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Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume spoke on Tuesday at the 20th Alfi Global Distribution Conference, a financing event. Guillaume talked about microfinancing at the opening of the second day of the conference.
 Click here for original photo at Monarchie.lu He also discussed the rising unemployment in Europe due to the poor economy.
“Poverty might not be such a serious issue in Luxembourg and the EU,” Guillaume told delegates. “But unemployment has been rising since 2008 and young people are the first victims. Our youth is in dire need of job creation. So microfinance might be solution even within our borders.
“We must give them the opportunity. Luxembourg is well positioned to be a centre of excellence for microfinance in years to come and can encourage the seeking of both a social and financial return. The needs are especially high in a time of crisis and Luxembourg can lead by example. Responsible investment will be the key to a sustainable European economy.”
His Royal Highness was with Jeannot Krecke, the Minister for Economy and Foreign Trade for Luxembourg during the conference.
Source: Luxarazzi, Alfievents.com
On Monday, changes were made to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg’s succession laws that will abolish male preference – as is the current state – and will allow females equal rights to the throne as their male relatives. 
This means if, for example, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume were to have a daughter as a first born child, she could become the next monarch of Luxembourg after her father, even if she has a younger brother. That brother would be second behind the sister.
These changes have been in the works since September and yesterday saw the modifications take place. This makes Luxembourg’s succession laws on par with Belgium, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark and Norway.
The United Kingdom, Liechtenstein, Monaco and Spain have yet to get rid of their male preference succession laws.
However, even with these changes in Luxembourg, there is some confusion as to how these changes will go along. According to the newspaper, Wort, the law will be effective with Grand Duke Henri’s descendants. But does that mean that Guillaume’s sister, Princess Alexandra, is ahead of younger brother Prince Sebastien now – or is she still behind?
I will update this entry when any clarification happens.
Source: Wort.lu
On Monday, Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa began a state visit to Norway. The trip is to last for two days, and it is no different from any other state visit. Meaning, this one is meant to strengthen bilateral ties between the two nations.
 Click here to see more the state visit Their Royal Highnesses arrived in Oslo in the morning and were greeted by King Harald V and Queen Sonja at Palace Square. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit were also present for the welcoming ceremony, which included national anthems and inspection of the honor guard. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa also took time to greet schoolchildren who were watching the event.
Next came the laying of the wreath at Akershus Fortress, which commemorates the fallen during World War II.
Afterward, Grand Duke Henri met with the Prime Minister and Parliament President Dag Terje Andersen.
During that time, Queen Sonja took the Grand Duchess to the newly restored cabin on Sæter Bygdøy at Oscarhall Palace. They were also given a tour of Seter cottage, and children from Dissimilis entertained the royal women.
In the evening came the state banquet. Princess Martha Louise and Princess Astrid were attendance.
The rest of the itinerary has the King and the Grand Duke meeting with business leaders while the Queen and the Grand Duchess will tour museums and art galleries. Also, the Luxembourg royals will go to Trondheim to see Statoil’s Research Centre.
But there is a question if Maria Teresa will continue with the state visit after today. Her brother, 58 year old Antonio Mestre, is in a coma at a Florida hospital after suffering a heart attack. Supposedly, the Grand Duchess will leave Norway early to go be at her brother’s side.
Source: Kongehuset, Wort.lu
Since Monday, Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume has been in Turkey, where he has been looking to promote his grand duchy on an economic scale. With him is the Minister of Economy and Foreign Trade, Jeannot Krecke.
 MECE During the visit, Guillaume and Ms. Krecke met with Turkey’s Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, Taner Yildiz. The three discussed energy sources from Turkey to Luxembourg, such as the building of the Nabucco pipeline, which will allow Western Europe to diversify its gas supply sources.
Also during his time, Guillaume met with the Minister of State in charge of Foreign Trade, Mehmet Zafer. Zafer criticized the European Union for stalling its efforts to admit in Turkey, but praised Luxembourg for its support on the matter.
When the Hereditary Grand Duke and Ms. Krecke met with the finance minister, Mehmet Simsek, the good political relations between Luxembourg and Turkey were highlighted. Jeannot Krecke express regret over the insufficient attention Luxembourg paid towards Luxembourg in terms of an economic mission.
According to Minister Simsek, the Turkish city of Istanbul has the ambition to become a regional financial center, and the Luxembourg financial sector serves as its model.
For Wednesday and Thursday, Guillaume and Luxembourg’s delegation will visit Istanbul for a few seminars in order to get to know the city’s financial district.
Source: Gouvernement.lu
Due to his commitments as being the next head of state, Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume stepped down as chairman of the Kräizbierg Foundation Monday. He had held the position of the organization, which helps disabled people, for ten years.
 SIP/Luc Deflorenne/FILE During a press conference, Guillaume spoke about how he enjoyed being president of Kräizbierg on a professional and personal level. But the demands of being the heir to the monarchy made him resign.
The Hereditary Grand Duke promised to keep in touch with the students and workforce of the Foundation.
On Tuesday, he was awarded as honorary president.
Also on Tuesday, Kräizbierg announced its new chairman – Lucien Thiel, himself already on the board of Kräizbierg for 33 years. Thiel stressed that it was not easy to follow in the footsteps of the outgoing president who had performed his task in an admirable manner.
Sources: Wort.lu, 352 Lux Mag
 
When it comes to birthdays, this is a big year for the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg. On January 5th, it was Grand Duke Jean’s 90th birthday. This coming November – 11/11/11 no less! – Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume will turn 30 years old. To mark these two special events, Luxembourg’s Post and Telecommunications will release two stamps featuring the grandfather and grandson.
The stamps will be out March 15th. Their prices are both €1.95, and there will be ten stamps per sheet.
If you are interested in purchasing them, click here and here.
Source: P&T Luxembourg
Today, the only daughter of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg celebrated her 20th birthday.
 Cour Grand-Ducale/Christian Aschman Princess Alexandra Joséphine Teresa Charlotte Marie Wilhelmine was born in 1991, the fourth of the Grand Ducal couple’s five children. She has three older brothers, Guillaume, Felix, Louis and one younger brother named Sebastian.
Alexandra’s birthday comes two days after Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa’s 30th wedding anniversary.
The Princess speaks Luxembourgish, French and English, understands German well and is studying Spanish. She enjoys tennis, skiing and swimming.
She is currently a student at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, which is a tiny college town in the United States. Alexandra is studying history, philosophy and literature and is even a member of the school’s tennis team.
To see new and previously unreleased photos of the Princess, click here.
Sources: The Royal Forums blog, Royal Musings
In one week, on February 14th, Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal couple will celebrate their third decade of marriage. Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa released new photos of themselves, taken obviously before the Grand Duke’s recent heart surgery.
 Cour Grand-Ducale/Christian Aschman Luxembourgisch media is also reflecting on the wedding day. Wort published an article that quoted the then newlyweds from Télécran.
“This day I will always remember as the day in which a very great joy materialized into a dream,” the then Hereditary Grand Duke Henri said back in 1981.
“I will not conceal that I was a little excited about the enormous appeal, which had found our wedding in the media. At that moment, but in which my fiancee walked into the cathedral, any excitement was gone, and I knew that we would now be forever by two for the tasks that would put life and my function to us to overcome together. This moment is one of my best memories. ”
Maria Teresa also talked about her joyous day:
 Cour Grand-Ducale/Christian Aschman “We had just put a multi-year study behind us, which brought natural as for each student at his exam with him that had to exist. The more time we spent together was more clear to us that we would spend our lives together. You can imagine how great my luck on the day of my wedding was. Then there was the warm welcome afforded by the Luxembourg population me and all the uncertainties [of being the next Grand Duchess], I could feel, disappear. ”
Their Royal Highnesses met while studying political science at the University of Geneva. They went on to become the parents of five children: Hereditary Grand Duke Henri, Prince Felix, Prince Louis, Princess Alexandra and Prince Sebastien. The couple are also grandparents to Prince Louis’ two sons, Princes Gabriel and Noah of Nassau.
It is unknown if any celebration would take place as Henri is still recovering from an angioplasty at Castle Berg.
Source: Wort.lu, Wikipedia
 Qatar News Agency Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume arrived in Doha, Qatar Sunday to begin an official visit to the tiny Gulf nation. He was received by Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and the two discussed ways to strengthen bilateral ties.
One of the ties Guillaume is hoping to accomplish with this visit is financial. With him on this trip is Luxembourg’s Financial Minister, Luc Frieden, who met with his Qatari counterpart. The Luxembourg delegation is looking to make it known that the tiny Grand Duchy’s Financial Center is open to foreign investment.
Tomorrow, the Hereditary Grand Duke will head to Abu Dhabi for another round of financial talks. He will then go to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday and then Lebanon the following day. Originally, his father, Grand Duke Henri was supposed to go to Saudi Arabia, but with him home recovering from heart surgery, it is Guillaume who has the task of promoting his country.
Source: Wort.lu, Qatar News Agency
 Cour grand-ducale/ LUXPRESS/Jean-Claude Ernst/FILE Less than two days after his angioplasty, Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri left the hospital Saturday morning to rest for a few weeks at Castle Hill.
The Grand Duke complained of chest pains early Thursday and an ambulance took him to a hospital where heart surgery was performed. It is believed that he suffered from an unstable angina, which is not as serious as a heart attack.
Henri, who is 55 years old, inherited the Grand Duchy in 2000 after his father, Grand Duke Jean abdicated.
Source: Tageblatt
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