Princess Ursula of Luxembourg

Princess Ursula of Luxembourg (born September 14 2005), is the only child of Grand Duke Garrett of Luxembourg and the current heir to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.[1][2][3] She is also the prospective Ultimate Princess at Hope's Peak University, and will be the 8th holder of the title.[4]

Early Life

Princess Ursula of Luxembourg, sole heiress to the grand duchy of Luxembourg, is the only child of Hereditary Grand Duke Garrett of Luxembourg and Cosette Acacia, the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg by marriage.[1][2][3][5] The Princess was born at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg and welcomed warmly by the public despite her mother's strong desire for privacy.[1][3][6] This desire for privacy persisted throughout her infancy, as while the Princess was present at many events and photographed to be as such, her face was always obscured or hidden per her mother's request.[7][8] Over time, the Grand Duchess' requests for privacy became stricter, and the Princess was largely kept out of the public eye between the ages of 5 to 10.[8]

According to aristocratic tradition, the Princess was reintroduced to society at her eleventh birthday party.[9] Met with ravingly positive reviews, the Princess' gentle, polite, and well-spoken nature combined with her delicate appearance earned her the nickname, "the Living Doll" (Luxembourgish: déi lieweg Popp) from the various media stations and people of Luxembourg.[10][11][12] Since her face has been featured in public photographs, her silk and gold embroidered eyepatch has been present as well.[11][13]

Career and Legacy

Since her formal introduction to the public at age 11, the Princess quickly became known as a champion of her people, dedicating her time and allowance to humanitarian, environmental, and philanthropic efforts to improve the social health of Luxembourg.[14][15][16]

Since 2018, the Princess has been a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) ambassador.[15] In 2020, at age 15, the Princess was the youngest person to sign a document for the United Nations, advocating for humanitarian efforts around the world with a focus on the conservation of natural lands and wildlife.[15][17] The Princess has organized numerous events, such as auction sales, concerts, and galas to support her foundation and causes.[16]

The Princess is additionally the president of several associations including the Luxembourg Youth Centre, the Princess Ursula Activity Centre, and Sully's Promise, an international non-profit dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned dogs. She is an honorary board member of the Princess Grace Foundation - United States as well as the sponsor of several major pet food and toy manufacturers known for their outstanding commitment to quality and sustainability.[16][18] She has also been the patron of the World Association of Children's Friends (AMADE), which was founded in 1963 by Princess Grace of Monaco.[16]

Health and Wellness

The Princess has been seen with various injuries over time, attributed to "a charming and sturdy sort of clumsiness", which was echoed by Grand Duke Garrett when interviewed on the matter.[19] While the Princess' media presence and appearances are still partially limited, there is video of her tripping down a flight of stairs only to sit up at the bottom with a dazed smile. While many found the video to be mildly horrific to watch, the Princess has assured everyone involved and the media that she sustained no injuries and felt little pain from the incident.[19][20]

In another event, a story-as-told by her parents, the Princess reportedly accidentally sent an entire tray of champagne flutes to the floor and then slipped into the broken glass. "It was incredibly frightening at the time, but I'm glad it's something we can laugh about now," Grand Duke Garrett stated at the time of the story's recollection.[21]

Queen Cosette infrequently speaks to the public, but her statement on the topic of the Princess' eye patch is the only official remark the duchy has made. When questioned what happened to the Princess' eye for her to always wear an eye patch, the Queen famously replied, "It's for my daughter's comfort, and I will afford my child every comfort I can."[22] Since then, salacious articles have been published (and retracted by request of the duchy) speculating about the Princess' clumsiness having something to do with a childhood injury of unknown cause or extent.[21]

The Princess and Her Hounds

One thing to note about Princess Ursula is her constant canine companionship. Ever since her 11th birthday party, she has always had a four-legged friend at her side. Each dog is registered as a part of the duchy's estate and is primarily cared for by the duchy's kennel master. Most of the dogs are formally registered as emotional support animals (ESAs) with the exception of Viktor, a retired military rescue; Trotter, a licensed therapy dog; and Marzipan, who is trained as a seeing-eye helper for the blind and is the most frequently seen with the Princess in public.[18][23]

In her spare time, Princess Ursula is also known as an active competitor in dog training and athletic competitions.[18] She began formally competing in 2017 at age 12 and came in second place to the Former Ultimate Dog Trainer, Temari Igarashi, who was required to participate as a means of securing her ultimate title in her final year before graduating from Hope's Peak University.[18][24] After Igarashi's retirement in the following year, Princess Ursula was named the international champion in obedience and agility trials for three years in a row before she began solely focusing her efforts on international politics.[18]

The list of the royal hounds, their breeds (where known), and their public roles are as follows:[23]

Acceptance to Hope's Peak University

At age 18, immediately following the Grand Duke's abolishment of the long-standing Salic law that prohibited females from inheriting the monarchy in Luxembourg, Princess Ursula became the only princess in the world that would inherit the title of Grand Duchess and rule a constitutional monarchy.[25][26] This, combined with the political and economic weight Luxembourg holds in Western Europe and around the world, was attributed as the reason why she was named the Ultimate Princess by Hope's Peak in September of 2023 and was invited to the upcoming semester.[4]

The Princess is confirmed to plan to attend Hope's Peak University as a member of Class 129 as of October 1st.[4]

References

  1. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Official Birth Records"
  2. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Current Line of Succession"
  3. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Princess Ursula the First of Luxembourg"
  4. Hope's Peak Academy. "Hope's Peak Academy Prospective Student List"
  5. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "The Marriage of Grand Duke Garret of Luxembourg and Lady Cosette Acacia"
  6. The Royal Luxembourg News. "Luxembourg Welcomes Its Newest Princess"
  7. Luxembourg City Times. "Everything but a Pretty Face? The Story Behind Strict Privacy of Princess Ursula"
  8. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Duchess Cosette's Plea for Privacy"
  9. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "The Proper Guide to Introducing a Lady to the Public"
  10. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Princess Ursula the First's Debut"
  11. Luxembourg City Times. "The Raving Reception of Princess Ursula's Debut"
  12. The Royal Luxembourg News. "The Living Doll of Luxembourg"
  13. Luxembourg City Times. "Keeping an Eye on the Princess"
  14. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Humanitarian Efforts of Princess Ursula the First"
  15. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Environmental Efforts of Princess Ursula the First"
  16. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Philanthropic Efforts and Charities of Princess Ursula the First"
  17. BBC. "A Princess at the Head of Politics: Ursula of Luxembourg"
  18. The Royal Luxembourg News. "Her Highness and her Hounds"
  19. The Royal Luxembourg News. "More than a Trip: Is Her Highness Princess Ursula Really Okay?"
  20. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Addressing Concerns Regarding Princess Ursula's Health"
  21. Luxembourg City Times. "A Princess Without Grace" (Retracted September 17th 2018)
  22. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "Protecting the Dignity of Princess Ursula"
  23. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "The Hounds of Princess Ursula of Luxembourg."
  24. Hope's Peak University. "Qualification Test for Temari Igarashi"
  25. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "The Abolishment of Salic Law"
  26. The Royal Duchy of Luxembourg. "The Inheritance of the Grand Duchess Role by Princess Ursula the First of Luxembourg."
Name: Princess Ursula of Luxembourg
Ultimate: Princess
Age: 18
Birthday: September 14, 2005
Pronouns: She/Her
Class Number: 129
Nationality: Luxembourgish
Height: 152 cm, 5'0"
Weight: 44 kg, 97 lbs