Grand Duke Jean turns 97 years old

Grand Duke Jean is 97 years old today.

Described as the 'grand seigneur' and 'national hero' of Luxembourg by French royalty TV presenter Stéphane Bern, Grand Duke Jean was born in the castle of Berg on 5 January 1921.

He is the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma.

He became Grand Duke of Luxembourg on 12 November 1964, and abdicated on 7 October 2000 in favour of his eldest son Prince Henri.

While the Grand Duke has in the past had fragile health because of his age, in the new official photo a smiling man sits alongside his son.

He spent the Christmas of 2016 in hospital because of a bad case of bronchitis, but has not experienced any serious health problems during the last year.

During German Chancellor Angela Merkel's official visit to Luxembourg in early 2017, Grand Duke Jean took part in an audience held at the Grand Ducal Palace.

The Grand Duke went to school in Luxembourg and Great Britain.

During the Second World War, he fled the country with the rest of the Grand-Ducal family but returned to the continent in 1944 to serve in the British army in Normandy.

He returned to Luxembourg alongside his father, Prince Félix, on 10 September 1944, before rejoining his unit to fight the German forces until the end of hositilities.

On 9 April 1953, he married Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium, who died in January 2005.

They had five children: Princess Marie-Astrid, born on 17 February 1954, Prince Henri, born on 16 April 1955 – who is now the serving Grand Duke – Prince Jean, born on 15 May 1957, Princess Margaretha, born on 15 May 1957 and Prince William, born on 1 May 1963.