(L-R): British Ambassador Joanne Elizabeth Olivier; HRH the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg; Credit: © Maison du Grand-Duc

On Wednesday 23 April 2025, His Royal Highness the Hereditary Grand Duke received in audience at the Grand Ducal Palace for the presentation of her letter of credence (credentials) and the presentation of her predecessor's letter of recall, Her Excellency Mrs Joanne Elizabeth Olivier, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Mrs Olivier brings considerable experience to the role, having held the position of deputy head of the Mediterranean department of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) since 2022. Before that, she was assigned to the position of First Secretary (Justice and Home Affairs) in Paris from 2019 to 2022.

Her career at the FCDO also included positions such as Head of the Ukraine Team at the Eastern Europe and Central Asia Directorate from 2016 to 2018, as well as Middle East Policy Planner at the Strategy Directorate from 2014 to 2016.

From 2011 to 2014, Ms Olivier served as Consul of South Africa and Head of Regional Consular Operations for Southern Africa and, earlier in her career, she worked in the defence and strategic threats department of the FCDO, from 2009 to 2011, specialising in the fight against terrorism.