The name Raths is well-known in Luxembourg: Aloyse Raths was a committed member of the resistance during WWII. His brother Marcel was born in 1923. Marcel was put on fatigue duty during the war and later worked as a hairdesser in Bissen. One of his most prominent and four-decade long customers was Grand Duke Jean. The children of the Grand Ducal couple also got their haircuts from Marcel.
Marcel continued to practice his profession until he passed away.
Marcel had made a name for himself at international competitions and eventually acquired a very prominent customer: Grand Duke Jean.
Marcel explained to RTL's Monique Kater how his brother Aloyse had worked as a private tutor for the princes. One day, Aloyse told the governess that he would be gone for half an hour to get a haircut, adding that he would get it from his brother in Bissen. It then did not take long for several members of the Grand Ducal family to be served by the same hairdresser.
Marcel felt honoured to be given that responsibility - even though he had shaky knees the first time he met Grand Duke Jean. Marcel still recalled the first time he arrived at Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg. "The Grand Duke walked down the stairs, smiled, spread his arms, patted me on the back and said 'Oh Mr Raths, how nice of you that you came.' It couldn't have been easier." Grand Duke Jean later congratulated Marcel on his excellent work.
Marcel's voice still trembled decades later when he spoke about Grand Duke Jean. At times, the veteran hairdresser explained, the Grand Duke was absorbed in his thoughts when he was about to have an important meeting. Marcel explained that Jean always wanted to deliver good work.
Marcel also never forgot a historic moment that took place in Luxembourg City in 1944. "Grand Duke Jean got out of a jeep and a group of young strong men carried him into city hall on their shoulders."
It was still clear in 2019 that Marcel would never have anything but words of praise for and beautiful memories of Grand Duke Jean.
