Members of the Grand Ducal Family Pay Their Respects

Photo: Place Royale

Luxembourgish sisters Archduchess Marie-Astrid and Princess Margaretha, alongside her husband Prince Nikolaus, were at the Royal Palace in Brussels today where they paid their respects to Queen Fabiola of Belgium, who died on Friday last week. Until the funeral on Friday, the body of the late Queen will lay in state at the palace.

More pictures at Place Royale.

Luxembourgish Attendance at Queen Fabiola's Funeral

#145949324 / gettyimages.com

The cour grand-ducale has announced that Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Grand Duke Jean, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, as well as other members of the Grand Ducal Family will attend the funeral of Queen Fabiola of Belgium, who died last Friday and will be laid to rest on Friday this week. The funeral service at the Cathédrale des Saints Michel et Gudule will be followed by a religious mass at the Église Notre-Dame de Laeken.

Considering the close bonds between the Grand Ducal Family and the deceased - Queen Fabiola was the sister-in-law of the late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte - I'm sure the attendance of "other members of the Grand Ducal Family" will be numerous. Until the funeral on Friday, the schedule of the Grand Ducal Family will largely go ahead as planned: On Wednesday the Hereditary Grand Duke and the Hereditary Grand Duchess will visit both the European Court of Justice as well as the Centre Hospitalier du Luxembourg.

Grand Duke Henri in Monaco

Photo: Reuters

On Sunday and Monday, Grand Duke Henri was in Monaco for the 127th session of the IOC. The session made some important changes to the process of bidding to host the Olympics, as well as how Olympic activities are placed. For instance, the cost of bidding for hosting privileges will now be reduced, and the IOC will assist in providing funds to hosting cities.

Additionally, the option remains open for multiple cities to host events, with even the possibility of multiple countries hosting separate events. Some members of the IOC, however, pointed out the cost burden this could place on those participating and attending the Olympic Games. Others noted that these changes could undermine the greater spirit of unity that drives the experience of being part of the Olympics. The changes were passed unanimously, but with the reservations of different members noted for future implementation.

The 127th session of the IOC continues through Tuesday.

Update: It appears that Princess Nora was there as well!

Photo: Getty

Queen Fabiola's Body Moved to Royal Chapel

The body of the late Queen Fabiola has been driven to Laken Castle. @MonarchieBe pic.twitter.com/ce9gsmoGes
— ♔ Arjan ♔ (@houseoflemon) December 8, 2014

The body of the late Queen Fabiola of Belgium were brought from the Château du Stuyvenberg, or Kasteel Stuyvenberg, where she died on Friday at the age of 86, to the royal chapel of the Château de Laeken (a.k.a. Kasteel de Laken) where she will lie in state until Friday. Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus as well as Archduchess Marie-Astrid and Archduke Carl-Christian were among those who accompanied the motorcade with the Queen's remains.

 Photos: Belga

New Ambulance for Liechtenstein Red Cross

Photo: Nils Vollmar / ZVG / Liechtensteiner Volksblatt

The Liechtenstein Red Cross recently received a new ambulance coach. On Thursday, the new vehicle was blessed by cathedral minister Peter Fuchs. Also among the guests of the celebrations was the Princess Marie. Liechtenstein's first lady has been the President of the country's Red Cross since 1985. She has announced that she will resign at the end of the year and hand over the job to her daughter-in-law Hereditary Princess Sophie.

Grand Ducal Family in Brussels

Photo: Benoit Doppagne / Belga

Members of the Grand Ducal Family including Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa and Archduchess Marie-Astrid were in Brussels today where they were seen leaving the the grounds of the royal domain in Laeken. They paid their respects to their aunt Queen Fabiola who died yesterday at the age of 86 at Château de Stuyvenberg situated in the royal domain. A video of it can be found at Belgian RTL. 

The funeral of Queen Fabiola will take place on coming Friday, December 12, at 10am at the Cathedral of Saint Michel and Saint Gudule in Brussels. Both the Grand Ducal and Princely Families will surely be represented numerously.

Grand Ducal Family Saddened by the Loss of Queen Fabiola

Grand Duke Henri has sent an official message to his first cousin King Philippe of the Belgians to express his condolences over the death of their mutual aunt Queen Fabiola. The widow of King Baudouin died yesterday at the age of 86. The message read as the following:

Sir,

it is with great emotion that the Grand Duchess and I have learned of the news of the death of Queen Fabiola.

With my father, my family and my compatriots I express my deep condolences. We will keep fond memories of a Queen who has put all her qualities of mind and heart to the service of her husband's reign and the welfare of its citizens. Her love of life and communicative enthusiasm have always been an example to us.

Henri
Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Original version:

Sire,

C'est avec grande émotion que la Grande-Duchesse et moi-même avons appris la nouvelle de la disparition de la Reine Fabiola.

Avec mon père, notre famille et nos compatriotes nous Vous exprimons nos très sincères condoléances. Nous garderons un souvenir ému et reconnaissant d'une Reine qui a mis toutes ses qualités d'esprit et de cœur au service du règne de son époux et du bien-être de ses concitoyens. Sa joie de vivre et son enthousiasme communicatifs ont toujours été un exemple pour nous.

Henri

Grand-Duc de Luxembourg

Two Audiences for Henri

Grand Duke Henri has been active in audiences over the last few days.

On Thursday, at the Grand Ducal Palace, he received Mr. Jiang Jianqing, the chairman of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC).

Photo: Cour grand-ducale

On Friday, he received in audience a delegation from the Société française d’Arthroscopie (SFA), or the French Society of Anthroscopy. The SFA's annual conference was held in Luxembourg this year, between December 3rd and December 6th, and was put on in conjunction with CRP-Santé and Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg.

Photo: Cour grand-ducale

Grand Duke Hosts Special Olympic Delegates

Photo: 2014 Grand Ducal Court / Marc Schmit 

On Tuesday, the Grand Duke hosted a delegation of athletes who took part in the Special Olympics Summer Games 2014 in Antwerp, Belgium. Luxembourg's team of 26 athletes won 26 medals! The reception hosted by the Grand Duke took place at his home, Chateau de Berg. 

The Grand Duke is a member of the International Olympic Committee. Earlier in the year he was present for the opening ceremony of the Special Olympics Summer Games in Belgium. Also in attendance were Queen Mathilde of the Belgians and Princess Nora of Liechtenstein. 

Prince Jean Talks... Water

Prince Jean gave an interview to Luxembourg weekly newspaper Le Jeudi. In the interview the younger brother of Grand Duke Henri talks about his passion for water, his company Water Solutions South Africa (WSSA), as well as how he got involved in the water business in the first place. Short excerpts from the printed version of the newspaper can be found online here and here.