After revealing that she is expecting a second child, Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg expressed her “delight.”
The 34-year-old queen wed Nicolas Bagory at Luxembourg Town Hall in 2023, and the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter named Victorie, last May.
Now that Princess Alexandra is pregnant, the pair has announced that their family will soon be much bigger.
On Thursday night, the couple posted a statement on the school’s official Instagram page.
It read: “Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess are delighted to announce that Princess Alexandra and Mr. Nicolas Bagory are expecting their second child.”
“The Grand Duke, the Grand Duchess, and members of both families share in the joy of their children.”
Source: Wikimedia Commons
The new baby is anticipated to be due in the fall, according to the family, who also disclosed the birth schedule.
Princess Alexandra and her prospective children were introduced to the line of succession when the Luxembourg Succession Rules were changed in 2011 to permit women.
Royal fans quickly expressed their delight on social media by leaving well wishes for Alexandra and Nicolas.
“Sincere congratulations to the happy parents,” one person wrote.
‘Congratulations to Princess Alexandra and Mr Bagory,’ said another, while numerous others also congratulated the happy pair.
Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg are the parents of Alexandra.
Princess Alexandra is sixth in line for the throne and is a working royal in addition to being a professional linguist.
Born and raised in Brittany, France, Nicolas is located in Paris and works on cultural and social projects there.
Princess Alexandra was not included in the line of succession until she turned 20 years old. This changed in 2011 when Grand Duke Henri implemented Absolute Primogeniture, which allowed all of his descendants, regardless of gender, to be eligible to inherit the throne.
In 2000, when her grandfather abdicated in favour of her father, she was nine years old.
Alexandra is fluent in four languages, including Luxembourgian, English, French, and Spanish, according to her web profile. She is also proficient in Italian and German.
The Luxembourg royal demonstrated a strong interest in international relations and war during her studies, which she conducted in the US, France, and Ireland.
When Luxembourg was a non-permanent member of the UN, she even worked as an intern there in New York.
She volunteers her time with refugee organisations and enjoys sports, including tennis, dancing, and skiing.
It follows Grand Duchess Maria Teresa’s disclosure of the cause of her husband Grand Duke Henri’s unexpected abdication of the Luxembourg throne.
The 70-year-old monarch ended his 24-year reign by making the announcement in December during what will now be regarded as his final annual Christmas broadcast.
His 43-year-old son, Prince Guillaume, has already taken up many of his father’s responsibilities in recent months and will formally ascend to the kingdom in October.
He will be the second monarch to resign in recent years in Europe. After 52 years, Queen Margrethe of Denmark chose to cede her reign in January 2024, and her son Frederik succeeded her as King.
The Grand Duchess disclosed the true reasons for the plan modification in an exclusive chat with HELLO! Magazine at her magnificent castle in Berg Castle.
The Luxembourg royal family, she noted, has a tradition of abdication, unlike other monarchies.
“It’s a family tradition that goes back to Henri’s grandmother, Grand Duchess Charlotte,” the Duchess explained.
“Then his father Jean did the same. What is special and doesn’t exist in other monarchies is the transition period we have, which makes things smoother.”
When his father, Grand Duke Jean, abdicated in 2000, Grand Duke Henri assumed the throne.
Duchess Maria Teresa added: “So the abdication isn’t something radical. After reigning for 25 years, at our age and with such a well-prepared heir, we’re able to pass on the baton and enjoy some rest.”
According to her, the Grand Duke would continue to serve as head of state but will cede some of his authority during a one-year transition phase.
The royal couple will move to the Fischbach Estate in October to make room for Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie, their heirs.
The Duchess, who has been married to the Duke for forty-four years, was born and raised in Cuba but had to leave when the Castro revolution occurred in 1959. Guillaume, Felix, Louis, Alexandra, and Sebastien are the couple’s five children together.
A Grand Duke, not a king or queen, is responsible for Luxembourg, in contrast to other monarchies.
A family agreement led to the establishment of the Nassau-Weilburg mansion in 1783.
During the broadcast in December, the outgoing Grand Duke said he was ‘proud’ to have served his country for a quarter of a century.
“It has been a time of significant change in Luxembourg, and I am honoured to have been able to walk this path with you alongside the Grand Duchess,” he said.
He said, “It has been a period during which Luxembourg has undergone great changes, and I am proud to have been able to, together with the Grand Duchess, walk this path with you.”
He continued: “This is what I have strived to do over the past 25 years, paying particular attention from the outset to the diversity of our population, the need for coexistence, and sustainability in all areas of our society, so that we can leave our children a healthier country.”
When Henri declared in June of this year that his son would be appointed Lieutenant-Representant, he was implying that he would step aside.
As the gathering cheered, the Grand Duke, who seemed very moved by the announcement, gave his son a kiss.
According to the official Palace website, “designation of the Lieutenant-Representative traditionally occurs in the process of change of reign.”
“This is the beginning of a next chapter for our monarchy,” Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden told local media at the time.
Although the public was taken aback by the decision made during the summer on the nation’s National Day, Frieden claimed it had been discussed behind closed doors for some time.
“We have been talking about it for some time, and I think that on the national holiday it was the right moment, because the Grand Duke is the symbol of our nation,” he said.
Grand Duke Henri, the eldest of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte’s five children, ascended to the throne in 2000 following his father’s abdication after 36 years in power.
In an interview with French magazine La Libre after his birthday last year, he acknowledged that he ‘intends to retire at some time’.
“All this is planned in family consultation. I find that it is very important to give young people a perspective.”
“There are plans, it will happen,” the Grand Duke continued.
After 52 years, Queen Margrethe of Denmark chose to abdicate her reign last year, allowing her son Frederik to succeed him as King on January 14.
In a statement revealing the news, the former Danish monarch said, “I have decided that now is the right time.”
“The 14th January 2024 – 52 years after I followed my beloved father – I will step back as the Queen of Denmark. I leave the throne to my son the Crown Prince Frederik.”
