The High Duke Office

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High Duke/Duchess	Ascension	End of Reign	House	Religion
Ludger I	1801	1811	Schonburg	Catholic
Xavier I	1811	1829	Redwood	Catholic
Nikolai I	1829	1838	Drummford	Catholic
Horace I	1839	1873	Stuart-Lane	Lutheran
Nikolai II	1873	1938	Schweistein	Lutheran
Griselda I	1938	1974	Mormont	Catholic
Albert I	1974	2021	Schweistein	Lutheran
Nikolai III	2022	Current	Drummford	Catholic

The official communication of the office of the High Duke of United Duchies. The head of state and elective figurehead for the nation of United Duchies who makes a commitment to serve the Duchies for life and currently in the hands of young Nikolai III the first officially Autistic High Duke.

High Duke Heritage Trust Properties:
Cair Paravel(Cair Para)
Arundel House(Albion)
Goudadam Palace(Supseaxe)
Ludger House(Supseaxe)
Schwerin Isle(Westseaxna)
Ludwigsschoss(Westseaxna
Glucksburgh Castle(Baltia)
Alterfel Schloss(Aranvale)
Hohenzollern Castle(Doornevale)

Patronships:
Positive about Autism
Duchies Animal Welfare and Protection
Duchies Childrens Society
Jubilee Foundation
Age Support
High Dukes Trust
Christian Aid
Samaritans
Duchies Veterans Fund
Duchies Carers Support Alliance
Duchies Deaf Society
Historic Duchies
National Forces Museums
Ducal Society for Protection of Nature
Neurodiversity Society

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11th September 2022
Announcedment from High Duke
It was on the22nd of January by the grace of God above and the people I was crowned and elected High Duke of this great nation the United Duchies. I am thankful to the parliament , the Dukes and Duchesses of each Duchy, the churches and faiths of this country and not least the people of my fine country for this honour and each day daily commit again in prayer to the service of this nation in what has been the greatest honour of my life . I also thank God daily for the service of my predecessor Albert I who served with such dignity , grace , humility and kindness and showed all High Dukes how it should be done. He was an example for this country , all its Dukes and Duchesses and I.

Despite this I have inherited a system based ultimately on the past which was good for the previous challenges and the world is evolving daily. Just this year we have many more treaties thanks for my imperial democratic governments effectiveness and the quiet competence of the great public servant Prime Minister John Peter Key whom I have contact with daily and daily shows wisdom in his great leadership of the government.

I am today announcing a change in how affairs are run for the High Duke especially in regards to distribution of the High Duke Estate income. I today am announcing that the High Duke Estate will be split into four High Duke Estate Investment Trust which will focus purely on ethical investments and bringing a return to the people of this country. This income will then be split into funding for the High Duke Trust which will get 70% of any profits from the High Duke Estate to give to charity work or do charity work in the United Duchies but also for anyone who needs it worldwide with me intending to set up High Duke Trusts in every country to provide funding for projects to increase social justice and equality for all men and women of Europe. Finally I will task the High Duke Commission with management of the expenses of managing the civil list and transport arrangements and High Duke administration and the High Duke Heritage Trust with management of with management of the multiple palace grounds and task them with working on opening the palaces as much as possible to the people further than they are open today and managing my funds for my household finances. I will be appointing executives for all three. I believe this seperation and focus by splitting the organisation into three will boost income , increase effectiveness of charity and increase cost effectiveness of the High Duke spending and income. This is no small change but is one I think is necessary for my agenda to become more of the Peoples High Duke and as I seek to increase the role as one of a greater involvement in causes of social justice. I will also in the High Duke Trust and Commission be appointing officers for LGB issues, Trans Issues , Neurodivergence Issues , Mens Issues and Womens Issues, Youth Issues , Children Issues , Elders Issues, Expat Issues and officers for Lutheran , Catholic and Interdenominational Affairs and Jewish and Muslim Affairs to ensure I get advice from all types of people and people from all walks of life these will be additional specialised posts on the council bringing the council to 20 people. I will also be appointing 19 strong executive team for the High Duke Estate Investment Trust and 19 strong board of the High Duke Trust that will include people for each of the positions above. May this increase the effectiveness of the good work of all aspects and departments of the High Duke Estate and increase the good works by the grace of God of whom I am his servant in this country having pledged my service to the protection of this country under God.I will now have playing the national anthem of the United Duchies as is tradition for such announcements:
God Defend the Duchies:
God of Nations at Thy feet,
In the bonds of love we meet,
Hear our voices, we entreat,
God defend our 7 stars.
Guard Europes 7 stars
From the shafts of strife and war,
Make her praises heard afar,
God defend the Duchies.

Men of every duchy and church,
Gather here before Thy face,
Asking Thee to bless this place,
God defend our 7 stars.
From dissension, envy, hate,
And corruption guard our state,
Make our country good and great,
God defend the Duchies

Faith and toil shall be our boast,
But, should foes assail our lands,
Make us then a mighty force,
God defend our 7 stars.
Lord of battles in Thy might,
Put our enemies to flight,
Let our cause be just and right,
God defend the Duchies

Let our love for Thee increase,
May Thy blessings never cease,
Give us plenty, give us peace,
God defend our 7 stars.
From dishonour and from shame,
Guard our seven stars spotless name,
Crown her stars with immortal fame,
God defend the Duchies

May our mountains ever be
Freedom's ramparts on the sea,
Make us faithful unto Thee,
God defend our 7 stars.
Guide her in the nations' van,
Preaching love and truth to man,
Working out Thy glorious plan,
God defend the Duchies

As performed by the youth who play such a vital role in our future.

Addendum:Based of projected incomes and reportsthis is the projected income of the new trusts under the new system.

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Address to all Duchians
I address you today on issues of great importance to the nation and the world and announce my new policy and plans. I was elected as your High Duke to serve you the people and all of you the people. This means no distinction on class or ethnicity or race but to be as some have termed me "The Peoples High Duke" , indeed I am honoured so many have considered me this way because it is of great importance to me to be in service of all the people of this great nation.

I today announce my change of the High Duke role to one of an Active Humanitarian Ambassador. I will speak of the importance of all humanitarian values and support causes campaigning on those values including organisations that may at times have to engage in politics. I will also myself engage with all political parties on issues of the environment, poverty and racial injustice which are all linked to ask they what they are doing to fight all three , I believe it is my job to challenge politicians directly when their policies hurt my people especially when they hurt those with the least to adapt or least resources to get by in life. This is why I have today set up my "Ducal Humanitarian Council" to advise me on this with people from all groups and walks of life. Now I want to state while I will speak up on the importance of good welfare policies, anti-poverty strategies, protection of the environment and ensuring LGBT and racial equality I will not prescribe the way to do this , that is not my job that is my governments job. The Ducal Humanitarian Council will also be a service available to all Dukes , Duchesses , Duchy leaders and leaders and parties of our government. It will be a bipartisan tool for all of 17 people elected by their communities to raise the issues to me and the government.

Some may view this as me being political but I today challenge you that care and compassion for my fellow man and woman to protect them from poverty, from discrimination and from the consequences of killing our planet is not political but humanitarian values and should unite us all . Indeed if humanitarian values have become political we indeed have a very sick society if that was the case that would require fixing more urgently. I will lead this nation with a sense of justice, equality and compassion for all regardless of their ethnicity, race, social status on income , gender identity or sexuality. I will make all my decisions through the lens of social justice and I put the parliament on warning I will not sign any act that detracts from any of the existing rights of my citizens in terms of LGBT , ethnic equality and gender equality I will not sign it and it will not pass unless you over ride me , over my dead body will I restrict my citizens rights , as long as I live I will defend my citizens liberty and protect them from poverty until I die.

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Statement on Marriage of Anthony, Duke of Glasgow and Count Constantine Ludendorff
I am happy to hear of the wedding of Anthony, Duke of Glasgow and Count Constantine Ludendorff in Windsor in the United Kingdom a truly history event of the first gay royal and ducal family wedding in the history of the Duchies and I believe also in the United Kingdom. This shows the fantastic progress of our nations and our modern society of true justice and equality.

I also say congratulations not just as a high duke but as a dear friend. I look forward to having a Gay old time like so many guests at the wedding in Windsor and the blessing by the Lutheran Church that will take place at Cair Paravel. I will be honoured to celebrate this most fabulous of unions of two fantastic people who are made for each other. I can only hope the nation, the Duchy of Cair Para and the people of the United Kingdom are as excited as I.

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The High Duke Christmas Speech 2022
God Defend the Duchies

I today come to you in the end of 2022. As I reflect on my first year as High Duke I am honoured a humbled by the great people of this nation who have preveiled over a difficult year in all 8 of our Duchies. People of all backgrounds , people who have lived here all their lives ,who have just immigrated and people who are here as temporary guests for study. I hope you all have a great Christmas full of family cheer and goodwill.

This year has been a difficult one for Duchians, on the one hand our wealth has grown tremendously and we are blessed in this , truly the opportunity here is astounding however that does not mean life has been easy either in Duchies or Europe. There have been threats of war, the Svarnan refugee crisis where those less fortunate seek shelter and safety in our fair Duchies. I think of those who didn't make it across and died trying to get to the safety and kindness of our nation. I am proud in our role in reducing that by providing regular rescue patrols but I am also sad that we may for the first time ever be forced to take up armed combat to create safety , democracy and liberty in Svarna Surya and protect the people of Svarna Surya from their own government. I pray that the military may have the compassion and wisdom to do their duty in making sure they do this in a way that honours the people they serve in Duchies and Svarna Surya.

It has also been difficult with attacks in Anastasia city by people who are true enemies of the people. It is not brave to bomb , kill and hurt innocent civilians, it is not brave to threaten innocent staff of stores and it is not brave to break the laws. put in place for the protection of all people . These people who sow divisiveness and create violence are not your friends they are enemies , enemies of the people of the Duchies and Anastasia city most of whom want to just live in peace in the Duchies and have that opportunity the Duchies offers.

I also look back on the work done in this office and by our charity partners and am filled with pride, be it Positive about Autisms fight for full equality and justice for Autistic people and working towards the elimination of anti-autistic hate crime, of which my good friend Amaziah Mizrachi-Roscoe knows all too well of what it is like to be on the other end of it or the work done by hospices which I have visited yesterday ,today and will visit tomorrow or the services provided to those from less fortunate nations who come in with nothing and need help to set up a life here. I am proud of our spirit of generosity and kindness which is not only value of which this season reminds us of but as the Bible and Jesus reminds us every day is a value for the whole year. A value every Duchian no matter their faith ,creed or colour should aspire to. For what is truly important is not fancy cars, houses , palaces in my case and materialistic wealth and consumption but instead one simple human universal value compassion. Compassion as in love for others generosity and valuing all individuals with empathy and a sense of serving others. For life is not about one can do for oneself but what one can do to contribute and to help make the life of all society and all individuals in this country better. I am reminded of a great friend , a priest in my church in my hometown who said "Imagine if society was made up of people who put others first and served others always before self, everyone would be looked after and everyone would be first." You see by putting others first as a society everyone will be first and therefore benefit. However if everyone looks out only for themselves then you will have a society of a few haves and alot of have nots. Let us be reminded in this season family, kindness and goodwill to all humankind of what matters and what matters not, it matters not your nationality , your creed and your status of wealth but one fact , humanity, we are all humans made in God's image and therefore deserving of love and the kindness of others. Let us remember this as we go into the New Year for united we will thrive but divided we will fall.

So let us win as a society and not let those who promote terror, division and sow discord such as dirty racists, sexists, homophobes , transphobes and more that we will not let them rule our values as a society. We will not let them distract us from the united bond we share as Duchians with the rich heritage and history that brings and will most of all will win , for I have seen Duchians fight for what is right and that is all it takes to defeat the forces of evil, let it be known in this season that evil will never triumph over good in these fair and United Duchies.

Thank you

I will now hand over to Martin Trotman for Love Came Down