Prince Sébastien joins Luxembourg Army

HRH Prince Sébastian taking his oath. © Cour grand-ducale / Olivier Minaire / Tous droits réservés

His Royal Highness Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg has joined the Luxembourg Army, the Grand Ducal Court announced on Monday.

He took the oath administered by Secretary of State for Defence, Francine Closener with his proud parents, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Duchess looking on at Berg Castle (or Colmar-Berg).

General Romain Mancinelli of Army Staff, Colonel Alain Duschène, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Army and Mr Patrick Heck, Director of Defence were also in attendance.

His Royal Highness Prince Sébastian surrounded from left to right of Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess, the Secretary of State for Defense, Francine Closener. © Cour grand-ducale / Olivier Minaire / Tous droits réservés

The youngest child of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa completed his military education at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom earlier this year after a 44-week course. He was in the same class as Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan, Prince Wenzel of Liechtenstein and Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain.

The Grand Ducal Court released three images from the private swearing in ceremony yesterday morning taken by Olivier Minaire.

The Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg was watching on proudly as Sébastien graduated last month. His father, Grand Duke Henri; mother, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, brothers, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, Prince Félix and Prince Louis; sister, Princess Alexandra; and sisters-in-law, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie and Princess Claire were all in attendance at the ceremony.

His Royal Highness Prince Sébastian, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess during the swearing-in by the Secretary of State for Defense, Francine Closener. © Cour grand-ducale / Olivier Minaire / Tous droits réservés

Sébastien followed a family tradition by attending the military school; his father; grandfather, Grand Duke Jean; brothers, the Hereditary Grand Duke and Prince Félix (who did not graduate); and uncle, Prince Jean, among others, were students at Sandhurst.