The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg has announced that Grand Duke Jean’s condition has significantly worsened since he was hospitalised a couple of weeks ago.

The 98-year-old’s family are gathered at his bedside.

In a statement, a Grand Ducal Court spokesperson said: “The state of health of His Royal Highness Grand Duke Jean has significantly deteriorated.

“The whole Grand Ducal Family is gathered at the bedside of Grand Duke Jean.”

Luxembourg’s former Head of State was hospitalised a couple of weeks ago due to a pulmonary infection.

The 98-year-old has been having some health issues for a few years now. In 2016, he was hospitalised with bronchitis. He is not often seen in public anymore and lives at Castle Fischbach, Northern Luxembourg.

The last time Grand Duke Jean attended an official engagement was at the end of March when he visited the “Stand Speak Rise Up” seminar. The seminar was an initiative taken by his daughter-in-law, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and had the goal to end sexual violence in conflict-stricken areas.

Grand Duke Jean reigned for nearly 36 years from 1964 until 2000. Then he stepped down in favour of his son Henri, the current Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

Grand Duke Jean reigned with his wife Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte by his side. He married the Belgian Princess, a daughter of King Leopold III and Queen Astrid of the Belgians, in 1953. They have five children together: 3 boys and two girls. The pair enjoyed their retirement together until the death of Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte at the age of 77 in 2005. She died of lung cancer.

Additional reporting by Brittani Barger