Monarchy of Luxembourg Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Standard of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Arms of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Incumbent Henri since 7 October 2000
Style	His Royal Highness
Residence	Berg Castle, Colmar-Berg
Seat	Grand Ducal Palace, Luxembourg City
Constituting instrument	Constitution of Luxembourg
First holder	William I, King of the Netherlands, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Succession	Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg is the country's head of state. Luxembourg has been a special type of country called a grand duchy since March 15, 1815. It was created from the old Duchy of Luxembourg.

For a while, until 1890, Luxembourg was also ruled by the same person who was King of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. This was called a personal union. Today, Luxembourg is the only independent Grand Duchy in the world. Since 1815, there have been nine rulers, including the current Grand Duke, Henri.

What Does the Grand Duke Do?
How the Grand Duke is Paid
Who Becomes the Next Grand Duke?
Grand Dukes of Luxembourg
- House of Orange-Nassau
- House of Nassau-Weilburg
Grand Ducal Spouses
See also

What Does the Grand Duke Do?

The constitution of Luxembourg explains the Grand Duke's important role.

The Grand Duke is the head of state.
They represent the country's unity.
They make sure the nation stays independent.
They use their executive power according to the country's laws.

In 2008, a change was made to the constitution. Now, laws do not need the Grand Duke's formal approval. However, the Grand Duke still has the job of officially announcing new laws. This is part of their role as the chief executive.

How the Grand Duke is Paid

The Grand Duke does not get a regular salary. Instead, the Grand Ducal family receives money each year for their official duties. In 2017, about €10.1 million was set aside in the country's budget for the Grand Duke's household expenses.

Who Becomes the Next Grand Duke?

The rules for who inherits the throne used to follow something called Salic law. This law meant that only male family members could inherit the throne. It was part of the Nassau Family Pact from 1783.

Until June 2011, the right to rule Luxembourg passed down through the male line of the House of Nassau. This was set by the Final Act of the Congress of Vienna in 1815. It was also confirmed by the Treaty of London in 1867.

The Nassau Family Pact could be changed by law. For example, in 1907, a change was made to exclude the Count of Merenberg family branch. This was because they came from a marriage that was not considered royal.

The person who is next in line to the throne is called the 'hereditary grand duke'. The current heir is Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume. In June 2011, the old male-only rule was changed. Now, any legitimate female descendants in the House of Nassau can also inherit the throne. This is called absolute primogeniture.

Grand Dukes of Luxembourg

This section lists the Grand Dukes who have ruled Luxembourg.

House of Orange-Nassau

Name	Date of birth	Date of death	Reign	Relationship with predecessor
William I Willem Frederik (Prince William VI of Orange)	24 August 1772	12 December 1843	15 March 1815 – 7 October 1840	Francis' third cousin and Anne, Duchess of Luxembourg's direct descendant
William II Willem Frederik George Lodewijk	6 December 1792	17 March 1849	7 October 1840 – 17 March 1849	Son of William I
William III Willem Alexander Paul Frederik Lodewijk	17 February 1817	23 November 1890	17 March 1849 – 23 November 1890	Son of William II

House of Nassau-Weilburg

The Nassau Family Pact from 1783 said that territories like Luxembourg would follow a special rule for inheritance. This rule, called semi-Salic law, meant that females could only inherit if there were no male family members left.

When William III died, his only heir was his daughter Wilhelmina. The crown of the Netherlands went to Wilhelmina because it didn't follow the family pact. However, the crown of Luxembourg went to a male from a different branch of the House of Nassau. This was Adolphe, who became the head of the Nassau-Weilburg branch.

In 1905, Grand Duke Adolphe's younger half-brother died. He had a son, but this son was born from a marriage not considered royal. So, he was not legally part of the House of Nassau. In 1907, Adolphe's only son, William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, made a law. This law confirmed that his eldest daughter, Marie-Adélaïde, could become ruler. This was because there were no more male members of the House of Nassau left.

Marie-Adélaïde became the first female ruler of the grand duchy when her father died in 1912. She later stepped down in 1919. Her younger sister Charlotte then took over. Charlotte married Felix of Bourbon-Parma. Charlotte's children and their descendants have continued to rule as the Nassau dynasty.

Name and reign	Birth	Family and Marriages	Death	Succession right
Adolphe 23 November 1890 – 17 November 1905	24 July 1817 Wiesbaden (Prussia)	(1) Grand Duchess Elizabeth 31 January 1844 [1 child (stillborn)] (2) Grand Duchess Adelheid-Marie 23 April 1851 [5 children]	17 November 1905 (88 years) Colmar-Berg	Third cousin of William III
William IV 17 November 1905 – 25 February 1912	22 April 1852 Wiesbaden (Prussia)	Grand Duchess Marie Anne [6 children]	25 February 1912 (59 years) Colmar-Berg	Son of Adolphe
Marie-Adélaïde 25 February 1912 – 14 January 1919 (abdicated)	14 June 1894 Colmar-Berg	Unmarried [childless]	24 January 1924 (29 years) Lenggries (Germany)	Daughter of William IV
Charlotte 14 January 1919 – 12 November 1964 (abdicated)	23 January 1896 Colmar-Berg	Prince Felix 6 November 1919 [6 children]	9 July 1985 (89 years) Fischbach	Daughter of William IV / Sister of Marie-Adélaïde
Jean 12 November 1964 – 7 October 2000 (abdicated)	5 January 1921 Colmar-Berg	Grand Duchess Joséphine Charlotte 9 April 1953 [5 children]	23 April 2019 (98 years) Luxembourg City	Son of Charlotte
Henri 7 October 2000 – present	16 April 1955 Betzdorf	Grand Duchess Maria Teresa 4/14 February 1981 [5 children]	Living (70 years)	Son of Jean