Luxembourg: Birth of Prince Balthazar Felix Karl of Nassau

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced today the birth of Prince Prince Félix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg's third child, who has been named Balthazar Felix Karl:

The birth of Prince Balthazar Felix Karl

08.01.2024

It is with great joy that we announce the birth of our son.

The prince was born on 7th January 2024 at the Maternité Grande-Duchesse Charlotte.

The newborn Prince will be named Balthazar Felix Karl.

He weighs 3,220 kg and measures 50 cm.

Prince Balthazar and Princess Claire are in perfect health.

Félix and Claire

with Amalia and Liam

Prince Félix, b. 1984, is the second son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. Prince Félix married Claire Lademacher, b. 1985, in 2013. Their first child, Princess Amalia, was born in 2014, while their second child, Prince Liam, was born in 2016. Their child child, Prince Balthazar, was born yesterday 7 January 2024 at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital (in French Maternité Grande-Duchesse Charlotte), which is a part of Centre Hospitalier de Luxembourg in Luxembourg. He is the seventh grandchild of the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and no. 7 in the line of succession.

The updated line of succession to the Grand Ducal throne of Luxembourg (top ten only):

1. Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg, b. 1981)
2. Prince Charles of Luxembourg, b. 2020
3. Prince François of Luxembourg, b. 2023
4. Prince Félix of Luxembourg, b. 1984
5. Princess Amalia of Nassau, b. 2014
6. Prince Liam of Nassau, b. 2016
7. Prince Balthazar of Nassau, b. 2024
8. Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg, b. 1991
9. Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg, b. 1992
10. Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, b. 1963

Updated on Wednesday 10 January 2024 at 13.30 (spelling of the name has been changed from Balthasar with an "s" to Balthazar with an z in the Grand Ducal Court's official communique after this blog article was published on 8 January 2024 at 19:58).

HRH Prince Liam Henri Hartmut of Nassau

The Grand-Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced today that the son of Prince Félix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg has been given the names Liam Henri Hartmut. In accordance with the decree of 21 September 1995, the child has received the title Prince of Nassau and the style of Royal Highness.

The press release in English translation:

The Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess are pleased to announce, together with Prince Félix and Princess Claire, that the name of their grandson is His Royal Highness Prince Liam Henri Hartmut of Nassau.

Prince Liam, who was born in Geneva on 28 November 2016, is the second child of Prince Félix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg. It is easy to guess that the second name Henri is after Liam's grandfather Grand Duke Henri, and the third name Hartmut after Princess Claire's father Hartmut Lademacher.

Liam is an Irish short form of Uilliam, a derivative of William, Wilhelm (Willahelm) and Guillaume. As both Prince Liam's uncle and grand uncle have the name Guilluame, I guess Liam is a sensible way of not creating too much confusion. I suppose that the name in French is pronounced differently than in English.

Second child for Prince Félix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg has announced that Princess Claire, wife of Prince Félix, gave birth to their second child, a boy, at Clinique Générale-Beaulieu in Geneva, Switzerland on 28 November 2016 one minute to 4 a.m.

The newborn prince, whose name is not made public yet, is fourth in line to the Grand Ducal throne of Luxembourg (after his uncle Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, his father Prince Félix and his elder sister Princess Amalia, who was born on 15 June 2014).

Prince Félix, second son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, married Claire Lademacher in 2013.

Last time updated on Tuesday 29 November at 11.50 (time of birth was obviously a.m., not p.m.).

Royal birth in Luxembourg

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg released the following announcement earlier today, 16 June 2014:

Their Royal Highnesses Grand‐Duke and Grand‐Duchess of Luxembourg are very pleased to announce the birth of Prince Félix and Princess Claire’s first child.

The baby girl was born on 15 June 2014 at Maternité Grande‐Duchesse Charlotte in Luxembourg.

The little Princess will be named Amalia, Gabriela, Maria Teresa. On birth, the baby weighed 2,950 kilograms and measured 50 cm.

Prince Félix was at the side of his wife in the delivery room. Her Royal Highness and her baby are both doing well.

The Grand‐Duke and the Grand‐Duchess as well as Mr and Mrs Lademacher and both families are delighted with the news.

The exact time of the birth was for some reason not included in the announcement. Prince Felix is the second son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg. He married Claire Lademacher on 17 September 2013 (religious celebration 21 September 2013). The pregnancy was announced by the court on 14 January 2014.

HRH Princess Amalia of Nassau, who is  third in line to the Grand-Ducal throne, is the third grandchild of the Grand Ducal couple. Prince Félix' younger brother Prince Louis and his wife Princess Tessy have two boys – Prince Gabriel (b. 2006) and Prince Noah (b. 2007).

I am not sure what has motivated the choice of Amalia as the baby's call name, but one can at least find several examples of Amalie or Amalia in the various Nassau lines. The other names (Gabriela Maria Teresa) are surely after Princess Amalia's grandmothers.

Prince Félix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg to become parents in June 2014

The Grand-Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced today, 14 January 2014, that Prince Felix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg are expecting their first child in June this year.

Princess Félix, the second son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, married Claire Ladebacher on 17 September 2013 (civ.) in Königstein in Taunus, Germany and on 21 September 2013 (rel.) in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France. The couple lives in Lourges, France.

The future royal baby, who will be third in line to the Grand-Ducal throne, will be the third grandchild of the Grand Ducal couple. Prince Félix' younger brother Prince Louis and his wife Princess Tessy have the boys Prince Gabriel (b. 2006) and Prince Noah (b. 2007).

See also Wort.lu and Luxarazzi.