The two are not mutually exclusive. &quot;Countries&quot; can be all sorts of things, including Principalities, Monarchies, Republics. Luxembourg, the country, is also a Grand Duchy. Sounds pretty spiffy. But if the Grand Duke stops being in charge, Luxembourg remains a country, but no longer a Grand Duchy. Country is geography, governance is political. Wales, the country, ceased to be governed by princes in 1542.