The Waringo Investigation into the Functioning of the Luxembourg Court 2019/2020

[rob2008]

A recent report about the Grand Ducal household does not read in their favour.

https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/1457676.html

[LadyFinn]

The Grand Duchess, who resides most of the time in Paris, does not hesitate to have all her staff moved to the French capital to hold her meetings, which generates substantial costs and does not necessarily delight her employees...
To sum up, the Grand Duchess manages the house as she sees fit and does absolutely what she wants when she wants...
Cour grand-ducale _ un rapport qui fait trembler le Palais _ Le Quotidien
Translation

[An Ard Ri]

None of these stories however true they are cannot be doing the image of the Grand Duchess any good.

[Blog Real]

I have been reading on Twitter several comments, many of them from Luxarazzi people, on this subject and there is already talk of a possible abdication of Grand Duke Henri, depending on what comes in the investigation report.
I hope that everything will work out well and that the monarchy will not be tarnished because of this.
It seems that the Grand Duchess did what she wanted and gave no explanation to anyone ....

[Marengo]

MT would not be the first wife-of-the-boss who makes life difficult for the employees of her husband. For the GD to abdicate the story needs to be much more serious than what we know now. I am quite sure that PM Bettel will not want to waste political credit on a polarizing issue such as forcing an abdication unless there is a great support in public opinion, which there isn't at the moment.

[carlota]

This strikes me as MT doesn’t seem that kind of person. With all the grief she got from her in laws you’d think she wouldn’t be despotic.

Also I don’t think abdication is on the cards. The HGD Couple have only just announced their long awaited pregnancy and are about to start a family so I think they will give them time to settle in before abdicating. Can’t think of a worse time to do it!

[Prisma]

I hope abdication is not seriously considered. That would end GD Henri's reign on a down note. Also, let the HGD couple have some years as parents. GD Jean and GD Josephine-Charlotte had ~10 years before becoming the reigning couple; GD Henri and GD MT had almost 20 years.

I'd rather see the Cour and government resolve the problems as amicably as possible. Clear boundaries/expectations, HR policies, work-life balance, etc. If meeting in Paris or elsewhere is necessary, then allow telecommuting/video-conferencing.

[berry]

Originally Posted by LadyFinn

The Grand Duchess, who resides most of the time in Paris, does not hesitate to have all her staff moved to the French capital to hold her meetings, which generates substantial costs and does not necessarily delight her employees...
To sum up, the Grand Duchess manages the house as she sees fit and does absolutely what she wants when she wants...
Cour grand-ducale _ un rapport qui fait trembler le Palais _ Le Quotidien
Translation

Was it common knowledge that she resides in Paris most of the time? This is new to me...

[JR76]

Originally Posted by berry

Was it common knowledge that she resides in Paris most of the time? This is new to me...

It's long been known that the family owns a home in Paris. I seem to remember that the subject was touched upon during the divorce proceedings of Prince Louis and Tessy Anthony de Nassau. I've also read it mentioned several times both here in the forums and in other places that the Grand Duchess has spent a lot of time in the city. One time in particular I remember it being jokingly said that after some engagements in Luxembourg she was on her way to Paris before the dishes had been cleared at the palace.

[Marengo]

RTL claims that the report by Jeannot Waringo is completed and has been handed over to Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.

https://www.rtl.lu/news/national/a/1461311.html

http://www.lessentiel.lu/de/luxembur...n-hof-24106090

L'Essentiel says it is for now only in the hands of the Prime Minister but it will likely be sent to the Grand Duke and to the Chamber later this weekend.

[An Ard Ri]

Should make for interesting reading,will the Grand Duke to a Louis XIII and exile his Marie de' Medici

[Bosana]

Interesting reading, indeed!


But I don't understand why the result -- even if it paints a terrible picture of the Grand Duchess and her interfering ways -- would result in the Grand Duke being in a position to be forced to abdicate? Surely her influence can be curtailed in some way, and the Grand Duke can continue as usual. After all, it has apparently been an open secret about her difficult personality for quite some time. I was somewhat surprised when I read about this.



I say somewhat surprised because I remember the hatchet job that she did on her mother-in-law after her death and found it quite revealing as to the Grand Duchess' character. She just couldn't take the high road and look to the future. For her, it was pay-back time. Most disappointing.

[Duc_et_Pair]

It affects the Grand-Duke in so far since it is he, whom organizes his House, with respect to public interest (read: the ministerial responsibility). Since not the Grand-Duke but the Government is accountable for Parliament (Article 4 of the Constitution) it is up to the Premier Ministre to answer.

If the Court Organization is such a chaos indeed: what have Premier Ministre M Xavier Bettel or his predecessor M Jean-Claude Juncker done to encourage improvement of the Court Organization, with all respect to the privilege of the Grand-Duke to organize his House?

[Manuel II]

I doubt abdication would be needed, look at that Dutch scandal with Prince Bernhard. Juliana didn’t abdicate (barely) but Bernhard was punished. I expect something similar to happen here if the report is negative.

[tommy100]

I always use to think MT was a lovely lady but as the saying goes, "there is no smoke without fire" - there have been so many stories, disgruntled employees etc that there clearly is something of an issue.

That said,I can't see why it should cause Henri to abdicate. Thy could just do what the Dutch and Danish do, give the spouse their own office allowance and leave the rest of the staff to the sovereign.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Manuel II

I doubt abdication would be needed, look at that Dutch scandal with Prince Bernhard. Juliana didn’t abdicate (barely) but Bernhard was punished. I expect something similar to happen here if the report is negative.

It is quite a BIG difference in just being a difficult lady of the house or in (ab)using royal influence to convince the State to choose for the firm Lockheed to place a big order. (In the end the Dutch bought 213 fighters of the model F16 Fighting Falcon at Lockheed anyway).

There is no any consort in modern history which went so far as the late Prince Bernhard. Any other consort's "faults" are angelic hiccups compared to that.

[Dalriada]

I’m sure this is just a culture clash about domestic issues. Every court has its run in with the “Americas”! Thank God Queen Silvia had a European grounding.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Dalriada

I’m sure this is just a culture clash about domestic issues. Every court has its run in with the “Americas”! Thank God Queen Silvia had a European grounding.

Huh... Prince Bernhard had a very European grounding in Germany, Switzerland and France... It did not prevent this consort to bring a stable monarchy close to the abyss.

[Dalriada]

I’m a devotee of Maxima too! Pity that pedigree is stained with a fervour for 1930s German-style abysmal autocracy too.Thank God too for Germany to provide Queen Emma for saving The Dutch monarchy from its abyss. The stadholder is never far from the bottom of the canal.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Dalriada

I’m sure this is just a culture clash about domestic issues. Every court has its run in with the “Americas”! Thank God Queen Silvia had a European grounding.

But Grand Duchess Maria Teresa grow up in Switzerland not on Cuba.So she should also have an eurpean grounding. And then she lives for almost 40 years in Luxembourg.