Grand Duke Henri
Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume was born at Betzdorf Castle in Betzdorf, Luxembourg, on 16 April 1955, as the eldest son and second child of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, née Princess of Belgium. They were then the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. When Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg abdicated in 1964, her son Jean succeeded her and Henri became the Hereditary Grand Duke opun reaching majority in 1973.
Grand Duke Henri in Aachen, Germany (2009)
The Hereditary Grand Duke was educated in Luxembourg and France, where he obtained his Baccalauréat in 1974. He then enrolled at the Royal Military Academy of Sandhurst, United Kingdom, where he received the rank of officer in 1975. After this military training, the Hereditary Grand Duke studied Political Sciences at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, a degree he obtained in 1980. During his studies he worked at different companies in the United States as an intern, and he he also undertook several economic travels as Honorary President of the Board of Economic Development, a position he held from 1978 until 2000. Between 1980 and 1998, the Hereditary Grand Duke took his constitutional place in the Council of State.
In 1989, the Hereditary Grand Duke was appointed Honorary Major of the Parachute Regiment of the British Army.
The Hereditary Grand Duke married the Cuban Maria Teresa Mestre on 14 February 1981. The couple met in Geneva, where they were both studying Political Sciences. Their marriage was fiercely opposed at first, as Maria Teresa is not of noble descent. The couple has five children: Guillaume (b. 1981), Félix (b.1984), Louis (b. 1986), Alexandra (b. 1991) and Sébastien (b. 1992).
In 1998, Hereditary Grand Duke Henri was appointed Lieutenant Representative by his father, Grand Duke Jean. This meant that the Grand Duke transferred most of his constitutional powers to his son. In 2000, Grand Duke Jean abdicated and Henri became the sixth Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Since his accession to the throne, the Grand Duke is the Commander of the Luxembourg Army. He has received the rank of General.
Image by א (Aleph) and used under Creative Commons license.
Based on information from monarchie.lu.
