Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg (House of Nassau-Weilburg, agnatically, a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon-Parma, itself a cadet branch of the House of Bourbon, in turn a cadet branch of the House of Capet) consists of the extended family of the sovereign Grand Duke.

The medieval duchy of Luxembourg was elevated to a grand duchy in 1815; William I of the Netherlands ascended the grand ducal throne as its first holder. William, through his Prussian mother, was a descendant of the medieval heiress Anne, Duchess of Luxembourg, as was William's wife, his first cousin. The territories of the grand duchy, taken (including the ancestral castle of Luxembourg) from occupying French forces in the first stages of the fall of Napoleon, had been ceded to William by his first cousin King Frederick William III of Prussia, who was Anne's heir-general. In breach of the traditional line of succession of Luxembourg, the great powers of Europe agreed that the grand duchy would be inherited in the male line of the House of Nassau.

The male-line descendants of Grand Duke Adolphe held the titles Prince(ss) of Luxembourg and Prince(ss) of Nassau, with the style of His/Her Grand Ducal Highness.

The male-line descendants of Grand Duchess Charlotte who are the children of a reigning Grand Duke or Hereditary Grand Duke hold the titles Prince(ss) of Luxembourg and Prince(ss) of Nassau with the style of His/Her Royal Highness. Male line descendants of Grand Duchess Charlotte who are not the children of a Grand Duke or Hereditary Grand Duke are Prince(ss) of Nassau with the style of His/Her Royal Highness (derived from their status as male-line descendants of Duke Robert of Parma). The title Prince of Bourbon-Parma was relinquished by Grand Duke Jean in 1986, but he and his relatives kept the style of His/Her Royal Highness.

Read more about Grand Ducal Family Of Luxembourg:  Religion, The Grand Ducal Family, Extended Family, Summary Family Tree, Arms

Famous quotes containing the words grand and/or family:

    Writing a book of poetry is like dropping a rose petal down the Grand Canyon and waiting for the echo.
    Don Marquis (1878–1937)

    My family pride is something inconceivable. I can’t help it. I was born sneering.
    Sir William Schwenck Gilbert (1836–1911)