Sun Shines on British Embassy’s King’s Birthday Celebrations

On the evening of Thursday 18 June 2026, British Ambassador to Luxembourg, Joanne Olivier, hosted an evening reception to celebrate the official birthday of King Charles III at the British Ambassador's Residence in Luxembourg-Ville.

Ambassador Joanne Olivier welcomed around 200 guests, including fellow ambassadors, and expressed her gratitude to all those attending the celebration in honour of King Charles III’s birthday.

In her speech, Ambassador Olivier spoke of “the enduring friendship between the United Kingdom and Luxembourg” and of the diversity and character of the UK’s four nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. She remarked: “Each nation has its own history, traditions, identity and institutions and each contributes something unique to our national story. Yet together they form a union that is stronger because of its diversity and richer because of its different perspectives...What strikes me most is that the values and diversity that unite the UK across the four nations are the same values that we share with Luxembourg. Democracy, openness, fairness, innovation, respect for the rule of law and belief in international cooperation.”

Ambassador Olivier detailed the UK’s links to Luxembourg through bilateral cooperation in finance, sustainable investment, technology, innovation, space, education and research, and expressed her pride at the part the British Embassy in Luxembourg has played in maintaining and developing this relationship. She said: “As we celebrate tonight, we also recognise the example set by His Majesty the King. Throughout his life, His Majesty has championed the importance of bringing people together across differences. These principles resonate strongly in both our countries and remain highly relevant in the world we face today. I am confident that together we will continue to build on our shared successes and our partnership as we go forward.”

Luxembourg Minister of Finance, Gilles Roth, then addressed the guests, thanking the ambassador for the opportunity to attend, and stating “for Luxembourg this is a celebration of a friendship that is old, deep and very much alive”.

Minister Roth remarked on the ties between the respective royal families and the links between each country’s financial centres, a history extending back to the days of the Eurobond market more than 50 years ago. He noted: “UK fund promoters represent around 1 trillion euros in Luxembourg investment funds. That is a sign of trust, of complementarity and of a financial partnership that works in practice. London brings global scale, expertise, talent and innovation and Luxembourg brings European access, stability, fund expertise and a deeply international ecosystem. And together we have built a relationship that is based on daily business, shared ambition and future opportunities.”

He added: “The UK is one of our closest partners in financial services and good bilateral relations are built by people from all walks of life. Between the many professionals we work every day between our two countries. This is why tonight is a reminder that our relationship lives through people. It lives through companies that choose Luxembourg and the UK and it lives through all of you here this evening.”

There then followed a cake cutting ceremony, with Ambassador Olivier and Minister Roth ceremonially cutting a birthday cake prepared for the event by the British Ladies Club.

The evening continued with guests invited to enjoy a garden bar serving Pimms and various gins from across the UK, finger food supplied by Home From Home and music from a three-piece band. 

A variety of displays of goods and produce from companies based in the UK’s four nations were also on display in the ambassador’s residence for guests to investigate and sample.