President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has sent a congratulatory message to His Royal Highness, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, on its National Day.

Luxembourg’s National Day is celebrated annually on June 23, and it’s considered the official birthday of the Grand Duke although non-Grand Duke/Duchess has ever had a real birthday that fell on this day.

However, Grand Duchess Charlotte, who ruled Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964, was born on January 23, 1896, but the celebrations were shifted to June so that the celebrations would a have more  favorable weather.

The day was made a national holiday in 1941, and the date of June 23 was fixed by Ducal decree in 1961. So, despite the current Duke being the grandson of Charlotte, the June 23 date has remained the National Day.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Sirleaf, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia and in her own name, extended to His Royal Highness, the Grand Duke Henri and the Government and people of the Grand Duchy, hearty greetings on the occasion of the Luxembourgish National Day.

“In joining you in jubilation, we recognize with gratitude, the rewarding relations our two nations and peoples continue to enjoy, apparent by the high level visit of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Grand Duchy to Monrovia in March 2012, which enabled the signing of two cooperation agreements counting improvement in security at the Roberts International Airport, and building the capacity of staff at Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the Liberian president emphasized.

She further told Grand Duke Henri that her government remains hopeful that these agreements will be fully implemented to contribute to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, which both nations strive to fully implement.

“It is my keen interest that we would both explore new areas of cooperation, mainly in the private sector and the areas of innovation,” President Sirleaf added.

The Liberian leader then wished for His Royal Highness good health and happiness and for the Government and people of the Grand Duchy, peace and prosperity.