By Royal Correspondent
May 10, 2025
Prince Charles of Luxembourg, the eldest son of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, marked his fifth birthday on May 10, 2025, with a burst of joy and adorable moments shared by the Grand Ducal Court. Born on May 10, 2020, at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City, the young prince, second in line to the throne, is poised to become Hereditary Grand Duke on October 3, 2025, following his grandfather Grand Duke Henri’s planned abdication. As Luxembourg celebrates this milestone, the royal family released heartwarming photos showcasing Charles’s love for the outdoors and family life, reinforcing his growing role in the nation’s heart.
A Royal Celebration
The Grand Ducal Court commemorated Prince Charles’s fifth birthday with three new photographs, captured by court photographer Sophie Margue. The images, shared on Instagram and reported by outlets like Hola! and Royal Central, depict the young prince reveling in rural settings, highlighting his passion for farms and nature. One photo shows Charles beaming outdoors, his infectious smile reflecting a carefree spirit. Another captures a tender family moment with his parents and younger brother, Prince François, born March 27, 2023, underscoring the close-knit bond of the hereditary couple’s family. Posts on X echoed the excitement, with @ActusRoyales noting, “Joyeux anniversaire au prince Charles de Luxembourg qui fête ses 5 ans aujourd’hui,” and @lessentiel highlighting his milestone as the future heir.
Charles, whose full name is Charles Jean Philippe Joseph Marie Guillaume, has become a familiar face at select public engagements. His first official appearance, at age four, saw him cut the ribbon for the Schoul Prënz Charles, a primary school named in his honor in Steinsel, alongside his parents and 600 guests. The event, covered by 9Honey, marked a significant step in his public life, with the school’s name tying to his father’s own namesake complex, Prince Guillaume, from 1981. Charles’s love for animals was evident during a 2022 visit to Parc Merveilleux, where he petted zoo animals and rode a children’s train, charming onlookers.
A Prince’s Journey
Born during the COVID-19 pandemic, Charles’s early life was shaped by unique circumstances. His grandparents, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, met him via video call due to restrictions, a moment later celebrated with a 21-gun salute at Fort Thungen in Kirchberg. His baptism on September 19, 2020, at the Abbey of St. Maurice and St. Maurus of Clervaux, featured godparents Countess Gaëlle de Lannoy, his maternal aunt, and Prince Louis of Luxembourg, his paternal uncle. The Luxembourg Post honored his first birthday in 2021 with commemorative stamps tracing his first year, a tradition reflecting his growing significance.
Charles’s name carries deep familial resonance, inspired by his great-great-grandmother Grand Duchess Charlotte, who stabilized Luxembourg’s monarchy from 1919 to 1964, and her son, Prince Charles (1927–1977), who fled Nazi invasion during World War II. His middle names—Jean, Philippe, Joseph, and Marie-Guillaume—honor his paternal great-grandfather Grand Duke Jean, his maternal grandfather Count Philippe de Lannoy, and other family members, blending Luxembourg’s royal and Catholic heritage.
Luxembourg’s Future Heir
As Grand Duke Henri, 69, prepares to abdicate after a 25-year reign, Charles’s fifth birthday is his last as Prince Charles before assuming the title of Hereditary Grand Duke on October 3, 2025, when his father ascends as Grand Duke Guillaume. This transition, announced in Henri’s Christmas Eve 2024 speech, positions Charles as the future Charles I, following his grandfather’s path as Henri I. His early public roles, from planting a cherry tree in Oetrange at age one to school openings, signal a carefully curated introduction to royal duties.
Luxembourg, a nation with a painful Holocaust history—where only 36 of 3,500 Jews survived Nazi occupation—holds remembrance close, as seen in the recent passing of Holocaust survivor Margot Friedländer. While Charles’s milestone is celebratory, it resonates in a country shaped by resilience, with the royal family symbolizing continuity. The Grand Ducal Court’s focus on Charles’s outdoor passions aligns with Luxembourg’s emphasis on community and nature, endearing him to a public eager for a modern monarchy.
A Sweet Legacy
From savoring strawberry-laden birthday cakes, as seen in his third-birthday photos, to feeding crumbs to his doting parents, Charles’s milestones are marked by warmth and relatability. His third birthday featured him with a missing tooth, delighting fans on X who called him “the sweetest of royal children worldwide.” At five, his farmyard adventures and family moments continue to captivate, with Hola! noting his “amor por las granjas y aire libre.”
As Prince Charles blows out his fifth candle, Luxembourg celebrates not just a birthday but the promise of a future leader. His journey, shared through royal portraits and public outings, is one to watch on platforms like grok.com or the X app, where royal enthusiasts track his growth. Happy birthday, Prince Charles—may your path to the throne be as joyful as your farmyard romps.
Sources: Royal Central, Hola!, 9Honey, Wikipedia, posts on X