Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg

{{Infobox royalty

| name = Prince Guillaume

| title = Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (more)

| image = Prince Guillaume 2024.jpg

| caption = Guillaume in 2024

| succession = Regent of Luxembourg

| reign-type = Regency

| reign = 8 October 2024 – present

| pre-type = Monarch

| predecessor = Henri

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1981|11|11|df=y}}

| birth_name = Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg

| birth_place = Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital, Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

| death_date =

| death_place =

| spouse = {{marriage|Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy| 19 October 2012}}

| issue = Prince Charles of Luxembourg
Prince François of Luxembourg

| full name = Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie

| house = Luxembourg-Nassau {{small|(official)}}{{cite web |url=http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/monarchie/droits-de-succession/index.html |title=Droits de Succession: Ordre successoral |publisher=Maréchalat de la Cour |work=Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg |date=6 June 2011 |access-date=20 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140603162153/http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/monarchie/droits-de-succession/index.html |archive-date=3 June 2014 |url-status=live }}
Bourbon-Parma {{small|(agnatic)}}

| father = Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

| mother = María Teresa Mestre y Batista

| religion = Roman Catholic

| signature =

}}

Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie; born 11 November 1981), is the heir apparent to the Luxembourg throne since October 2000 and regent of the country since October 2024, as the son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. He is set to become Grand Duke on 3 October 2025 upon the abdication of his father.

Early life and education

Prince Guillaume was born on 11 November 1981 at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City and is the eldest child of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and his wife, Cuban-born Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.{{Cite web |url=http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/famille/grand-duc-heritier/index.html |title=Le Grand-Duc Héritier |website=Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg}} His godparents are Princess Marie Astrid of Luxembourg and Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg. Guillaume has four younger siblings: Prince Félix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sébastien.

Guillaume's education includes Lycée Robert-Schumann in Luxembourg; Swiss boarding schools the Institut Le Rosey and the Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil where he finished the French baccalaureate in 2001;{{cite web |title=CURRICULUM VITAE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE HEREDITARY GRAND DUKE OF LUXEMBOURG |url=http://www.monarchie.lu/pictures/photos/famille/EN_BIO_CrownPrince.pdf |website=Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg (official) |publisher=Cour Grand Ducale |access-date=9 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620022900/http://www.monarchie.lu/pictures/photos/famille/EN_BIO_CrownPrince.pdf |archive-date=20 June 2020 |location=Luxembourg |language=en |date=9 November 2020 |quote=Prince Guillaume attended primary school in Lorentzweiler and continued his education in the Lycée Robert Schuman until the fourth year of Luxembourgish secondary education. Then he pursued his studies at the Le Rosey Institute and at the Collège Beausoleil in the Swiss Alps, where he passed his French Baccalaureate in 2001. From September 2001 until August 2002, the Hereditary Grand Duke accomplished his Officer training at the Sandhurst Royal Military Academy in the United Kingdom....In 2009, the Hereditary Grand Duke graduated with honours with a Bachelor's degree in Humanities and Languages, specialising in Political Science, at the University of Angers (France).}} and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Camberley, England. He began his higher education studies in the United Kingdom where he studied at University College, Durham and Brunel University, both in England.{{cite web |title=H.R.H. Guillaume the hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg |url=https://wwwen.uni.lu/welcome_to_luxembourg/facts_and_figures/personalities/h_r_h_guillaume_the_hereditary_grand_duke_of_luxembourg |website=University of Luxembourg |publisher=Université du Luxembourg |access-date=9 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209002903/https://wwwen.uni.lu/welcome_to_luxembourg/facts_and_figures/personalities/h_r_h_guillaume_the_hereditary_grand_duke_of_luxembourg |location=Luxembourg |language=en|archive-date=9 December 2020|quote=After his military training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Guillaume studied history and politics at the University of Durham, at Brunel University in London and at the University of Angers in France.}} In 2006 he entered Institut Philanthropos in Fribourg, Switzerland, where he spent a year studying philosophy and anthropology. He later studied letters and political science at the Institut Albert-le-Grand in Angers, receiving his bachelor's degree with honors in 2009. His degree was issued by Université d'Angers, as a result of a partnership agreement between the two schools. From 2018 until 2019, Prince Guillaume attended a postgraduate training at the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in London.{{cite web|url=https://monarchie.lu/fr/la-famille-grand-ducale/sar-le-grand-duc-heritier|title=S.A.R. le Grand-Duc héritier|trans-title=HRH The Hereditary Grand Duke|language=French|website=The Luxembourg Grand Ducal House Official Website|access-date=18 July 2021}}

The Hereditary Grand Duke completed internships at the Belgian Chemical Union in 2003, at the Deutsche Bank in London in 2004, and at the Spanish branch of ArcelorMittal in 2005. Sworn in December 2002 as an officer in the Luxembourg Army, Prince Guillaume holds the rank of colonel.

Hereditary Grand Duke

Guillaume has been heir apparent to the crown of Luxembourg since his father's accession in 2000. On his future succession to the grand ducal throne, he will reign as Guillaume V (English: William V).

Guillaume became the honorary chairman of the Board of Economic Development of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, an agency for economic promotion and development, in March 2001. He has also been a member of the Council of State since 24 June 2005. He attended the Millennium Conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York City in 2005. Prince Guillaume also worked at the European Commission and the Permanent Representation of Luxembourg to the European Union in Brussels in 2012.

The Hereditary Grand Duke is patron of the Luxembourg Cycling Sport Federation, Youth Hostels Central, National Association of Road Victims, Chamber Orchestra of Luxembourg, Youth Harmony Orchestra of the European Union, as well as to Young Entrepreneurs Luxembourg and Special Olympics Luxembourg Associations.{{cite web|title= Le Grand-Duc Héritier|url=http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/famille/grand-duc-heritier/index.html|trans-title=The Hereditary Grand Duke|website=Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg|access-date=11 December 2018|language= fr}}

During the summer of 1997, Guillaume participated as a member of Luxembourg Scout Movement in a humanitarian camp in Nepal. He was involved in a reforestation project and other actions for the benefit of less fortunate communities. In 2017, the Hereditary Grand Duke joined the board of directors of the World Scout Foundation to support the development of scouting around the world.

In 1999, he participated in a charitable mission in Aguascalientes to provide the educational and social assistance to young people in one of the most deprived areas in Mexico. After having chaired the Kräizbierg Foundation, which works for people with disabilities, for more than 10 years (2000–2011), the Hereditary Grand Duke accepted the title of honorary president in March 2011.

Since 18 January 2016, the Hereditary Grand Duke has been a member of the board of directors of Europäische Stiftung Kaiserdom zu Speyer Foundation. He is also a member of the board of directors of the Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-Duchesse.

On 8 October 2024, as had been announced by Grand Duke Henri on his Official Birthday that year, Prince Guillaume was appointed as lieutenant representative (regent).{{Cite tweet |author=Cour Grand-Ducale |user=CourGrandDucale |number=1810673507174339065 |title= S.A.R. le Grand-Duc héritier comme lieutenant-représentant de S.A.R. le Grand-Duc aura lieu dans l'après-midi du mardi 8 octobre 2024.}} Under this capacity, he assumed a number of his father's constitutional powers,{{Cite tweet |author=Cour Grand-Ducale |user=CourGrandDucale |number=1804812777069936751 |title=An deem Kontext well ech, mat der #GrandeDuchesse, dem Prenz Guillaume an der Prinzessin Stephanie, iech matdeelen, dass ech decideiert hun desen October dem Prenz Gullaume d'Lieutenance ze iwerdroen.}} such as the swearing in of ambassadors and the signing of Grand Ducal Decrees. This is traditionally the first step in the abdication process in Luxembourg.{{cite web | url=https://www.royal-news.org/features/a-tradition-of-abdication-luxembourg-the-netherlands/ | title=A tradition of abdication - Luxembourg & the Netherlands | date=28 June 2024 }} On 24 December 2024, during his Christmas message, Henri announced that the abdication would take place on 3 October 2025.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-24 |title=Grand Duke Henri confirms date of retirement |url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/grand-duke-henri-confirms-date-of-retirement/31197975.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Luxembourg Times |language=en}}

Marriage and fatherhood

On interviews for his 30th birthday, he stated that he was in a relationship with a "dear miss" that had been going strong for more than a year but needed more time to evaluate their possible future. On 26 April 2012, the court announced the engagement of the Hereditary Grand Duke to the Belgian Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy.{{Cite news |url=http://www.wort.lu/fr/view/guillaume-et-stephanie-se-fiancent-demain-4f98eec3e4b01701472f8daa |title=Guillaume et Stéphanie se financent demain |date=27 April 2012 |access-date=26 April 2012 |publisher=Luxemburger Wort}} The civil wedding took place on Friday, 19 October 2012; the religious wedding took place on Saturday, 20 October 2012, at the Notre-Dame Cathedral.{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/luxembourg/9622636/Luxembourgs-royal-wedding-draws-regal-guest-list.html |title=Luxembourg's royal wedding draws regal guest list |last=Nikkhah |first=Roya |date=20 October 2012 |work=The Telegraph}}

Guillaume and Stéphanie have two sons, named Charles (born 10 May 2020) and François Henri Louis Marie Guillaume (born 27 March 2023), who are second and third in the line of succession to the throne of Luxembourg, respectively.{{Cite web|url=https://luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/40646-luxembourg-royal-baby-boy-born-on-sunday|title=Luxembourg royal baby boy born on Sunday|website=luxtimes.lu|date=10 May 2020|access-date=14 November 2021|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021223419/https://luxtimes.lu/luxembourg/40646-luxembourg-royal-baby-boy-born-on-sunday|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web |url=https://today.rtl.lu/life/royals/a/2045634.html |title=Hereditary Grand Ducal couple announces birth of new baby |date=2023-03-27 |access-date=2023-03-27 |website=today.rtl.lu}}

Interests

Guillaume is interested in music and sports; he plays the piano and enjoys football, swimming and volleyball. He speaks Luxembourgish, French, German, Spanish and English. He regularly represents his parents in many foreign activities.

Titles and style

{{Infobox Royal styles

|royal name=The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg

|image=File:Lesser coat of arms of the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (2000).svg

|dipstyle=His Royal Highness

|offstyle=Your Royal Highness

}}

His style and title in full is: His Royal Highness Prince Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Hereditary Prince of Nassau, Prince of Bourbon-Parma.[http://www.gouvernement.lu/832705/18guillaume Actualités: S.A.R le Prince Guillaume devient le Grand-Duc Héritier] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151225174546/http://www.gouvernement.lu/832705/18guillaume |date=25 December 2015 }} – Official website of the Luxembourg Government

=Honours=

{{See also|List of honours of the Luxembourgish Grand-Ducal Family by country}}

class="wikitable sortable"

!Country

!Date

!Appointment

!Ribbon

!Other

rowspan="3" |{{Flagu|Luxemburg}}

| rowspan="2" |11 December 1999

|Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau

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|{{cite web |title=Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg |url=http://www.gouvernement.lu/1828180/Distinctions_honorifiques-EN.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118153440/http://www.gouvernement.lu/1828180/Distinctions_honorifiques-EN.pdf |archive-date=18 January 2017 |access-date=20 April 2017 |publisher=Service Information et Presse}}

Grand Cross of Order of Adolphe of Nassau

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|{{refn|Princes and Princesses of the Grand-Ducal House of Luxembourg are Grand Crosses of the Order by birth but the decoration is worm only after they reach their majority (18 years old)}}

23 June 2012

|Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown

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|Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown

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|Grand Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honour

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|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

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|[http://www.quirinale.it/elementi/DettaglioOnorificenze.aspx?decorato=305927 quirinale.it][http://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/do/atto/serie_generale/caricaPdf?cdimg=09A0991300000010110001&dgu=2009-08-31&art.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2009-08-31&art.codiceRedazionale=09A09913&art.num=1&art.tiposerie=SG Gazzetta Ufficiale]

rowspan="2" |{{flag|Netherlands}}

|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau

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Recipient of the King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal

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|23 May 2017

|Grand Cross of the Order of Aviz

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|{{Cite web |title=ENTIDADES ESTRANGEIRAS AGRACIADAS COM ORDENS PORTUGUESAS – Página Oficial das Ordens Honoríficas Portuguesas |url=http://www.ordens.presidencia.pt/?idc=154&list=1}}

|24 February 2023

|Commander of the National Order of the Lion

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|Grand Officer of the Order of the White Double Cross

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|Slovak republic website, [http://www.slovak-republic.org/symbols/honours/ State honours] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413004835/http://www.slovak-republic.org/symbols/honours/|date=13 April 2016}} (click on "Holders of the Order of the 2nd Class White Double Cross" to see the holders' table) : 2nd Class received by Hereditary Grand-Duke in 2005, i.e. during the [http://www.gouvernement.lu/salle_presse/actualite/2005/09/07visite_rep_slovaque/index.html state visit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110524161828/http://www.gouvernement.lu/salle_presse/actualite/2005/09/07visite_rep_slovaque/index.html|date=24 May 2011}} (French) of Grand-Duke, Grand-Duchess & Hereditary Grand-Duke in Slovakia (7 September 2005).

|22 September 2020

|Recipient of the Sandhurst Medal

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|{{Cite web |date=23 September 2020 |title=Grand Duke, Hereditary Grand Duke Awarded Sandhurst Medal |url=https://chronicle.lu/category/at-home/34030-grand-duke-hereditary-grand-duke-awarded-sandhurst-medal |publisher=Chronicle.lu}}

= Awards =

== Foreign ==

World Organization of the Scout Movement: Bronze Wolf Award (21 March 2024)[https://www.scout.org/news/news/hrh-prince-guillaume-luxembourg-awarded-bronze HRH Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg awarded Bronze Wolf for exceptional service to Scouting]