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Luxembourg

Luxembourg’s Prime Minister defends Grand Duke Henri’s decision to spend holidays in France

Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa

The Prime Minister of Luxembourg, Xavier Bettel, has dismissed criticism of the country’s Grand Duke after it emerged that Henri has spent part of the festive season at his home in the south of France despite restrictions in place to stop the spread of coronavirus.

News of the Grand Duke’s Christmas holiday was confirmed in a statement to Radio 100.7 in which it was confirmed that Henri had actually signed the latest laws around Covid restrictions while in Biarritz.

The Grand Ducal Court said that no rules had been broken, adding that foreign travel isn’t banned by current restrictions in Luxembourg provided that existing measures are respected in each relevant country. Henri is in Biarritz with his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.

Xavier Bettel responded to the criticism in an interview to be broadcast on RTL on January 1st 2021. The Prime Minister of Luxembourg says If the Grand Duke is in Biarritz with his wife alone, I don’t see a problem with that.’ He also suggests it is safer for them to mark the festive season by themselves than back at home in a larger group.

Grand Duke Henri recently marked the twentieth anniversary of his accession but in recent years his reign has been marked with controversy. The Waringo Report, into behaviour at the Grand Ducal Court, found a ”culture of fear” had come to prevail and recommended a string of changes.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.