Luxembourg’s postal service will make its own tribute to Grand Duke Jean on the day of his funeral. On May 4th 2019 it will use a special stamp for letters passing through its office in central Luxembourg city. They will bear the image of Jean who died last month at the age of 98.
The stamp bears a drawing of Grand Duke Jean as well as his name and the dates of his birth, death and funeral. The stamp will only be used on mail processed at the post office on Boulevard Royal on May 4th 2019, the date that his family will be joined by royalty from across Europe to say a final farewell to the man who ruled Luxembourg between 1964 and 2000.
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The Grand Duke featured on many special stamps issued by the Luxembourg postal service during his lifetime. Most recently, it honoured him with a special edition to mark the 50th anniversary of his accession to the country’s throne and in 2008 it issued another to mark his 90th birthday.
It’s one of many tributes being paid around Luxembourg as national mourning continues for Grand Duke Jean. A book of condolence is open at the Town Hall in Luxembourg City. Others have been opened at the Grand Ducal Palace, Fischbach Castle and Berg Castle.
Grand Duke Jean died on April 23rd 2019, ten days after being admitted to hospital with a pulmonary infection. His body was brought to the Grand Ducal Palace to lie in state on April 28th and since then, many people have filed by to pay their own tribute to Jean.
Jean of Luxembourg was born on January 5th 1921, the eldest son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix. He saw active service in World War Two and helped liberate his country from Nazi occupation. He married Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium in 1953 and the couple had five children. Jean succeeded his mother on her abdication in 1964 and stepped aside in favour of his own son, Henri, in 2000.
