150th Anniversary of Princess Amélie Monument Celebrated With New Rose

On Wednesday 16 September 2026, the College of the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Luxembourg and the Board of Directors of the non-profit organisation Patrimoine Roses Luxembourg marked the 150th anniversary of the inauguration of the Princess Amélie monument.

The ceremony featured the christening of a new rose dedicated to the Luxembourg painter and poet Lily Unden (1908–1989) and featured speeches from Lydie Polfer, Mayor of the City of Luxembourg, and Robert L. Philippart, historian and founding member of Patrimoine Roses Luxembourg, which retraced the history of Princess Amélie.

Born in 1830, Amélie Marie da Gloria de Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach was the first wife of Prince Henry of the Netherlands, who was entrusted with the government of the Grand Duchy from 1850 to 1879. Highly regarded by the Luxembourg population for her generosity and commitment to helping the most disadvantaged, she also distinguished herself through her support and benevolence in favour of Luxembourg’s independence at a time when it was threatened by the ambitions of Napoleon III.

Isabelle Schlesser, a descendant of the Unden family, then paid tribute to Lily Unden’s remarkable life and courage. At the outbreak of the First World War, the young Lily Unden and her family returned to the Mühlenbach district of Luxembourg City. Having graduated from the École des Beaux-Arts, she joined the Cercle Artistique Luxembourgeois, where she regularly exhibited her paintings and drawings. In 1942, Lily Unden, a member of the Resistance, was arrested and deported to the Ravensbrück concentration camp. After her liberation, she continued her artistic training in New York before teaching art at various schools in Luxembourg. In literary terms, she focused on poetry, recounting her memories as a prisoner of war. In addition to the numerous distinctions she received for her involvement in the Resistance, the author was awarded the Dicks-Rodange-Lentz silver plaque by Actioun Lëtzebuergesch.

The new variety of rose, named ‘Petite Lily’, was presented by its breeder, Ann Velle-Boudolff of Lens Roses. The City of Luxembourg (VdL) said that, inspired by Lily Unden, this miniature rose variety is distinguished by its many bright pink flowers and olive-green foliage. The VdL remarked: “Through its elegance, generous flowering and remarkable vitality, this rose symbolises Lily Unden’s resilience, as well as her strength of character and ability to overcome adversity. It is a floral creation that thus pays a very special tribute to her life and personality.”

Marie and Brieuc Alesi, Madame Schlesser’s children, performed the christening of the rose. The official ceremony concluded with the signing of the rose’s christening certificate, followed by an address by Nicole Trossen, President of the non-profit organisation Patrimoine Roses Luxembourg.

The guests then gathered for a drinks reception jointly hosted by the VdL and Patrimoine Roses Luxembourg.

Caption: The Petite Lily Rose, inspired by Lily Unden

Credit: VDL Phototheque/Christian Aschman