In 1998, he was appointed as regent by his father, the traditional first step in the transition of reigns. Two years later, Jean abdicated and Henri formally became grand duke. Henri's role was largely ceremonial as aconstitutional monarch. However, he sparked a minorconstitutional crisis in 2008 when he refused to grantroyal assent to a new euthanasia law, resulting in the requirement for laws to receive his assent being abolished. In October 2024, Henri appointed his sonGuillaume as regent, following in his father's footsteps, and formally abdicated the throne the following year.
On 12 November 1964, when Henri was nine, his grandmotherabdicated and his father became grand duke. By two sovereign decisions of 14 April 1973, Jean decided that "Henri will be considered as having reached the age of majority as from 16 April 1973, the date on which he will have reached the age of eighteen years" and "that His Royal Highness Prince Henri will bear, in His capacity as Heir Apparent to the Crown of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and of the Grand Ducal Trust, the title of Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Hereditary Prince of Nassau, Prince of Bourbon of Parma."[3]
Prince Henri becameheir apparent to the Luxembourg throne on the abdication of his paternal grandmother, Grand DuchessCharlotte of Luxembourg, on 12 November 1964. From 1980 to his nomination as regent in 1998, he was a member of theCouncil of State.[5]
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 asGrand Duke of Luxembourg and took the constitutional oath before theChamber of Deputies later that day.
As the head of a constitutional monarchy, Grand Duke Henri's duties were primarily representative. However, he retained the constitutional power to appoint theprime minister andgovernment, to dissolve theChamber of Deputies, to promulgate laws and to accreditambassadors. With few exceptions, however, he was bound by convention to act on the advice of the government. Grand Duke Henri was commander-in-chief of theLuxembourg Army, in which he holds the rank of general. In addition, he was made an honorary major in theBritish Army'sParachute Regiment, effective 19 July 1989.[6]
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 ofKing Juan Carlos andQueen Sofía of Spain.
Henri was alleged byBusiness Insider to be one of the world's richest monarchs, with a net worth estimated around US$4 billion in 2019,[9] though representatives of the grand duke's administration have disputed this claim as seeming to incorrectly account for historical and cultural property not actually owned by the grand ducal family, and claimed that the real value of their net worth was "a fraction of these $4 billion".[10]
Since the accession of Henri to the Grand Ducal Throne in 2000, the court's approach to media and publicity has varied markedly.[citation needed] In 2002, Grand Duke Henri expressly identified himself with a press conference called by Maria Teresa with a view to discussing with journalists the shortcomings of her personal relations with her mother-in-law Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.[citation needed]
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 fatherPrince Louis was not married at the time.[citation needed] However, the pregnancy was announced in 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.[citation needed]
The grand ducal family's approach to media and publicity issues has given rise to media comment regarding the quality of communications advice which has been sought and followed.[citation needed] 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 theEuropean 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 theGruenewald in the summer of 2006 was shortly followed by the proposed sale (cancelled shortly afterwards) atSotheby's of recently deceased Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte's effects.[11]
Euthanasia and constitutional reform controversies
On 2 December 2008, it was announced that Grand Duke Henri had stated he would refuse to give hisassent to a new law on euthanasia that had been passed earlier in the year by the Chamber of Deputies.[12] Under the constitution then, the grand duke "sanctions and promulgates the laws" meaning the need for the grand duke's sanction or approval was required in order for laws to take effect. In the absence of clarity on the long-term implications for the constitutional position of the grand duke posed by such a refusal, it was announced by Prime MinisterJean-Claude Juncker that a constitutional amendment would be brought forward.[citation needed]
TheLuxembourg ruling house had tried to block a decision by Parliament only once before, whenGrand Duchess Marie-Adélaïde refused to sign a bill in 1912 to reduce the role of Roman Catholicpriests within the education system.[13] The ultimate solution was that the grand duke would be declared unable to perform his duty temporarily. This was similar to the "escape route" provided to his uncle KingBaudouin of Belgium when he refused to sign an abortion law in 1991; thus the law could take effect without the signature of the grand duke, but also without the need to enact far-reaching changes in the constitution.[citation needed]
Article 34 of the constitution was subsequently amended to remove the term "assent",[14] leaving the relevant provision to read: "The Grand Duke promulgates the laws..." As a result, his signature is still needed but it is clear that his signature is automatic and that he has no freedom of decision. The head of state no longer has to "sanction" laws for them to take effect, as the officeholder merely promulgates them.[15]
On 3 February 2011, Henri was admitted to theCentre Hospitalier de Luxembourg on falling ill. Shortly after, the Grand Ducal Court issued a statement saying that he was to undergo anangioplasty. The day after, the communications chief announced that the procedure had been a success. "The state of His Royal Highness' health is not disturbing," the statement read, before stating the grand duke may leave the 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.[citation needed]
On 31 January 2020, the Waringo report was released, a governmental report on the internal workings of the monarchy that had been compiled byJeannot Waringo [lb], former Financial Director of Luxembourg.[16] The report identified significant problems in terms of staff management at the Palace resulting in a high turnover rate and an atmosphere of fear. It noted that internal communications were almost nonexistent. Waringo indicated that the most important staff decisions were made by the Grand Duchess. There was no division of staff for personal use and that for official functions. Waringo was also not able to determine if the grand ducal couple's private activities were financed by the State or not.[16] The Court responded that "(i)n the interests of greater transparency and modernization, the Court will contribute constructively to the implementation of the improvements proposed in this report."[17]
Henri sitting with Guillaume at his abdication ceremony.
On 23 June 2024, hisofficial birthday, Henri announced his plans to appoint his sonGuillaume as lieutenant representative (regent) in October. Traditionally, this signals the grand duke's intention toabdicate in the future.[18][19] On 8 October, Guillaume was sworn in as lieutenant representative.[20] On 24 December 2024, Henri announced in his Christmas message his intention to abdicate in favour of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume on 3 October 2025.[21]
Following his abdication, Henri stated that he would be leaving Luxembourg "for a while".[22]
While studying in Geneva, Henri met the Cuban-bornMaría Teresa Mestre y Batista, who was also a political science student. They married in Luxembourg in a civil ceremony on 4 February 1981 and a religious ceremony on 14 February 1981 with the previous consent of the grand duke, dated 7 November 1980. The couple have five children and eight grandchildren:
^abSlovak 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 thestate visitArchived 16 October 2007 at theWayback Machine (French) of PresidentRudolf Schuster in Luxembourg (november 2002).
_(cropped).jpg)
.svg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.png)
.png)
.svg)
.svg)
