The Grand Duchess

The Grand Duchess (Grand Duke when male) is Head of State in Lexembourg. Prior to the drafting of the Constitution which transformed Lexembourg into a constitutional monarchy, the Grand Dukes were absolute rulers. Rule by decree had, over the centuries, ensured the continuance of ancient traditions and secured the growth of Lexembourg into a powerful European continental and colonial Empire, but had, by the middle of the eighteenth century, seriously eroded what few rights and freedoms the people had had, and precluded the possibility of rights which were viewed by some as inalienable. Grand Duke Henri VII ascended the throne in 1747, and quickly set about drafting a constitution - he had recognised that the affairs of State were too weighty to be entrusted to one person and began a process of democratisation which vastly curbed his own Grand Ducal powers. The Constitution was perceived as a gift to the people from a generous sovereign, rather than as a set of inalienable rights.

Pursuant to Henri's 1747 Constitution, the Grand Duchess is symbol of the State unity and the embodiment of the sovereign power of the State. Although the office has few practical powers related the Government, the Grand Duchess retains certain reserve powers for use in national emergency.

The official style and title of the Grand Dukes of Lexembourg once included all the territories and colonies of the Lexembourgian continental and colonial empire. Pursuant to the Grand Ducal Style and Titles Edict of 1918, the official style and title of the Grand Duchess is

Sa Majesté, le Princesse plus noble haute et puissante, Adélaïde, par la Grâce de Dieu, Grande-Duchesse de Lexembourg, Princesse du Ruhr, Défenseur de la Foi

In English, the style and title are rendered as

Her Majesty, the Most Noble High and Potent Princess, Adélaïde, by the Grace of God, Grand Duchess of Lexembourg, Princess of the Ruhr, Defender of the Faith

The use of the style of Majesty has caused confusion in the past. Lexembourgian Grand Dukes and Duchesses continue to use the style of Majesty from the days of the Lexembourgian Empire. Before that, the Grand Ducal style had been Serene Highness. Majesty is a style conventionally reserved for Kings and Emperors, but has remained in use for Lexembourg's Grand Dukes.

Adélaïde

Princess Adélaïde Charlotte Marie-Thérèse de Bourbon was born on September 7th, 1973 in the Grand Ducal Palace in Ville Lexembourg, the first and only surviving child of Her Majesty, Grand Duchess Marie-Thérèse and Her consort, Prince Charles of Bourbon-Parma. Adélaïde was the elder of twins, although Her younger sister Princess Clarice died moments after birth. Further attempts at children by Grand Duchess Marie-Thérèse and Prince Charles resulted in six miscarriages between 1975 and 1980. Adélaïde’s father was assassinated by left-wing French terrorist Jean-Michel Gard in September of 1981 during a State Visit of the Grand Ducal family to Paris. After Prince Charles’ funeral, Grand Duchess Marie-Thérèse discovered she was pregnant again. Prince Félix Charles Henri de Bourbon was born prematurely on January 18th, 1982, only to die three days later.

Grand Duchess Marie-Thérèse was diagnosed with cervical cancer in December of 1989. Princess Adélaïde, still being a minor, would not have been allowed to reign if Grand Duchess Marie-Thérèse died; plans for regency under the Grand Duchess’ sister, Princess Stéphanie, were drawn up by the Lexembourgian Senate, in spite of the dying Grand Duchess’ animosity towards Her sister and her controlling husband, the Comte d’Artois. Marie-Thérèse feared the Comte would usurp Adélaïde’s powers, or at least exert his own influence through Princess Stéphanie. It was the dying Grand Duchess’ avowed hope that She would live long enough to see Adélaïde reach the age of majority and take the throne in her own name.

By July of 1991, the Grand Duchess’ cancer had metastasised and She was given only days to live. By extraordinary determination in the face of death, Marie-Thérèse survived to celebrate Adélaïde’s eighteenth birthday, and died in Her sleep in the evening of September 8th, 1991 at the age of 45. Adélaïde was proclaimed as Grand Duchess of Lexembourg by the Lord Mayor of Lexembourg, in accordance with tradition, from the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace.

In 1993, Grand Duchess Adélaïde married Louis-Joseph Durand in the National Basilica in Ville Lexembourg. It was the first marriage of a reigning Grand Duke or Duchess in over four hundred years, and Louis-Joseph was the first commoner to marry a Grand Duke or Duchess (although commoners had previously married lower-ranking members of the Grand Ducal Family). He was given the style and title of His Royal Highness the Prince Consort.

Crown Prince André Louis Charles Durand de Bourbon was born on March 19th 1997. His Royal Highness is the first Crown Prince of Lexembourg since the accession of Grand Duke Louis Adolphe IV in 1893, and if he succeeds Grand Duchess Adélaïde as expected, he will be the first Grand Duke of Lexembourg since Louis Adolphe’s death in 1916. Twins were born to Her Majesty the Grand Duchess on April 2nd 2000: Her Royal Highness Princess Charlotte Marie Francine and Her Royal Highness Princess Joséphine Marie Louise. A further son was born to the Grand Ducal couple on December 25th 2003: His Royal Highness Prince Jean Louis. The Grand Duchess gave birth to Her fifth child, His Royal Highness Prince Guillaume Jacques Réné on August 14th 2005. The Grand Ducal Palace confirmed in a statement on September 26th 2010 that the Grand Duchess has given birth to Her sixth child, Her Royal Highness Princess Sophie Marie Magritte.