Weekly Roundup: Climate Change, a New Government, and More

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Samuel Kirszenbaum

On November 30th, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa attended the 15th Entretiens de Royaumont, joining around 1200 other participants as well as more than 40 speakers who discussed this year's theme "To Be a Woman." The Grand Duchess spoke on the topic of "Being a Woman, and Victim" along with Isabelle Thery, Vice-President of the Melun High Court, and Dr. Nagham Hasan, who works with the Yazidi.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Chronicle.lu

On December 3rd, Grand Duke Henri attended the opening events for COP24 (the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) in Katowice, Poland. He joined representatives from 190 countries to discuss the importance of "changing together" in the effort to fight global climate change.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli

And closely connected to his commitment to combating climate change, the Grand Duke also attended events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Ecological Movement on December 5th.

Photo: Vaterland / vaterland.li

In Liechtenstein news, Hereditary Prince Alois and Hereditary Princess Sophie were in Seoul, South Korea to see the pieces from the Princely Collection that are on exhibit at the National Palace Museum. The exhibit is entitled "The Liechtenstein Stone - 900 Years of a Reigning Family in the Heart of Europe" and will be on display until February of next year. The couple also took time during the visit to meet with Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon and Deputy Foreign Minister Lee Taeho.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

On December 5th, Grand Duke Henri received in audience six outgoing members of government. For these audiences, he also bestowed on the individuals the Ordre de Mérite civil et militaire d’Adolphe de Nassau.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

And later that day, the Grand Duke also swore in the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, and new members of government. Following the swearing-in, the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess welcomed the members of government at a reception.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Also on the 5th, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa attended a celebration for 2018's International Volunteer Day, at which she presented the Prix du Mérite du Bénévolat 2018 to Francine Muller-Malherbe.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli

On December 7th, the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess hosted a reception to honor the participants of humanitarian and peace-keeping missions, in connection with the Luxembourg Army and the Grand Ducal Police.

And to wrap up Liechtenstein news, on December 7th, Hereditary Prince Alois spoke about the UN Migration Pact, expressing concerns about some of its features.

Other news worth mentioning is the recent information about the ruling that came of London regarding Prince Louis's divorce from Princess Tessy, as well as the Prince's positive comments about his estranged wife. No official statement has been made by the Cour yet, so we'll post further if and when one is released.