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GRAND-DUCAL FOCUS
The Abdication of Grand Duke Jean |
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On 7 October 2000, after a reign of almost 36 years, Grand Duke Jean abdicated in favour of his eldest son, Prince Henri. He had announced his intention to abdicate several months earlier, on 24 December 1999, during his annual Christmas speech to the Luxembourg people. |
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During the evening of 6 October 2000, the Grand Duke addressed the Luxembourg people for the last time as their head of state. Speaking from the Kings' Room of the Grand-Ducal Palace, overlooked by portraits of his Dutch predecessors, Grand Duke Jean thanked his fellow citizens for their confidence in him and in the monarchy. He evoked the enormous economic transistions of his reign, which had transformed Luxembourg from an industrial nation into a international financial centre and base for new technologies. |
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On a personal level, the Grand Duke publically acknowledged the support of his wife, Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte, and spoke of his confidence in Prince Henri's ability to take on the role of sovereign at the start of the new millennium. |
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Ceremony of Abdication
At 10.30 the following morning, in the Ballroom of the Grand-Ducal Palace, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker presented Grand Duke Jean with the instrument of abdication. Watched by his family, , the Grand Duke signed his abdication, which was then counter-signed by the Prime Minister in accordance with the requirements of the constitution. Monsieur Juncker then went on to praise the dedication of the Grand Duke in his service to Luxembourg in an emotive and personal speech. |
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"You are one of us and have never given the impression of being different to us ... We have been, and remain, proud of you."
Address by Prime Minister Juncker to Grand Duke Jean |
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In addition to the grand-ducal couples, new and old, the ceremony was attended by Princes Guillaume, Felix, Louis and Sebastien, Princess Alexandra, Princess Marie-Astrid and Archduke Carl-Christian, Prince Jean and Countess Helene, and Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus.
Other guests included Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, King Albert and Queen Paola of the Belgians, members of the Government, the President of the Council of State, the President of the Supreme Court of Justice, the Archbishop of Luxembourg and the Mayor of the City of Luxembourg. |
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>>> Accession of Grand Duke Henri |
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