Symbols, functions, palaces and important moments in the life of Grand Duke Henri

[Danielle]

Wonderful photos! Thanks drimal. Do you know who the girl is in the last photo? That one is my favourite. J-C looks all motherly and kind. That isn't to say she wasn't, but just that the photo is very sweet. The children in the third photo are so adorable. :)

[drimal]

11. and 12. Luxembourg is hosting the King of Swaziland Mswati III and his wife on 6.10.1999
13.to 15. certainly a highlight in the long reign of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, Mexico on 17.03.1996
13. visiting the fascinating and astonishing Maya pyramides
14. talking to the mayor of Mexico City (the biggest city in the world with more than 25.000.000 inhabitants )
15. Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte was visibly impressed by the Maya culture

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

Yay! Pics!

[drimal]

Luxembourg, a Constitutional Monarchy under a system of Parliamentary Democracy

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has been a sovereign and independent State since the Treaty of London was signed on 19 April 1839. The country is a parliamentary democracy in the form of a constitutional monarchy characterized by the fact that it is the only Grand Duchy in the world. The crown is handed down through the House of Nassau. (...)

(...) The Government has a right of initiative in legislative matters known as Governmental initiative, which allows it to table draft bills. After being examined by the Council of State, draft bills are put to the vote before Parliament, where the Government normally holds a majority. After the parliamentary vote, the Grand Duke exercises his rights of assent and of enactment. The legislative procedure concludes with the publication of the legislative text in the compendium of legislation known as the Mémorial, whereupon the text acquires its legal status. (...)

Executive power

The Grand Duke is the Head of State. His inviolable status means that he cannot be charged or prosecuted. The Grand Duke enjoys complete political immunity and political responsibility lies with ministers. Indeed, any measure taken by the Grand Duke in the exercise of his constitutional powers must be countersigned by a member of the Government who assumes full responsibility. Moreover, any legislative document signed by the Grand Duke must have been submitted for prior consideration to the cabinet.

Formally, the Constitution grants the Grand Duke the right to freely organise his Government, i.e. to appoint ministers and secretaries of State, to establish ministerial departments and to confer powers on them. The number of ministerial departments generally exceeds the number of Members of the Government called upon to serve in office, so a single Minister normally holds more than one portfolio.

In practice the Grand Duke chooses the Prime Minister on the basis of election results; the Prime Minister himself then proposes the Members of the Government. The Government appointed by the Grand Duke presents its political programme to Parliament which takes a vote of confidence, thereby giving the newly appointed government a parliamentary majority on which it can rely.

Under the Constitution, the Grand Duke has the right to remove any Member of the Government from office but, in practice, the resignation of a Minister or of the whole Government is tendered by the Prime Minister to the Grand Duke who accepts it. (...)

I found this interesting text under this link: http://www.eu2005.lu/en/savoir_lux/politique_economie/grand_duche/index.php

and I posted here the extracts concerning the Grand Duke and his functions


Under this link you find an explanation about the constitutional monarchy :http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

Very interesting!

[drimal]

Grand Dukes of Luxembourg



The House of Orange-Nassau

• 1815–1840 : William I (1772–1843) (also King William I of the Netherlands)
• 1840–1849 : William II (1792–1849) (also King William II of the Netherlands)
• 1849–1890 : William III (1817–1890) (also King William III of the Netherlands)

The House of Nassau-Weilburg

• 1890–1905 : Adolphe (1817–1905)
• 1905–1912 : Guillaume IV (1852–1912)
• 1912–1919 : Marie-Adélaïde (1894–1924 abdicated)
• 1919–1964 : Charlotte (1896–1985, abdicated)
• 1964–2000 : Jean (born 1921, abdicated)
• Since 2000 : Henri (born 1955)

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Ducal_Family_of_Luxembourg"


Nassau was a German state within the Holy Roman Empire.

It emerged on the lower Lahn river in what is today Rhineland-Palatinate. The castle of Nassau was built in 1125, and since 1160 the county was named after the castle.

In 1255 Nassau was divided for the first time. During the next centuries several states named Nassau emerged. One of those counties was Nassau-Dillenburg, from where the House of Orange-Nassau originated. An other was Nassau-Weilburg, whose reigning house still reigns in Luxembourg.

Due to the extinction of most lines, Nassau became a united duchy again in 1806. In 1866 it was annexed by Prussia and incorporated into the province of Hesse-Nassau. Today, all Houses of Nassau are extinct in their male line.

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nassau_%28state%29"

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

Then why do they still have the name Nassau?

[suturegeisha]

Originally Posted by gaggleofcrazypeople

Then why do they still have the name Nassau?

It's not really their last name, it's the house name. IIRC, it died out with Guillaume IV, since he had six daughters.

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

But then why is it still part of their name?

[la francaise]

Originally Posted by gaggleofcrazypeople

But then why is it still part of their name?

I believe it is still part of their name because they are recognize by that name and the fact that they are the Royal Family of Luxembourg.:)

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

I don't know if I would have kept the name. It seems pointless to me.