HRH Henri I, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (given names: Henri Albert Gabriel Félix Marie Guillaume; born at Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg, 16 April 1955) is the head of state of Luxembourg. He is the eldest son of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and the late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte (née Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium). His maternal grandparents were King Leopold III of Belgium and Queen Astrid.Grand Duke Henri has four siblings: Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria (b. 1954), Prince Jean of Luxembourg (b. 1957), Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein (b. 1957) and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg (b. 1963).Henri was educated in Luxembourg and in France, where he obtained his baccalaureate in 1974. He then studied political sciences at University of Geneva, graduating in 1980. The Grand Duke also undertook military officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, England.While studying in Geneva, Henri met María Teresa Mestre y Batista, who was also a political sciences student. They married in Luxembourg on 14 February 1981.The couple have five children:1. Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (b. 11 November 1981) 2. Prince Félix of Luxembourg (b. 3 June 1984) 3. Prince Louis of Luxembourg (b. 3 August 1986) 4. Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg (b. 16 February 1991) 5. Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg (b. 16 April 1992)and two grandsons :* Gabriel (b. 12 March 2006) and Noah de Nassau (b. 21 September 2007), the sons of Prince Louis and his wife Tessy de Nassau.Prince Henri became heir apparent to the Luxembourg throne on the abdication of his paternal grandmother, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, on 12 November 1964. From 1980 to 1998, he was a member of the Council of State.On 4 March 1998, Prince Henri was appointed as Lieutenant Representative by his father, Grand Duke Jean, meaning that he assumed most of his father's constitutional powers. On 7 October 2000, immediately following the abdication of his father, Henri acceded as Grand Duke of Luxembourg and took the constitutional oath before the Chamber of Deputies later that day.Henri's full title is: His Royal Highness Henri, by the Grace of God, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Count of Sayn, Königstein, Katzenelnbogen and Diez, Burgrave of Hammerstein, Lord of Mahlberg, Wiesbaden, Idstein, Merenberg, Limburg and Eppstein.However, on ascending the throne, Grand Duke Henri relinquished the styling "by the Grace of God", and in the laws, decrees, and official documents his title is: "Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Duke of Nassau".As the head of a constitutional monarchy, Grand Duke Henri's duties are primarily representative. However, he retains the constitutional power to appoint the Prime Minister and Government, to dissolve the Chamber of Deputies, to promulgate laws and to accredit ambassadors.Grand Duke Henri is Commander-in-Chief of the Luxembourg Army, in which he holds the rank of General. He is also an Honorary Major in the British Parachute Regiment.One of the Grand Duke's main functions is to represent Luxembourg in the field of foreign affairs. In May 2001, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa undertook their first foreign state visit to Spain, at the invitation of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.The Grand Duke lives with his family at Berg Castle in Luxembourg. He also has a holiday home at Cabasson in the south of France.