HRH Jean, former Grand Duke of Luxembourg died at 12:25'am (CEST) of Tuesday, 23 April 2019, after ten days of hospitalization. The son of Grand Duchess Charlotte & father of the current Grand Duke Henri, he reigned as the Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. At the age of 98 years, three months & 18 days, Grand Duke Jean was the oldest living sovereign monarch & the longest-living royal Head of State (whose exact lifespan is known) at the time of his death.
Early life:
Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano (as his full name was;) was born on 5 January 1921 at Berg Castle, in central Luxembourg. He was the firstborn of then-reigning Grand Duchess Charlotte (1896-1985) & her French-born husband, Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma (1893-1970). He was followed by five siblings (four sisters & a brother) born between 1922 & 1929. His second name was given after Pope Benedict XV (1854-1922; Pontiff. 1914-22), who was among his godparents.
From the very time of his birth Jean was his mother's heir-apparent, however he begun to be officially styled as Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg upon reaching adulthood in 1939. He received a primary education in Luxembourg and completed his secondary education at a Roman Catholic boarding school in London. After returning to Luxembourg (1939) he also was privately tutored at the palace.
Young Prince Jean (centre) with his parents & siblings
World War II
In 1940 Nazi Germany invaded Luxembourg. The Grand Ducal family was forced to emergently leave the country on 10 May, going to France in exile. When the Axis forces approached, the royal family crossed the borders through Spain & Portugal, for the United Kingdom. Here the Grand Duchess & Government in exile remained, while Prince Felix & their children went to America (with a special warship, sent by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt). They temporary located to Canada, where Prince Jean studied law & Political Science at the Laval University, Quebec City.
'John Luxembourg'
In November 1942 Jean comes back to the UK to join the army as a volunteer. He receives the customary training at the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy, and is commissioned as a lieutenant in July 1943. That same day he addresses Luxembourgish people, expressing the royal family' support towards them. Continuing his service in the Irish guards regiment, Jean is briefly posted as a guard at Buckingham Palace in London, and is obliged to remain motionless even when his family members greet him (while visiting the British King & Queen). In early 1944 he joins the Irish guards' 3rd Battalion at Yorkshire-based Armoured division, where he is soon promoted to the rank of captain.
Under the nickname "John Luxembourg", he receives training in the battalion, ahead of the planned D-Day landings to Normandy. He lands near Bayeux (Normandy) on June 11, 1944 (five days after D-Day), and participates in the battle of Caen & the liberation of Brussels (September 3, 1944). On September 10, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean with his father, Prince-Consort Felix enter to the liberated Luxembourg, and receive a triumphal, heroical welcome. However Jean rejoined his army unit a few days later, to be involved in the 'Operation Market Garden (in Arnhem) and the subsequent invasion to Germany by the Allied forces.
After taking part in several decisive battles, breaking the German front near Antwerp & moving towards Bremen & Hamburg (with the Guards Armoured Division), Jean received the order to return to Luxembourg for the official welcome of his Sovereign mother back from exile. Grand Duchess Charlotte returned on April 14, 1945, and His Royal Highness was here to meet & greet her. Following the end of WWII, Jean was sent for some time to Berlin, where, representing the Luxembourgish allied military mission, he closely monitored the questiong over deported Luxembourgians' repatriation (in Germany). The Hereditary Grand Duke left British Army in 1947.
Marriage & family:
Jean & Josephine-Charlotte at their wedding
In autumn of 1952, His Royal Highness became engaged to Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium, daughter of abdicated King Leopold III (1901-1983) & his first wife, Queen Astrid (née Princess of Sweden; 1905-1935). Josephine-Charlotte was born in 1927, and was the sister of both the late King Baudouin & former King Albert II of the Belgians; Grand Duchess Charlotte was her godmother.
Their wedding plans were officially announced on December 26, and they were married on 9 April 1953 in Luxembourg, first civilly at the Grand Ducal Palace & then religiously (the same day) at Notre Dame Cathedral. Their marriage was widely reported to be arranged as an initiative to improve bilateral relations between the two countries with various sources telling that the couple were both in love with somebody else, and weren't allowed to marry them. On wedding day the bride was nevrous enough, which became evident during the Cathedral ceremony: she walked on the wrong side of the altar, confused her wedding vows (breaking down to tears), and stepped on her wedding veil more than once, when they were exiting. Jean tried to comfort her, but Josephine-Charlotte collapsed later on the banquet, which had to be cancelled.
Hereditary Grand Duke Jean with his young family, in 1963
However, their marriage would last for more than half-a-century, eventually developing to a happy family life. Together they had five children: Marie-Astrid (b. 1954), Henri (current Grand Duke of Luxembourg - b. 1955), Jean (b. 1957), Margareta (b. 1957) & Guillaume (b. 1963).
Grand Duke of Luxembourg:
Jean (centre) taking the oath of Grand Duke - 12/11/1964
From 1951 to 1961 Hereditary Grand Duke Jean had been a member of Luxembourg' state's council, deciding over important matters of the Grand Duchy. On 28 April 1961, Grand Duchess Charlotte named him her Lieutenant-Représentant, handing him over most of her official functions, while remaining the Head of State. On 12 November 1964, the Grand Duchess abdicated following a 45-year-reign, and Jean succeeded her as the 8th Grand Duke of Luxembourg. He took his nominal oath of office the same day, becoming the only Sovereign Grand Duke worldwide & being appointed General of Luxembourg's Army.
During the Reign of Grand Duke Jean, Luxembourg evolved from a minor industrial developing country to an international financial centre. Although historically less important events than in his mother's reign ocurred, the tiny state played a central role to the creation of European Union, and became the seat of European Court of Justice. Jean himself was credited to be a kind and polite leader, influential on the European project & very punctual in his duties, prioritizing the wellbeing of his people. The recognition of a favourable leader in his face was particularly seen when fellow French statesman (& ex-officio Co-Prince of Andorra) Georges Pompidou said that should Europe choose a Hereditary President, "it would certainly be the Grand Duke of Luxembourg". For His contribution to the European unity & integration, Grand Duke Jean was awarded with the Charlemagne Prize in Aachen (1986).
Luxembourgish 100 francs with Grand Duke Jean's portra
Despite Luxembourg is a constitutional monarchy, the Grand Duke has also executive powers, with the government Bills needing his signature to be passed and Judges being appointed by him for life. As such, His Royal Highness played an important role & also somehow influenced his time's politics.
In their capacity as the Sovereign Head of State's Couple, Grand Duke Jean & Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte undertook numerous official visits throughout their tenure, and received numerous honours and awards by fellow leaders & monarchs. In Britain, while on a state visit in 1972, Jean received the knighthood of centuries-old chivalry Order of Garter, becoming its 948th Stranger member. Having served the Irish guards for many years, he was upgrated to the Colonel of its regiment in 1984, holding that position until 2000. Thus he participated in the annual Trooping the Colour parade in UK (the Queen's official birthday celebration) each June, riding in uniform behind Queen Elizabeth II. He also was present at the annual St. Patrick's day celebration every 17th March.
Grand Duke Jean (far left) at a St. Patrick's day' festivities
The Grand Duke was named Honorary General of the British Army by Queen Elizabeth II in 1995.
Furthermore Grand Duke Jean - a lover of sports & keen sportsman himself in his youth - had been a member of International Olympic Committee (IOC) from 1946 to 1998, and then became its honorary member. Additionally during his reign, the Grand Duke signed a degree (Arrêté Grand-Ducal - 21/09/1995), in which he established the titles of: Prince & Princess of Luxembourg to all the legal descendants of the monarch or heir, Prince/Princess of Nassau to members of the royal family & their legal descendants, & Count/ess of Nassau to any illegitimate descendants (or Princesses, married without the monarch's contest). It also included the style of Royal Highness for the first two categories, and the repeal of a previous (1986) degree, which (initially) renounced the titles of the House of Bourbon & Parma (passed by Jean's father, Prince Félix) from members of the royal family.
Retirement & later years:
Grand Duke Jean (sitting) signs his act of abdication (2000)
On March 4, 1998, Grand Duke Jean used his constitutional right to appoint his elder son (the Hereditary Grand Duke) as his Lieutenant-Représentant (just like his late mother did back in 1961). On his Christmas-eve speech in 1999, HRH the Grand Duke announced his intention to abdicate the throne in the coming year. He did so on 7 October 2000, and after a nearly-36-year reign (of prosperity & stability) saw his elder son being sworn-in as the 9th Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Grand Duke Jean & Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte
The former Sovereign Grand Ducal Couple retained their titles and moved to Fischbach Castle (central Luxembourg) in Summer 2002. Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte died here on 10 January 2005, aged 77, of lung cancer. As a widower, the elder statesman continued to appear in public for family events (like weddings & jubilees), commemorations, and support causes close to his heart.
At his wife's funeral (2005), nearby his son, Grand Duke Henri
Jean was a patron of numerous assossiations, related to sports, education, environment & veterans, as well as the Chief Scout of Luxembourg's Scout Assossiation (which he was very proud of). In his free time, His Royal Highness was passionate in photography, flora & fauna, music & the Arts. MUDAM, Luxembourg's museum of modern art was dedicated (as an initiative) to his silver jubilee of reign (in 1989), and opened by him on 1 July 2006; it bears Grand Duke Jean's name in his honour.
Grand Duke Jean (second raw on the wheelchair) at D-Day70
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg lived long enough to reach incredible records & see a number of milestones. As a war veteran he attended the commemorations of the 50th anniversary from the end of WWII (in 1995) & returned to Normandy once again on 6 June 2014, for the 70th anniversary of D-Day landings (the only Head of State to have participated in them himself). The oldest monarch alive since October 2010, he reached the unique record of longest-lived monarch/head of state among those whose exact age had been confirmed, and just a day before his death, was 'escalated' to the 7th oldest living state leader in the world. Until the last month of his life, Jean still appeared in public.
At his 90th birthday (in 2011)
A proud patriarch, he passed away in hospital after a short illness, surrounded by the large family he left behind.
He is survived by his five children, children-in-law, 21 living grandchildren (a grandson died at birth back in 1984), some grandchildren-in-law, 15 great-grandchildren, a (surviving) sister, and distant family members. The youngest of his siblings, Alix, Princess of Ligne, died earlier this year, aged 89.
Grand Duke Henri' statement, announcing the death of his father (April 23. 2019)
Above: Jean celebrates his 98th birthday with his family; bellow: Grand
Duke Jean & Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, during their Reign.
HRHJEANBENOIT GUILLAUME ROBERT ANTOINE LOUIS MARIE ADOLPE MARC D'AVIANO (5 January 1921 - 23 April 2019); Grand Duke of Luxembourg (12/11/1964-7/10/2000), Duke of Nassau, Prince of Bourbon & of Parma; WWII veteran, General of the Luxembourgish Army, Honorary General of the British Army, Colonel of the regiment of Irish Guards, honorary member of the IOC, Chief Scout of Luxembourg's Scout Assossiation, (etc.); recipient of the Charlemange Prize (1986)... 948thStranger member of the Order of Garter (UK), Knight of the Order of Seraphim (Sweden), etc...; elder statesman; World's Oldest Living monarch (2010-2019), the longest-lived Sovereign Monarch/Head of State & 7th oldest living state leader in the world (by the time of his death). Au revoir, Monseigneur!!! See also this (developing) publication about Grand Duke Jean's death & state funeral: https://royaleventsintheword.blogspot.com/2019/04/death-state-funeral-of-former-grand.html
His Royal HighnessJean, former Grand Duke of Luxembourg (& world's oldest surviving monarch), passed away at 00:25' (CEST) of Tuesday, 23 April 2019, at the age of 98. His state funeral took place on Saturday, May 4, at 11am, at Luxembourg's Notre Dame Cathedral & he was laid to rest at its royal crypt, later that day.
The former monarch, who reigned over the country from 1964 to 2000, died in hospital, where he was admitted ten days earlier with a pulmonary infection.
At first his condition was seen to stabilize, however it rapidly deteriorated from (Easter) Saturday night (April 20)withfamily members gathering at his bedside.
Grand Duke Jean (sitting centre) with some members
of his family, marking his 98th birthday (last January)
He is survived by an extended family of 5 children, 21 (living) grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren & a younger sister. His wife, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, predeceased him by 14 years.
The late Grand Duke Jean (left) with his son, Grand Duke Henri
The death was announced in the early morning of Tuesday through a brief statement by his son, current Grand Duke Henri, who revealed that his 'beloved father' "left us in peace, surrounded by the affection of his family".
Later that day, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel officially announced Grand Duke Jean's passing in a televised address. Bettel paid his tribute to the deceased, describing him as a statesman, (WWII) hero, & role model, whom Luxembourg will be always grateful to.
National mourning was declared untilSaturday May 4, 6pm, with all of the flags flown at half mast at official buildings & all local schools & education centres closed on the day of the funeral. Meanwhile, the Grand Ducal Court declared a mourning period of six weeks.
Tributes poured in by leaders, organizations, & fellow monarchs.
EU commission's President Jean-Claude Juncker (one of Jean's Prime Ministers), praised former Grand Duke's committments & described his death as 'a big loss for Europe'. Numerous mourning expressions & memorial dedications, includingbell-ringing insombre toneby local churches, postponement of important governmental activities, concerts & religious services in his memory took place during the first days.
Floral tributes outside Palais Grand-Ducale
Luxembourg's Archbishop & City Mayor, UK & US Ambassadors, were among those remembering His Royal Highness for both his contribution in WWII & the recreation of modern Luxembourg. MUDAM (Musée d'Art Moderne Grand-Duc Jean), the local Museum of Modern Arts stated it was proud to bear his name. It was opened by him in 2006.
Grand Duke Jean visits MUDAM - photos (here & bellow) by the Grand Ducal Court
In the meantime, funeral arrangements were finalised as well.
His Late Royal Highness' coffin was moved from Colmar-Bergresidence (Jean's birthplace) to the formal Grand Ducal Palace (Luxembourg City) on Sunday (April 28).
The cortege arriving to Palais Grand-Ducale
The cortege left castle at 2:30pm & passed slowly through the city streets (lined by well-wishers), arriving to the palace by 15:00.
Then Grand Duke Jean's (open) casket was laid at the palace' chapel, where his five children & some grandchildren bade him their farewell.
Grand Duke Jean's body lying-in-state
He lay-in-state there for the next five days - Monday (April 29) to Friday (May 3). Members of the government & VIP's paid their last respects in intervals, while general public was allowed in concrete hours:
Monday: 2-7pm, Tuesday: 10am-12 & 2-7pm, Wednesday: 10am-7pm, Thursday: 10am-12 & 2-7pm, and Friday: 10am-12 & 2-4pm. In the days, leading up to the funeral, further tributes were paid to the departed statesman.
On Saturday, May 4, & just for the day of his funeral, special post stamps were released, depicting a skerch-portrait of Grand Duke Jean, along with the dates of his birth, death & burial. The same day,Grand Duke Henripublished an open letter to Luxembourgish citizens, talking about the late Grand Duke Jean.
The Sovereign of Luxembourg paid tribute to his father, saying that he 'was always there for his family', along with official obligations. Henri also recalled Jean's 'joy for life', good humour & enthusiastic interest for everything happening in Luxembourg & within his family until the very end. He described him as the centre of three generations & concluded in a more personal tone, thanking his dad for everything he did for them & telling they are proud for having had him.
Solemn session for Grand Duke Jean at the Parliament
A day earlier, MP's chaired a special session in HRH's memory, where his grandson, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume spoke.
Saturday (May 4) was cold, rainy day. Neverthenless thousands of people braved the rain & lined the streets from early morning to catch a glimpse of the funeral procession. The service was broadcasted live & shown on large screens outside the Cathedral.
Royals, politicians, former state leaders & VIP's honoured the late Grand Duke with their attendance. Senior members of the Belgian Royal family (where his late wife came from) were all present. In addition, monarchs from Denmark, Sweden, Norway & Monaco, former monarchs of Spain, The Netherlands & Andorra, royal representatives of UK, Liechtenstein, Jordan & Morocco, members of defunct royal houses (ie: Romania, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Austria, France, Germany, Albania & Portugal), attended as well.
400 seats in the Cathedral were available - per Grand Duke's wishes - for members of the public, all registered on Monday, April 29. The coffin of Grand Duke Jean, drapped in Luxembourg's royal flag & with the Coat-of-Arms of the House of Nassau framed in front, left the Grand Ducal Palace for the last time at ~11:10am.
It was carried on a howitzer gun-carriage, slowly pulled by a military vehicle of Luxembourgish Army. Grand Duke Henri & the rest of senior royal family followed in a slow procession by-foot.
On the coffin's arrival to the Cathedral
21-gun-salutes were fired as they left the palace, with military & police delegations (& the emsemble) joined the funeral procession.
It reached the Cathedral in ~10 minutes' time; the coffin (& seal), placed on a blue platform, was transported inside, with military regiment & Boy' Scouts lining a guard of honor in the entrance.
As the casket made its way to the central catafalque, under the sounds of the Royal anthem De Wilhelmus, family members bowed to it & took their seats. All of Grand Duke Jean's children, in-laws, & grandchildren (& even his three oldest great-grandchildren) were in attendance.
Then, the pontifical mass was celebrated. It was presided over by Archbishop Jean-Claude Kasujja. He eulogised the late former Grand Duke in three languages (Luxembourgish, Franch & English), speaking about his love of Luxembourg, that it gave him back over the last two weeks. He compared Jean's entrance to heaven with climbing into a high mountain, for a (Holy) meal.
During the ceremony, Grand Duke Jean's elder & younger child - Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria & Prince Guillaume - delivered readings in French & Luxembourgish.
Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume delivers his intercession
Five of his grandchildren (the eldest from each of his child), also read intercessions of short prayers, in all the abovementioned languages. Several Catholic prayers, orchestral & choir's pieces consisted the religious service, ended with Luxembourg's official national anthem "Ons Heemecht" (Our Homeland).
A special tribute was paid to Grand Duke Jean as a former member (& Collonel) of the Irish Guards, with bagpipes joining the Orchestra in playing the Highland Cathedral - both during the Holy Communion, and as the flag-drapped casket left the Cathedral.
Following the 1 &1/2 hour of emotional service, the world's oldest monarch was privately laid to rest at the royal crypt (beneath the Cathedral), next to his wife, parents & other predeceased family members.
His mortal remains were placed next to a decorative sarcophagus in the middle of the crypt room, in the presence of his family & former King Albert II & Queen Paola of Belgium (Jean's siblings-in-law); and buried here later the same day.
Post-funeral reception
After this solemn event was finished too, the Grand Ducal family returned to the palace, where they hosted a reception for the most of royal guests, in a more relaxed atmosphere on this time.
Grand Duke Jean's Order of Garter's banner (centre).
Grand Duke Jean had been the 948th Stranger memberof the British chivalry Order of Garter. His personal banner was removed from St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle (UK), on the day of his death. That of the Swedish Order of Seraphim was taken away from Stockholm's Royal palace's chapel after the customary Ringing of the Seraphim service, on the funeral day.
Jean (then Hereditary Grand Duke) in his youth
Jean Benoît Robert Guillaume Antoine Louis Maria Adolphe Marc d'Aviano (as his full name was), born on 5 January 1921, fought in WWII in the Allied Forces, participated in the Normandy campaign and held the rank of Colonel of Britain's Irish guards from 1984. Having reigned from the abdication of his mother to his own one, through a period of prosperity, he had also become the oldest living sovereign monarch& 7th oldest-living state leader in the world by the time of his death.
This story was updated last time on Thursday; 9 May 2019.
More Photos from this sombre ocassion:
Death announcement by Grand Duke Henri
Portrait, published by the Grand Ducal Court
flags, flying at half-mast in Grand Duke Jean's memory
Statement from the Royal family of The Netherlands
Grand Duke Jean & his wife, Grand Duchess Josephine-
Charlotte (1927-2005), a Princess of Belgium by birth;
published by the Belgian Monarchy's website
Message of Condolence by Queen Elizabeth II of UK
Japan's abdicating Emperor Akihito & Empress Michiko signing condolences
for the late Grand Duke Jean at the Luxembourgish Embassy, in Tokyo
Grand Duke Jean's funeral cortege (28/04)
Family bids farewell (28/04)
First list (in French,) of foreign monarchs & royals, attending the funeral
Parliament session in honor of Grand Duke Jean, the day before his funeral
Portrait, published by the Grand-Ducal Court
Grand Duke Jean (sitting) with Grand DUke Henri (standing)
GD Jean with his late wife GD Josephine-Charlotte (left) & the couples of her regnal
(& future regnal) Belgian siblings: King Baudouin & Queen Fabiola (centre);
(future) King Albert II & Queen Paola (right).
Grand Duke Jean's children at funeral procession (May 4).
Videos from the unfaulding events & tributes (some in Luxembourgish):
