Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
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This biographical article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
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| Reign | 7 October 2000 – present |
| Predecessor | Jean |
| Heir apparent | Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg |
| Prime Ministers |
See list
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| Spouse | Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla |
| Issue | |
| Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg Prince Felix Prince Louis Princess Alexandra Prince Sébastien |
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| Full name | |
| Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume | |
| House | House of Bourbon-Parma |
| Father | Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg |
| Mother | Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium |
| Born | 16 April 1955 Betzdorf Castle, Luxembourg |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg OIH (given names: Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume; born 16 April 1955) is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden. He is a nephew of the current King of the Belgians, Albert II.
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Childhood and education [edit]
Grand Duke Henri has four siblings: Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria (born 1954), Prince Jean of Luxembourg (born 1957), Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein (born 1957) and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg (born 1963).
Henri became Grand Duke of Luxembourg on 7 October 2000. He was educated in Luxembourg and in France, where he obtained his baccalaureate in 1974. He then studied political sciences at University of Geneva, graduating in 1980. The Grand Duke also undertook military officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England.
Marriage and family [edit]
While studying in Geneva, Henri met the former María Teresa Mestre y Batista, who was also a political sciences student. They married in Luxembourg on 4 February/14 February 1981 with the previous consent of the Grand Duke, dated 7 November 1980.
The couple has five children:
- Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (born 11 November 1981), was married in Luxembourg on 19 October/ 20 October 2012 to Belgian Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy
- Prince Félix (born 3 June 1984)
- Prince Louis (born 3 August 1986), married to Tessy Antony
- Princess Alexandra (born 16 February 1991)
- Prince Sébastien (born 16 April 1992)
Constitutional position [edit]
Prince Henri became heir apparent to the Luxembourg throne on the abdication of his paternal grandmother, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, on 12 November 1964. From 1980 to 1998, he was a member of the Council of State.
On 4 March 1998, Prince Henri was appointed as Lieutenant Representative by his father, Grand Duke Jean, meaning that he assumed most of his father's constitutional powers. On 7 October 2000, immediately following the abdication of his father, Henri acceded as Grand Duke of Luxembourg and took the constitutional oath before the Chamber of Deputies later that day.
Henri's full name, style and title is: His Royal Highness Henri, by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Count of Sayn, Königstein, Katzenelnbogen and Diez, Burgrave of Hammerstein, Lord of Mahlberg, Wiesbaden, Idstein, Merenberg, Limburg and Eppstein.
However, on ascending the throne, Grand Duke Henri relinquished the styling "by the Grace of God", and in the laws, decrees, and official documents his name and title is: "Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau".
Euthanasia controversy [edit]
On 2 December 2008 it was announced that Grand Duke Henri had stated he would refuse to sign into law the act on euthanasia that had been voted on earlier in the year by the Chamber of Deputies. The law was approved by the Chamber, at which point signature of the Grand Duke would have been necessary to approve and enact the law. Whilst the long-term implications for the constitutional position of the Grand Duke are unclear, it was announced by Minister of State Jean-Claude Juncker that a Constitutional Amendment would be proposed, whereby the signature of the monarch would no longer be necessary for a law to take effect. This would remove one of the legislative roles of the Grand Duke, namely approving new legislation. The Luxembourg royal house has tried to block a decision by parliament only once before, when Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide refused to sign an education bill in 1912. The ultimate solution was that the Grand Duke would be declared unable to perform his duty temporarily, similar to the solution provided to his uncle King Baudouin of Belgium when he refused to sign the abortion law in 1991, and thus the law could take effect without the signature of the Grand Duke but without having to enact long-reaching changes in the constitution. A constitutional amendment, which changed the formulation of the role of the Grand Duke in a way that it makes clear that his signature is automatic and he/she has no freedom of decision, was however passed. The head of state will not have to sanction laws for them to take effect, he will merely promulgate them.[1]
Role and interests [edit]
As the head of a constitutional monarchy, Grand Duke Henri's duties are primarily representative. However, he retains the constitutional power to appoint the Prime Minister and Government, to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies, to promulgate laws and to accredit ambassadors.
Grand Duke Henri is Commander-in-Chief of the Luxembourg Army, in which he holds the rank of General. He is also an Honorary Major in the British Parachute Regiment.
One of the Grand Duke's main functions is to represent Luxembourg in the field of foreign affairs. In May 2001, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa undertook their first foreign state visit to Spain, at the invitation of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.
Grand Duke Henri is a member of the International Olympic Committee, a member of The Mentor Foundation (established by the World Health Organisation) and a Director of the Charles Darwin Trust for the Galapagos Islands.
The Grand Duke lives with his family at Berg Castle in Luxembourg. He also has a holiday home at Cabasson, near Bormes-les-Mimosas in the south of France.
Media and publicity [edit]
Since the accession of Henri to the Grand Ducal Throne in 2000, the Court's approach to media and publicity has varied markedly. In 2002, Grand Duke Henri expressly identified himself with a press conference called by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa with a view to discussing with journalists the shortcomings of her personal relations with her mother-in-law, Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.
In contrast, when the grand ducal couple's first grandchild was born in 2006, the Court Circular pointedly omitted to mention the event, probably as the father Prince Louis was not married at the time. However, the pregnancy was announced on 2005, so the country was informed that the prince and his girlfriend were going to be parents. The press also had access to the child's baptism.
The Grand Ducal Family's approach to media and publicity issues has itself given rise to media comment regarding the quality of communications advice which has been sought and followed. As well as the public airing of the difficulties between the Grand Duchess and her mother-in-law, several other events have resulted in adverse publicity, most notably: in 2004, the opening of Parliament by the Grand Duke in person, the first time in over 100 years the Monarch had done so; in 2005, the Grand Duke announced he intended to vote in favour of the European Constitution in the impending referendum, only to be reminded by senior politicians that he had no such right; the proposed sale of large tracts of the Gruenewald in the summer of 2006 shortly followed by the proposed sale (cancelled shortly afterwards) at Sotheby's of recently-deceased Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte's effects.[2]
Health [edit]
On February 3, 2011, Henri was admitted to the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg on falling ill. Shortly after, the Grand Ducal Court issued a statement saying that he was to undergo an angioplasty. The day after, the Communications Chief announced that the surgery had been a success. "The state of His Royal Highness' health is not disturbing," the statement read, before stating the Grand Duke may leave hospital within the next few days. Although the reason has not formally been disclosed, it is reported that the Grand Duke felt ill after waking that day, and the Court Physician noticed circulation problems. It was then that he was rushed to hospital, to the cardiac unit, and was discharged the following day.
Titles, styles and honours [edit]
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HRH The Grand Duke
HRH Princess Marie Gabriele
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See also List of honours of the Luxembourgish Grand-Ducal Family by country
Titles and styles [edit]
- 16 April 1955 – 12 November 1964: His Royal Highness Prince Henri of Luxembourg, Nassau and Bourbon-Parma
- 12 November 1964 – 7 October 2000: His Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
- 7 October 2000 – present: His Royal Highness The Grand Duke of Luxembourg
The Grand Duke's style and title in full: His Royal Highness Henri by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prince of Nassau, Prince of Bourbon-Parma, Duke of Nassau, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Count of Sayn, Königstein, Katzenelnbogen and Diez, Burgrave of Hammerstein, Lord of Mahlberg, Wiesbaden, Idstein, Merenberg, Limburg and Eppstein
Luxembourgish honours [edit]
- Grand Master of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
- Grand Master of the military and civil Order of Adolphe of Nassau
- Grand Master of the Order of the Oak Crown
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
Foreign honours [edit]
Commonwealth realms: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order[3]
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold [4] [5]
Brazil: Grand Collar of the Order of the Southern Cross (2007)[6]
Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant[7]
Estonia : Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana[8]
Finland : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland[9][10]
Greece : Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer[11]
Italy : Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic[12]
Latvia: Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Three Stars[13]
Mali: Grand Cross of the National Order of Mali (11/2005)[14]
Netherlands : Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion[15] [16]
Norway : Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St. Olav[17]
Portugal Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry- Portugal Grand Collar of the Order of Saint James of the Sword
Romania : Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania[18]
Slovakia : Grand Cross (or 1st Class) of the Order of the White Double Cross (2002)[19]
Spain : Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece[20]- Spain : Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Charles III [20]
Sweden : Knight with Collar of the Order of the Seraphim[21]
International sovereign organisations
: Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Former Sovereign families
House of Savoy: Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
Ancestors [edit]
Patrilineal descent [edit]
| Patrilineal descent |
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Henri's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. Patrilineal descent is the principle behind membership in royal houses, as it can be traced back through the generations - which means that if Grand Duke Henri were to choose an historically accurate house name it would be Robert, as all his male-line ancestors have been of that house. Henri is a member of the House of Bourbon-Parma, a sub-branch of the House of Bourbon-Spain, itself originally a branch of the House of Bourbon, and thus of the Capetian dynasty and of the Robertians. Henri's patriline is the line from which he is descended father to son. It follows the Dukes of Parma as well as the Kings of Spain, France, and Navarre. The line can be traced back more than 1,200 years from Robert of Hesbaye to the present day, through Kings of France & Navarre, Spain and Two-Sicilies, Dukes of Parma and Grand-Dukes of Luxembourg, Princes of Orléans and Emperors of Brazil. It is one of the oldest in Europe.
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See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ Luxembourg to reduce duke's power
- ^ Revue 10 December 2008, Editions Revue S.A., Luxembourg
- ^ "Noblesse et Royautes" website, William and Catherine's wedding, photos of royal guests
- ^ Royalement Blog, State visit of Belgium in Luxembourg (1994), Princes Photos, Group Photo
- ^ Photo with Order of Leopold illustrating an article of "Noblesse et Royautes" website
- ^ DECRETO DE 3 DE DEZEMBRO DE 2007 - website JusBrasil
- ^ The royal forums, Grand-Dukes' state visit to Denmark, October 2003 : Photo
- ^ Estonian State decorations, 05/05/2003
- ^ "Noblesse et Royautés" wesite, article with photos of gala dinner
- ^ www.gouvernement.lu, State visit of President Tarja Halonen in Luxembourg in november 2008 (article in French with photos showing the decorations)
- ^ www.gouvernement.lu/, State visit of President Stephanopoulos in Luxembourg, July 2001
- ^ "Noblesse et Royautes" website, State visit of Italin President Napolitano in Luxembourg, february 2009
- ^ Latvian Presidency, Recipients list (.doc)
- ^ Agency photo taken during the state visit (French) of Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré in Luxembourg in November 2005.
- ^ The royal forums, State visit of Luxembourg to Netherlands, 2006, Photo
- ^ "Noblesse et Royautes" website, State visit of Queen Beatrix in Luxembourg, 21-23 march 2012
- ^ "Noblesse et Royautes" website, State visit of Grand-Dukes in Norway, 30 May - 1 June 2011
- ^ Romanian Presidency website, Recipients of the order (Excel sheet)
- ^ Slovak republic website, State honours (click on "Holders of the Order of the 1st Class White Double Cross" to see the holders' table) : 1st Class received by Grand-Duke in 2002, i.e. during the state visit (French) of President Rudolf Schuster in Luxembourg (november 2002).
- ^ a b Spanish Royal Family website, State visit of Juan Carlos & Sofia in Luxembourg, April 2007 , Photo of the Sovereign couples
- ^ "Noblesse et Royautes" website, Victoria of Sweden's wedding, June 2010
External links [edit]
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Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Cadet branch of the House of Bourbon-Parma
Born: 16 April 1955 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Jean |
Grand Duke of Luxembourg 2000–present |
Incumbent Heir apparent: Guillaume |
| Royal titles | ||
| Preceded by Jean |
Heir to the Luxembourgish Throne 1964–2000 |
Succeeded by Guillaume |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by Jean |
— TITULAR — Duke of Nassau 2000–present Reason for succession failure: Duchy annexed by Prussia in 1866 |
Incumbent Heir apparent: Guillaume |
| Line of Succession to the French Throne (Legitimist) | Succeeded by Guillaume |
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- 1955 births
- 20th-century Roman Catholics
- 21st-century Roman Catholics
- Grand Dukes of Luxembourg
- House of Bourbon-Parma
- International Olympic Committee members
- Living people
- Luxembourgian Roman Catholics
- Members of the Council of State of Luxembourg
- People from Betzdorf, Luxembourg
- Pretenders
- Princes of Bourbon-Parma
- Roman Catholic monarchs
- Graduates of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
- University of Geneva alumni
- Grand Masters of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau
- Grand Masters of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
- Grand Masters of the Order of the Oak Crown
- Grand Master of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- Bailiffs Grand Cross of the Order of St John
- Commanders Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the White Rose of Finland
- Grand Cordons of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)
- Grand Collars of the Order of Prince Henry
- Grand Collars of the Order of Saint James of the Sword
- Grand Collars of the Order of the Southern Cross
- Grand Crosses with Collar of the Order of Charles III
- Knights with Collar of the Order of the Seraphim
- Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
- Knights Grand Cross of the Order of St. Olav
- Knights Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
- Grand Crosses of the National Order of Mali
- Grand Crosses of the Order of the Redeemer
- Grand Crosses of the Order of the White Double Cross
- Knights of the Elephant
- Knights of the Golden Fleece
- Knights of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
- Recipients of the Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
- Recipients of the Order of the Three Stars, 1st Class with Chain
- Sashes of the Order of the Star of Romania
