Tiny but mighty, Luxembourg is one of Europe’s richest nations — and its royal family is just as loaded.
As Europe’s seventh-smallest country, Luxembourg’s royal family boasts the coveted top spot as the richest royal family in the entire continent.
As the reigning monarch, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, 69, has overseen a dynasty of immense wealth, and amassed a staggering fortune in his own right throughout his time on the throne.
With his net worth sitting comfortably at $4 billion, the Grand Duke’s assets not only consist of an impressive real estate portfolio, but one-of-a-kind jewels, acres on acres of land, and private holdings.
Unlike the British royal family, which relies on the multimillion-pound Sovereign Grant each year, Luxembourg’s royals generate their vast fortune independently.
In fact, the royals are only paid $11 million per year — a striking difference to the $111 million King Charles and Queen Camilla received through the grant over the last three years.
The funds allocated to Luxembourg’s royals help cover the expenses of their staff, official engagements, travel, and hosting state visits.
In 2006, Duke Henri prompted a national outcry after he put some of his late mother Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte’s jewels for auction a year after her death.
The public soon took aim at the royal, accusing him of selling items from the country’s “national heritage” in exchange for some extra cash. As a result, Henri withdrew his late mother’s items from the sale.
In addition to their impressive jewel collection, the Luxembourgish royals also boast a substantial number of properties across the country.
Duke Henri — the first cousin of Prince Robert of Luxembourg, whose 22-year-old son recently died — owns three official royal residences in Luxembourg, with the Grand Ducal Palace being chief among them.
The palace sits in the center of Luxembourg City, and is opened to the public in the summer months. Money generation from each visit is donated towards Henri and his wife Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg’s charities.
While he carries out most of his royal duties at the residence, Henri also owns Berg Castle, and Fischbach Castle, which are believed to be properties he enjoys spending time at the most.
Henri and Maria Teresa’s primary residence is Berg Castle, situated in the small town of Colmar-Berg.
The duke’s late father, the late Grand Duke Jean, historically made the property his primary residence, with Henri following suit.
Similarly to the Grand Ducal Palace, Berg Castle’s gardens are opened to members of the public on Luxembourg’s National Day, which falls annually on June 23.
For its part, Fischbach Castle served as Henri’s primary residence during his time as the heir apparent, before officially moving out in 2000.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s estimated $780 million fortune pales in comparison to their far wealthier Luxembourgish counterparts, according to the Sunday Times rich list.
By comparison, Prince William and Kate Middleton are estimated to be worth around $1.3 billion following his lucrative inheritance from the Duchy of Cornwall estate.
Still, neither takes the cake as the wealthiest royal family in the world.
That title belongs to Thailand’s King Vajiralongkorn — who commands an astonishing $43 billion net worth, which he mostly built through private investments.
