzedelen, Datt d’Rande-Duchesse Haut Ukënnt. Si Gëtt Erwaart Tëschent 14 to 16 Auer. »

But thousands have been line the streets of the capital for hours, full of anticipation for the return of their state mother. At around 4:15 p.m., several aircraft appear above the airfield-five Douglas machines, including the personal machine from General Eisenhower. On board: Grand Duchess Charlotte, Prince Félix, Crown Prince Jean and Princess Alix.

A moment of hitting silence lies above the airfield, almost like a still prayer when the door of the aircraft opens. At 4:30 p.m., Grand Duchess Charlotte enters the bottom of her homeland again – a moment full of emotions, even for the otherwise seized monarch.

Everything goes quickly. The greeting is short, the scenes moving. An impressive convoy soon starts moving – led by two jeeps. Brigadier van Dyck sits at the wheel of the Grand Ducal Vehicle, The same man who had driven Charlotte out of the city on May 10, 1940. The wagon column is not unnoticed. Everywhere, cheering piled up that applauded people.

At the entrance of the city, the masses are crowded along the Avenue de la Liberté and around the Adolphe bridge. There the Schöffenkollegium is waiting for the monarch. It is five in the afternoon when Mayor Gaston Diderich takes the floor. His speech is later described as « a hymn of perfect unity » – an expression of the cohesion between the people and the princess. Grand Duchess Charlotte symbolizes the unity of the nation.

When history comes home

After about twenty minutes, the convoy moves on the boulevard Royal and the Grand Rue, towards the palace. The streets are black in front of people, « Vive » calls and patriotic songs are resounding everywhere. Even the American soldiers are impressed by the overwhelming reception that the people of his Grand Duchess prepares.

Later afternoon. The balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace opens – and it says: Grand Duchess Charlotte. A moment that the whole country has been waiting for. Thousands gather on the pitch, shoulders shoulders close to the shoulders, the eyes are looking up. And then the cheers break off – tremendous, limitless, almost like a sigh of relief after years of waiting.

Hands, hats, handkerchiefs fly through the air as if it were a rehearsed sign. The crowd calls hoarsely with enthusiasm, carried by a wave of relief, joy, love. The balcony becomes the stage of a historic moment – at the same time solemn and electrifying. The « Vive » calls don’t want to end. You have the feeling that they could shake the walls of the palace. And in the middle of it: the Grand Duchess – moved, but upright. Her gestures are wide and warm as if she wanted to hug all of Luxembourg. In her eyes it shines from the silent, deep emotion of a princess who returns to her people.

The « Luxembourg word » wrote two days later about this moment: « The mood increased to the tumbling (…) You can understand that at that moment Grand Duchess Charlotte could not defend itself (…) After five years of painful separation, the hearts of princess and people found themselves in one fell swoop. »