Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
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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 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 at Betzdorf Castle in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, 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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[edit] Childhood and education
Grand Duke Henri has four siblings: Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria (b. 1954), Prince Jean of Luxembourg (b. 1957), Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein (b. 1957) and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg (b. 1963).
Henri became Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg on 12 November 1964 and 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.
[edit] Marriage and family
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 Jean Joseph Marie, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (b. 11 November 1981)
- Prince Félix Léopold Marie Guillaume (b. 3 June 1984)
- Prince Louis Xavier Marie Guillaume (b. 3 August 1986), married to Princess Tessy
- Princess Alexandra Joséphine Teresa Charlotte Marie Wilhelmine (b. 16 February 1991)
- Prince Sébastien Henri Marie Guillaume (b. 16 April 1992)
and two grandsons:
- Prince Gabriel Michael Louis Ronny of Nassau (born 12 March 2006), son of Prince Louis and Princess Tessy
- Prince Noah Guillaume of Nassau (born 21 September 2007), son of Prince Louis and Princess Tessy
[edit] Constitutional position
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This biographical section of an article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful. (August 2009) |
| Monarchical styles of Grand Duke Henri I of Luxembourg |
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| Reference style | His Royal Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
| Alternative style | Sir |
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".
[edit] Euthanasia controversy
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. A second and final vote has yet to take place, at which point signature of the Grand Duke would be 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 the Grand Duchess Marie-Adelaide refused to sign an education bill in 1912.
[edit] Role and interests
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.
[edit] Media and publicity
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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, the former Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium.
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.[1]
[edit] Health
On February 3, 2011, Henri was admitted to the Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg after becoming 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 on the third, 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. As of February 5, he is currently believed to be spending time at Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg.
[edit] Titles, styles and honours
[edit] Titles and styles
- 16 April 1955 – 12 November 1964: His Royal Highness Prince Henri of Luxembourg
- 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
[edit] Luxembourg honours
- Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Lion 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
[edit] Foreign honours
Commonwealth realms: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold
Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant
Estonia : Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana
Italy : Knight Grand Cross decorated with Grand Cordon of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Latvia: Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Three Stars
Norway : Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St. Olav
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
Spain : Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Sweden : Knight of the Order of the Seraphim
International sovereign organisations
: Bailiff Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Former Sovereign families
- Italy : Supreme Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (House of Savoy)
[edit] Ancestors
[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 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 1,400 years and is one of the oldest in Europe.
The descent before Robert of Worms is taken from [1] and may be partially fabricated. |
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Revue 10 December 2008, Editions Revue S.A., Luxembourg
[edit] External links
- Grand-Ducal House of Luxembourg
- Ancestry of Maria Teresa Mestre (b. 1956), Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
- Geocities site on Henri of Luxembourg
- The Mentor Foundation charity website
- The Official Site of the Ducal Family
- Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg at Genealogics
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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
- Current national leaders
- 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
- Reigning monarchs
- 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 Crosses of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
- Order of the Oak Crown recipients
- Bailiffs Grand Cross of the Order of St John
- 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
- 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
- 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 Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg
- Recipients of the Order of the Seraphim
- Recipients of the Order of the Three Stars, 1st Class with Chain
- Sashes of the Order of the Star of Romania
