Duke of Orléans was one of the highest ranking titles of the French peerage and dates back to the 14th century. Known as princes of the blood (princes du sang), the title of Duke of Orleans was exclusive to princes of the nearest collateral line of the royal family; thus they constituted a junior branch of the ruling house, second in seniority only to members of the primary line. During the period of the ancien régime the holder of the title often assumed a political role.
The Palais du Luxembourg in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, north of the Jardin du Luxembourg, is the seat of the French Senate. The formal Luxembourg Garden presents a 25-hectare green parterre of gravel and lawn populated with statues and provided with large basins of water where children sail model boats. In the southwest corner, there is an orchard of apple and pear trees and the théâtre des marionnettes.
Fils de France (Son of France) was the style and rank held by the sons of the kings and dauphins of France. A daughter was known as a fille de France (Daughter of France). The children of the dauphin, who was the king's heir apparent, were accorded the same style and status as if they were the king's children instead of his grandchildren.