Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, the head of state of Luxembourg was born at Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg on 16 April 1955, the eldest son of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte (née Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium). His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III and Queen Astrid of Belgium.

Childhood and Education

Grand Duke Henri has four siblings: Marie Astrid, Archduchess of Austria (b. 1954), Prince Jean of Luxembourg (b. 1957), Margaretha, Princess of Liechtenstein (b. 1957) and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg (b. 1963).

Henri 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 in Sandhurst, England.

Marriage and Family

Whilst studying in Geneva, Henri met Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista, who was also a political sciences student. Despite the reported disapproval of Henri's mother (who was said to have wanted her son to marry a fellow royal), Henri and Maria Teresa were married in Luxembourg on 14 February 1981.

The couple have five children:

Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (b. 11 November 1981)
Prince Félix of Luxembourg (b. 3 June 1984)
Prince Louis of Luxembourg (b. 3 August 1986)
Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg (b. 16 February 1991)
Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg (b. 16 April 1992)

and one grandson :

Gabriel (b. 12 March 2006), illegitimate son of Prince Louis

Constitutional Position

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 Grand Duke Jean, Henri acceded as Grand Duke of Luxembourg and took the constitutional oath before the Chamber of Deputies later that day.

Henri's full title is: His Royal Highness Henri, by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau, Prince of Bourbon of Parma, 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, acceeding to the throne, Grand Duke Henri relinquished the styling "by the Grace of God", and in the laws, decrees, and official documents his title is: "We HENRI, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau".

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 Foundation for the Galapagos Islands.

The Grand Duke lives with his family at Berg Castle in Luxembourg. He also has a holiday home at Cabasson in the south of France.

External links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Childhood and Education

Marriage and Family

Constitutional Position

Role and Interests

External links