Hereditary Grand Duke Jean married Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium, sister of King Baudouin of the Belgians, on 9 April 1953 at the Cathedral of Our Lady, Luxembourg.
The couple have five children: Princess Marie-Astrid (born 17 February 1954), Grand Duke Henri (born 16 April 1955), Prince Jean and Princess Margaretha (both born 15 May 1957) and Prince Guillaume (born 1 May 1963).
Summer holidays are spent at la Tour Sarrazine, the grand-ducal family's home in the South of France. Grand Duke Jean also owns Vorderiss Lodge near Lenggries, in the Bavarian Alps.
From 1951 until 1961, Prince Jean was a member of the Council of State. On 29 April 1961, Grand Duchess Charlotte appointed him as her Lieutenant-Representative, to exercise the monarch's constitutional prerogatives on her behalf. When Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicated on 12 November 1964, Prince Jean succeeded her as Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
Grand Duke Jean reigned over Luxembourg for more than 35 years, during which time the Grand Duchy developed into one of Europe's most properous nations. His reign symbolised stability and continuity. On 24 December 1999, during his annual Christmas address, the Grand Duke announced his intention to abdicate in favour of his eldest son, Hereditary Grand Duke Henri.
The date of the abdication was orignally set for July 2000, but was postponed after Prince Guillaume, the Grand Duke's youngest son, was seriously injured in a car crash in France. The abdication eventually took place on 7 October 2000, in a ceremony at the Grand-Ducal Palace, and on the same day Grand Duke Henri took the constituional oath before the Chamber of Deputies.
Grand Duke Jean is Honorary President of the Oeuvre des Pupilles de la Nation and of the War Veterans Association. He is Chief Scout of the Luxembourg Scout Movement and Honorary President of Unio'n, the Union of Luxembourg resistance Movements.
He has always taken a keen interest in sporting affairs and, up until 1998, was Honorary President of the Luxembourg Olympic and Sporting Committee. He is currently an honorary member of the International Olympic Committee.
Grand Duke Jean has a strong interest in environmental matters, particularly the protection of flora and fauna. He is a keen sportsman, enjoying skiing, water skiing, swimming, hunting and fishing. He is also interested in photography and music.
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