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

[drimal]

Hello, I thought that it is time to start a new thread in The Grand Dukes of Luxembourg!:)

This thread treats mainly the functions of the Grand Duke in form of an explanation of his functions, but also official State visits and the National Day of Luxembourg (dates during which the Grand Duke represents his country).

In a second way I want to show some pictures of his palaces and castles and explain the history of his respective "dwellings".

In a third way in this thread important moments in the history of Grand Duke Henri, but also in the life of the other family members will be discussed like his throne accession, his father's throne accession, the nomination to Heridarity Grand Duke of Prince Guillaume, and so on.:)

But I want also start a discussion about the symbols of the Grand Duke (which are in a certain way also symbols of Luxembourg) like the heraldic symbol, the national flag, the national anthem, ...

I hope that you will enjoy this new thread which will treat the subjects which had missed in this forum!:p

[bad_barbarella]

oh thats so cool hehehe more inside information :)

[hillary_nugent]

wow thanks for starting this thread Drimal i'm sure it will be most informative ^______^

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

What does the flag in Luxembourg look like? I've seen two different kinds.

[drimal]

Symbols - Flag of Luxembourg and the heraldic symbol


The first picture below is the national flag of Luxembourg!



And now the explanation of the flag:

The flag of Luxembourg has three horizontal stripes, the upper is red, the middle is white and below is fair blue (don't confuse with the Dutch flag which has a royal blue colour! ). She is coming from the banner of Earl Henry VI of Luxembourg (later on he is Roman-German emperor Henri VII. It shows a red lion on a field of blue-white (this is the national heraldic symbol today ). The similarity to the Dutch flag is a coincidence, which has a darker blue (Royal blue). And the Luxembourgish flag is longer.

The Luxembourgish flag was introduced in its actual form the 16th August 1972!


And the two other pictures shows the heraldic symbol which is also the symbol of the Grand Ducal family, the red Lion on a field of blue-white:).


On the link where I found the second picture there are many pictures of my beautiful country which you find here:http://www.ludgerusschule.de/eurorap...burg/kinoa.htm


1. national flag of Luxembourg
2. the heraldic symbol of Luxembourg
3. that's the heraldic symbol of the Grand Duke

[hillary_nugent]

Wow so this flag is relative young!

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

Thanx! I had gotten the flag confused with the heraldic symbol 'cause I've seen it as a flag before.

[drimal]

Luxembourg's Euro coins with the strike of Grand Duke Henri

There are 8 euro coins denominated in 2 and 1 euros, then 50, 20, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Every euro coin carries a common European face. On the obverse, each Member State l decorate the coins with their own motifs. No matter which motif is on the coins they can be used anywhere inside the 12 Member States. For example, a French citizen is able to buy a hot dog in Berlin using a euro coin carrying the imprint of the King of Spain. The common European face of the coins represents a map of the European Union against a background of transverse lines to which are attached the stars of the European flag. The 1, 2, and 5 cent coins put emphasis on Europe's place in the world while the 10, 20, and 50 present the Union as a gathering of nations. The 1 and 2 euro coins depict Europe without frontiers. Final designs were agreed at the European Council meeting in Amsterdam in June 1997.

1.and 2. front site
3. back site

And here is a link to all the Euro coins of the twelve countries which has introduced the common currency on 1st January 2002: http://www.giervalk.bravepages.com/Euro/euro.html

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

OMG! How cool!

[KatieLouise]

drimal, could you please tell us, what is the role of the Grand Duke in regards to the parliament and political life? For instance, is his role only ceremonial? Or does he have some political power?

[drimal]

Originally Posted by KatieLouise

drimal, could you please tell us, what is the role of the Grand Duke in regards to the parliament and political life? For instance, is his role only ceremonial? Or does he have some political power?

Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy!
A constitutional monarchy is a form of government established under a constitutional system which acknowledges a hereditary or elected monarch as head of state. Modern constitutional monarchies usually implement the concept of trias politica, and have the monarch as the (symbolic) head of the executive branch. Where a monarch holds absolute power, it is known as an absolute monarchy.

Today, constitutional monarchy is almost always combined with representative democracy, and represents a compromise between theories of sovereignty which place sovereignty in the hands of the people, and those that see a role for tradition in the theory of government. Though the king or queen may be regarded as the government's symbolic head, it is the Prime Minister, whose power derives directly or indirectly from elections, who actually governs the country.

Link where I found this text: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_monarchy

By clicking on the blue words you see the explanation.

I just want to add that Grand Duke Henri has the right to give his veto to every decision of the Luxembourgish government, but I cannot remember that he or his father had done this!
But in the theory he has some poltical power and his rule is not only ceremonical.

[hillary_nugent]

So this means that the Grand Duke does not have absolute rule and doesn't have the final say behind decisions...?

[KatieLouise]

Thank you very much for the information, drimal! :) I think it's interesting that monarchs generally have "theoretical" powers but they never use them. For instance, I know that Queen Elizabeth II has the power to withhold royal assent and the power to declare war but, of course, she would never do either of these things! I can think of one instance of a monarch withholding royal assent and that was King Baudouin I of the Belgians in regards to a bill liberalising abortion laws. The government declared him unable to reign and took over the role of head of state. King Baudouin was declared able to rule again the next day. So, if Grand Duke Henri ever decided to veto a bill in parliament, I wonder whether the same sort of thing would happen?

[gaggleofcrazypeople]

It depends on the importance of that bill.

[KatieLouise]

Yes, but I couldn't imagine the Grand Duke stopping anything trivial. The only reason I could see he would stop a bill, would be because it is completely against the moral/ethical beliefs of the monarchy and Luxembourg.

[bad_barbarella]

wow how cool your know so much :)

[drimal]

Originally Posted by KatieLouise

Yes, but I couldn't imagine the Grand Duke stopping anything trivial. The only reason I could see he would stop a bill, would be because it is completely against the moral/ethical beliefs of the monarchy and Luxembourg.

I don't think Grand Duke Henri would use his veto because unfortunately there are also in my country (where is very popular) some people who want to get rid of him!

There are two persons who said that clearly in the parliament and I was shocked by these statements. Those two person (who I will not name because I first don't want to harm anybody here and second because we are not allowed in this forum to talk about politics ) reclaimed a President for Luxembourg!

So if Grand Duke Henri would use his veto rights his adversors would reclaim his abdication...:(

[msfroyste]

ouchie, big ouch. that's sad. why would they feel that way?

[bad_barbarella]

anyone involed with the marfia... we need a favour

[KatieLouise]

Oh, yes republicans :( - almost 50% of our country are republicans. Why do they want to get rid of the Grand Duke? Surely, though, if a referendum was held in Luxembourg over the monarchy, the monarchy would win?