addition to foreign heads of state, individuals for their meritorious service to the Grand Duke, the Grand-Ducal House and Luxembourg, as well as for their outstanding loyalty to the Grand Duke or his House. The order also rewards those who have excelled in the arts and sciences, as it does residents of Luxembourg or foreign nationals as a sign of benevolence. "All the grades of the Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau are bestowed by a decree signed by the Grand Duke and countersigned by the chancellor of the order. When the order is conferred on foreign nationals, the consent of the foreign government must be sought." Princes of Luxembourg By statute of the order, princes and princesses of the Grand-Ducal House of Luxembourg are Grand Crosses of the order by birth, but they don't wear the order's decoration until they are 18 years old. Gallery References External links Honorary distinctions of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg - official website of the Luxembourg gouvernement World Medals Index, Luxembourg: Civil and Military Order of Merit of Adolph of Nassau Adolphe of Nassau, Order of Adolphe of Nassau, Order of 1858 establishments in the Duchy of Nassau Awards established in 1858