As the Grand Ducal Court released a statement a little after 6.00 am local time from Grand Duke Henri, announcing the death of his beloved father, Grand Duke Jean on 23 April 2019. Grand Duke Jean was 98.
In the statement, Henri said, “It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of my beloved father, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Jean, who has passed away in peace, surrounded by the affection of his family.”
Grand Duke Jean was a Stranger Knight of the Order of the Garter, and as a result of his death, his banner as Knight of the Garter will be removed today, according to reporter Alastair Bruce. His was granted the honour by Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. He was the 948th member.
Jean graduated from Sandhurst in 1943 and participated in the D-Day landings and the Battle for Caen. He was also part of the liberation of Luxembourg from Nazi Germany. He held Luxembourg military honours of the Luxembourg War Cross (with bronze palm) and the Military Medal. His Late Royal Highness was also granted the Silver Star by the United States for his service in the military. The UK also presented him with several military medals for his time in service.
In his native Luxembourg, he was a Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau and held the honours of Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau, Grand Cross of the Order of the Oak Crown, and Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. He was the Grand Master to the aforementioned orders throughout his reign from 1964 to 2000.
Grand Duke Jean held orders from several other countries across the globe including Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Thailand.