Luxembourg's Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa have cancelled a series of media interviews scheduled for later this week ahead of the country's National Day celebrations.
The royal couple pulled out of the planned meetings, which were intended to reflect on their 25-year reign before Henri's formal abdication in October.
The interviews would have provided journalists with an opportunity to discuss the Grand Duke's time as head of state before he hands over to his son, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume. The cancellation affects multiple media outlets that had been granted meetings with the royals on Friday.
The cancellation was communicated through a telephone call to Luxembourg Times publisher Mediahuis Luxembourg on Tuesday afternoon.
Royal cancels interview ahead of abdication in surprise move.
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According to Sasha Baillie, head of the royal household, the retrospective format of the interviews "did not appeal to the royal couple."
The reason given for the withdrawal was that the royals "aren't feeling it," Baillie explained. The interviews had been arranged with Mediahuis titles including Luxembourg Times, Luxemburger Wort, Télécran, Virgule and Contacto, as well as Radio Latina.
The meetings were specifically designed to look back at the Grand Duke's quarter-century on the throne ahead of his planned abdication.
Journalists had prepared questions covering significant topics from Henri's reign, including his wishes for successors Guillaume and Princess Stéphanie. They had hoped to discuss the constitutional crisis sparked when the Grand Duke refused to sign a euthanasia law passed by parliament, which led to constitutional reform.
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa at King Charles's Coronation.PAMedia outlets also planned to ask whether the royal couple would maintain honorary posts after abdication and continue their public roles.
Questions included Grand Duchess Maria Teresa's ongoing work with Stand, Speak, Rise up!, the charity she founded to support victims of sexual violence in conflict zones.
The interviews would have offered readers detailed insights into the monarchy's future direction.
The royal court confirmed there are no plans to offer alternative dates for media interviews before Guillaume's enthronement on October 3.
Grand Duke Henri and King Charles pictured in the Grand Corridor at Windsor Castle.
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Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg attending Kate and William's wedding in 2011.
PAMediahuis brands offered to accommodate different interview formats, but received no direct response to these proposals.
Baillie stated that the Grand Duke would address his time in office during his traditional National Day speech on 23 June, saying he would "share this review with the nation."
The speech will take place at the Philharmonie, where journalists from Mediahuis publications plan to attend.
The cancellation means no formal retrospective interviews with the royal couple will occur before Henri's abdication in favour of his son.
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