Henri – Grand Duke of Luxembourg
If you look closely enough, locked into the crevice where Germany bumps up against Belgium and France (sometimes a little more forcefully than others) you will find the world’s last remaining Grand Duchy. At its helm, the Grand Duke himself, Henri of Luxembourg; today’s World Leader in Underpants.
A grand duke is a sort of superduke, trumped by a king or queen, but lording it over your common or garden duke. This particular duke also happens to be the nephew of Albert II, current King of the Belgians, and like his uncle, he’s just as fond of sash-wearing. His constitutional duking powers require him to sign all legislation passed by parliament, although this may be removed after he recently had the temerity to withhold his signature from a new bill on euthanasia, which, ironically, may amount to a kind of constitutional suicide.
For the time being, Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, must get the Grand Duke to nod through any new laws, and so it is Henri who joins the assorted heads of state who are collecting here. There he’ll look up to several kings, down on the civilian premiers and presidents, and doubtless feel a little confused as to where he stands with the Sultans, Emirs and other sundry breeds of world leader.
