Grand Duke Henri releases a statement in defense of the allegations made against his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.
The accusation was published in an article by Lëtzebuerger Land, claiming that the Duchess’s behavior character makes the Palace a hostile working environment. This came after retired senior civil servant, Jeannot Waringo, submitted his report on the accounts and management of the royal family’s staff, to Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Xavier Bettel.
The statement was released on the Luxembourg royal family site on Monday with photos of Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg captured by Cour grand-ducale/Marion Dessard
The caption reads:
“I am writing to you from my brother-in-law’s bedside in an intensive care unit in Geneva. Out of a desire for openness, transparency and modernity, I agreed that the internal analysis proposed by the Prime Minister should go ahead. As we await publication of the report, and indeed throughout this process, articles have appeared in the media making unfair accusations against my wife, the mother of our five children and a devoted grandmother. This is taking its toll on my whole family.
“Why attack a woman? A woman who speaks up for other women? A woman who is not even being given the right to defend herself? Since I came to the throne, it has been our shared desire to help modernize our constitutional monarchy, and we wish to continue to contribute to this process. The causes my wife has fought for, which I have always supported and which we will continue to fight for, are vitally important. This work includes campaigning against dyslexia, fighting sexual violence, improving the status of imprisoned children in Africa, helping to develop microfinance and promoting education for young girls and women. I am proud of the commitment, intelligence and energy my wife brings to bear in all this work. The devotion she has shown over the past 39 years to serving our country by my side is exemplary and is of essential importance to me. We will continue to serve you; to be there for you and for Luxembourg. Especially at this crucial time when our children are setting out on a family life of their own, we feel bound as parents to ensure that they can make the most of these precious years as our heirs.”
Grand Duke Henri’s and Grand Duchess Maria are currently looking after the Duchess’s younger brother Luis Mestre who was admitted to intensive care earlier this month.
