by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg (the future Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg) married Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla on February 14, 1981,  in a civil ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, and then in a religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Notre Dame also in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

• Unofficial Royalty: Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

Henri’s Early Life

Henri (on the right in the back row) with his parents and siblings in 1971; Credit – Wikipedia

Henri was born on April 16, 1955, the second child of Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and his wife, the former Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. Henri had an elder sister, Marie-Astrid, and later had three younger siblings – Jean, Margaretha, and Guillaume. All of the children were born at Betzdorf Castle, the family’s home in eastern Luxembourg. Like his parents, Henri was raised Catholic.

Henri started his education in Luxembourg, and later graduated from secondary school in France. He then attended Sandhurst in Berkshire to complete military training. Following his time at Sandhurst, Henri earned a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of Geneva in 1980. Henri also completed several internships with companies in the United States during his last two years of university studies. Through his education, Henri became fluent in German, French, Luxembourgish, and English. He also understands some Spanish.

During the 1970s, the decline in steel production hit Luxembourg’s mills and economy hard. Henri made a decision at that time to pursue investment by other countries as a means of boosting Luxembourg’s economy. This contributed to his decision to complete his chosen course of study and completion of foreign internships.

For more information about Henri see:

• • Unofficial Royalty: Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Maria Teresa’s Early Life

Maria Teresa (on the left) with her family; Photo Credit – http://www.theroyalforums.com/

Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla was born on March 22, 1956, in Marianao, Havana, Cuba. Her parents were Jose Antonio Mestre y Alvarez and Maria Teresa de Mestre, descendants of Spanish nobility. Although they held no titles, Maria Teresa’s family had made a considerable fortune in banking and maintained an estate in Santander, Spain. Maria Teresa and her two brothers Antonio and Luis and her sister Catalina were all raised Catholic.

Following the rise of Fidel Castro to power in Cuba, Maria Teresa fled the country with her family in 1959 to New York City. The family stayed there until 1965 when they moved briefly to their home in Spain and later Switzerland. Maria Teresa’s father established himself as a banker in Switzerland during the following years.

Maria Teresa attended the Marymount School and L’École française during her time in New York. After moving to Geneva, Maria Teresa continued her studies at the Marie-José Institute in Gstaad. She completed her secondary education at the Marie-Thérèse School in Geneva, graduating in 1975. Maria Teresa also attained Swiss nationality while she was in high school.

Maria Teresa then entered the Graduate Institute of International Studies (part of the University of Geneva) where she earned a Bachelor of Political Science in 1980. During her years at the university, Maria Teresa concentrated her attention on gerontology, the care of children with learning difficulties, and the challenges experienced by women in the workplace. Along with her native Spanish, Maria Teresa became fluent in German, French, English, Italian, and later Luxembourgish.

For more information about Maria Teresa see:

• • • Unofficial Royalty: Maria Teresa Mestre, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

The Question of a Commoner Spouse

Henri, Maria Teresa, and the Luxembourg Princely Family at the time of the engagement; Photo Credit – www.luxarazzi.com

By the time Henri came of age, royals were still expected to find a spouse among other European royal families – or titled aristocracy if no suitable royal candidate existed. Henri’s own parents were rumored to have been involved with commoners before their own marriage – commoners they were allegedly forced to abandon to marry one another. But by the mid-1970s, royals with commoner spouses were becoming less unusual. The monarchs or heirs apparent were married to non-aristocratic spouses in all of the Scandinavian countries and in the Netherlands. Yet Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte still felt that the future grand duchess should be a royal or a noble.

Henri did have plenty of opportunities to meet a spouse whom his family would have found suitable. As with young royals of all generations, Henri was linked to other eligible princesses and nobles during his young adulthood. During his time at Sandhurst, Henri was rumored to be dating Princess Caroline of Monaco, then a student at St. Mary’s School in Berkshire. While the two were of similar age, royal, and Roman Catholic, Caroline later stated that she and Henri were never more than friends.

A few years later, Henri was linked to Catherine of Limburg-Stirum, a German noble and descendent of the Count of Paris. The two were seen together at a few weddings, but the relationship did not develop into anything serious.

Despite Maria Teresa’s accomplishments and the prominence of her family, Henri’s family was reportedly dismayed at his wish to marry her, as they had hoped he would choose a royal or noble spouse. There was also some question as to whether Maria Teresa was related to former Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista (she is not), which could have affected her suitability as a consort.

But so determined Henri was to marry Maria Teresa that it was rumored that Henri offered to renounce his claim to the grand ducal throne in order to do so. When it was clear that Henri refused to consider a royal spouse, Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte finally relented and let the couple announce their engagement. However, years later Maria Teresa said that she and Joséphine-Charlotte had always had a difficult relationship.

Courtship and Engagement

The happy couple with Henri’s parents; Photo Credit – http://royalweddings.hellomagazine.com

Maria Teresa and Henri met while completing their studies in Geneva. Occasionally both would end up working on class projects together or in the same study groups. It is unknown exactly how long the two knew one another before dating, but it is known that their relationship blossomed out of a strong friendship. Maria Teresa later said of their courtship, “The more time we spent together it was more clear to us that we would spend our lives together.”

Luxembourg Minister of State Pierre Werner announced the engagement of Henri and Maria Teresa on November 8, 1980. The announcement was made three weeks after the couple had finished their studies at the University of Geneva and apparently a day after the engagement was considered official. The Luxembourg public had known nothing of the couple’s relationship up to this point.

Henri and his parents officially introduced Maria Teresa to the press two days after announcing their engagement. At that time, the two announced that a spring 1981 wedding was being planned, but that the exact date and location were not yet known. During the press conference, Maria Teresa wore her new engagement ring of yellow gold set with a cabochon ruby.

Wedding Attire

Maria Teresa and Henri on their wedding day. Photo credit: Royal Order of Sartorial Splendor

Henri wore the black single-breasted high-necked uniform for the religious wedding. He complimented the uniform with the orange sash and eight-pointed plaque of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau, the highest order in Luxembourg. Around his waist was a tasseled orange belt. This outfit has since become Henri’s standard outfit for most formal occasions.

For her dress, Maria Teresa chose a design by the French house Balmain, known as a leader in French fashion following World War II. Balmain had dressed several Hollywood clients, as well as Queen Sirkit of Thailand. Balmain continues to be a popular designer for the grand ducal family and other royalty around the world.

Maria Teresa’s wedding dress was made of white silk embossed with an intricate pattern. The floor-length dress had rather simple lines, with a bell skirt and subtle leg-o-mutton sleeves. It featured a jewel neckline and fitted bodice, with the cuffs, collar, and hem of the dress trimmed in fur, fitting for a winter wedding. The dress also had a train that descended from the shoulders and extended about two meters, meeting the length of Maria Teresa’s veil. The lace-trimmed veil featured a blusher worn by Maria Teresa during her walk down the aisle and part of the wedding service.

Maria Teresa wore attached to her veil the Congo Diamond Tiara, brought to Luxembourg from Belgium by her mother-in-law, Belgian princess Josephine-Charlotte. Josephine-Charlotte had worn the tiara, a gift from the people of Congo, during her own wedding ceremony. Maria Teresa’s sisters-in-law, Marie-Astrid and Margaretha, each wore the tiara on their own wedding days, both in 1982.

Maria Teresa’s wedding dress was later used to make a new dress for the statue of Our Lady of Luxembourg, Comforter of the Afflicted. The dress was first displayed on the statue in 2012, just before the wedding of Maria Teresa’s and Henri’s son Guillaume to Belgian noble Stephanie de Lannoy.

Wedding Ceremonies

Henri and Maria Teresa signing their wedding license. Photo credit: redcarpetwedding.org

As per Luxembourg law, Henri and Maria Teresa were married in a civil ceremony at the Grand Ducal Palace on the morning of February 14, 1981. The simple ceremony was conducted by Luxembourg City’s Mayor Camille Polfer, a close friend of the family.

The religious service took place about an hour after the civil ceremony at the capital city’s Notre Dame Cathedral. Maria Teresa’s sister Catalina (wearing a blue lace dress that echoed the design of her sister’s) served as a bridesmaid. Maria Teresa’s father led his daughter down the aisle.

Of the wedding day, Henri later remarked:

“This day I will always remember as the day that was such great joy. I will not conceal that I was a little excited about the enormous appeal, which had found our wedding in the media. At that moment, but in which my fiancee walked into the cathedral, any nervousness was gone, and I knew that we would now be forever by two for the tasks that would put life and my function to us to overcome together. This moment is one of my best memories.”

Although the couple married on February 14, both Henri and Maria Teresa later said that they were unaware of the Valentine’s Day holiday as it was not widely celebrated in Luxembourg at the time. The date was chosen due to a state visit scheduled a few weeks later in Luxembourg. Henri and Maria Teresa did not want to wait any longer than they had to marry, so the wedding was scheduled for February.

Following the wedding, the couple emerged from the cathedral and walked under a tunnel made of swords. Members of the Luxembourg Army in dress uniform held the swords.

Reception and Balcony Appearance

Henri, with Maria Teresa blowing kisses to the crowd from the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace. Photo credit: Wort.lu

Despite the cold weather, Henri and Maria Teresa returned to the Grand Ducal Palace to wave and guests. The newlyweds appeared on the balcony of the palace – adorned in red velvet for the occasion – with both sets of parents. The couple shared a hug and kiss just before Maria Teresa blew kisses to the crowd below. A reception followed for the 700 wedding guests in the Grand Ducal Palace.

Wedding Guests

Some of the wedding guests; Photo Credit – www.theroyalforums.com

Over 700 guests attended the wedding and reception. Some of the more prominent guests included:

• Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
• Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg
• Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg
• Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg
• Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg
• Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg, Duchess of Hohenburg
• Princess Marie-Adelaide of Luxembourg and Count Carl Josef Henckel of
  Donnersmarck
• Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Luxembourg and Count Knud of Holstein-Ledreborg
• Princess Alix of Luxembourg and Prince Antoine de Ligne
• King Olav V of Norway
• Hereditary Prince Hans-Adam and Hereditary Princess Marie Aglae of Liechtenstein
• King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium
• Prince Albert and Princess Paola of Liege (Belgium)
• Prince Philippe of Belgium
• Princess Astrid of Belgium
• Prince Laurent of Belgium
• Queen Margrethe (Henri’s godmother) and Prince Henrik of Denmark
• Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco
• Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
• Former Queen Marie-Jose of Italy
• Infanta Margarita of Spain and the Duke of Soria
• Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Pieter van Vollenhoven
• Archduke Otto and Archduchess Regina of Austria
• Princess Christina of Sweden, Mrs. Magnuson, and Mr. Tord Magnuson
• Prince Franz of Bavaria
• Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este
• Archduke Carl Ludwig and Archduchess Yolande of Austria
• Archduke Carl Christian of Austria
• Archduke Rudolph and Archduchess Anna Gabriele of Austria
• Princess Leonor of Brazil and Prince Michel de Ligne
• Prince Ludwig and Princess Irmingard of Bavaria
• Princess Francesca of Bourbon-Parma and Prince Eduard von Lobkowicz
• Prince Eric and Princess Lydia of Bourbon-Parma
• Prince Wauthier and Princess Régine de Ligne
• Antoine de Ligne
• Princess Christine de Ligne
• Princess Sophie de Ligne
• Princess Yolande de Ligne
• Princess Sophie von Hohenberg
• Countess Marie Charlotte Henckel von Donnersmarck
• Count Flemming and Countess Ruth of Rosenborg
• Countess Monica of Holstein-Ledreborg
• Countess Kamilla of Holstein-Ledreborg
• Countess Tatiana of Holstein-Ledreborg
• Countess Antonia of Holstein-Ledreborg

Children

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Henri and Maria Teresa with their five children

Henri and Maria Teresa had five children:

• Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (born 1981), married Stéphanie de Lannoy
• Prince Félix of Luxembourg (born 1984), married Claire Lademacher
• Prince Louis of Luxembourg (born 1986), married Tessy Antony, divorced
• Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg (born 1991), married Nicolas Bagory
• Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg (born 1992)

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo: Zimbio

In October 2012, Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy were married in Luxembourg. The civil ceremony was held on October 19 at the Luxembourg City Hall, with the religious ceremony held the following day at the Cathedral of Our Lady in Luxembourg City.

• YouTube: The Royal Wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Stephanie de Lannoy

Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg

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Prince Guillaume (top left) with his parents and siblings, 1992

Prince Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie was born on November 11, 1981, at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City (named in honor of his great-grandmother), the eldest of five children of the then-Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and the former Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla. After his primary education in Luxembourg City, he completed his secondary education at the Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil in Switzerland. He then attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and was commissioned as an officer in the Luxembourg Army in 2002. He later earned a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Angers in France. He became The Hereditary Grand Duke upon his father’s accession in 2000.

For more information about Guillaume see:

• Unofficial Royalty: Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy

Stéphanie with her parents.

Countess Stéphanie Marie Claudine Christine de Lannoy was born in Ronse, Belgium, on February 18, 1984, the youngest of eight children of Philippe, Count de Lannoy and Alix della Faille de Leverghem. The Counts of Lannoy are members of the Belgian nobility and trace their roots back to the 13th century. Raised at Anvaing Castle in the Belgian province of Hainaut, Stéphanie received her primary education at a Dutch-speaking school in Ronse. She then attended the Collège Sainte-Odile in France and the Institut de la Vierge Fidèle in Brussels, graduating in 2002. After a year spent in Moscow studying the Russian language and literature, she received her degree in philology from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium. She went on to receive a Master’s degree in Berlin and later worked for an investment company in Belgium. Stéphanie is fluent in English, French, and German, and has a knowledge of Dutch, Luxembourgish, and Russian.

For more information about Stéphanie see:

Unofficial Royalty: Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

The Engagement

Guillaume and Stéphanie with the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, Grand Duke Jean, Count Philippe and Countess Alix de Lannoy. source: Grand Ducal Court, Photo: Jean-Claude Ernst/Luxpress

On April 26, 2012, Guillaume and Stéphanie’s engagement was announced by the Marshal of the Grand Ducal Court. They had dated for several years, although they had managed to keep it very quiet until a few months earlier. In November 2011, Guillaume had mentioned publicly that he was in a relationship, and months of speculation began. The couple first met in 2004, when they were introduced by mutual friends in Germany. However, it would be five years later when they met again and soon began dating. Guillaume proposed about three weeks before the engagement was announced. The two are distantly related, through several lines of mutual descent from Charles Marie Raymond, Duke of Arenberg (1721-1778). The official engagement ceremony took place on April 27, 2012, at Berg Castle, attended by members of both families, the government, the church, and the armed forces. A reception followed, and later that afternoon, and the couple met with the media.

Sadly, Stéphanie’s mother passed away suddenly following a stroke at the end of August 2012.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

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Guillaume and Stéphanie attending the reception at the Grand Théâtre

On the morning of October 19, 2012, Guillaume and Stéphanie attended a reception for young people at the Grand Théâtre, held in their honor by the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. In attendance were members of the Government and representatives of several youth organizations. Also attending were people who shared a birthday with either Guillaume or Stéphanie and couples who were also marrying the following day. Once reaching the top of the stairs, the couple shook hands with all of the guests before proceeding into the hall. There, the Family Minister made a brief speech, followed by Guillaume, who thanked everyone for their good wishes and expressed his happiness. Following the speeches, Guillaume and Stéphanie spent time at each table, chatting with the guests, and received some small gifts, before returning to the Palace.

The Civil Ceremony

source: Grand Ducal Court, photo: Christian Aschman

Shortly before 3:30 on Friday, October 19, 2012, Guillaume and Stéphanie, along with members of their families, left the Grand Ducal Palace and walked over to the Luxembourg City Hall for the civil ceremony. This was a break from tradition, as previous civil ceremonies for members of the Grand Ducal family had been held in the palace. The brief ceremony was conducted by the Mayor of Luxembourg City Xavier Bettel and was attended by the couple’s immediate families and members of the Government. The bride wore an ivory Chanel suit while the groom wore a dark suit and striped tie.

Along the way, the couple stopped often to greet the crowds who had gathered, leading to the ceremony being delayed a few minutes. Once they arrived at the City Hall, Stéphanie was presented with a bouquet, and greeted by the Mayor. They were then presented to the Prime Minister and Minister of Justice, and other officials who were there for the ceremony. Afterward, a brief reception was held, and then the couple and their families emerged to walk back to the palace. While the families went ahead, Guillaume and Stéphanie spent nearly an hour greeting the people outside.

The Gala Dinner

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Later that evening, a gala dinner was held at the Grand Ducal Palace, with senior foreign royals in attendance, along with members of the Government. To accommodate all of the guests, two smaller dinners were also held at the Chambre des Députées and the Cercle Cité (the City Palace). The menu consisted of:

Cannelloni de bar sauvage et tartare de langoustines et de
vinaigrette aux huîtres et caviar osciètre
(Cannelloni of wild sea bass and lobster tartare with an oyster
vinaigrette and caviar osciètre)

*****

Poitrine de pigeonneau farcie d’une escalope de foie gras en papillote de chou vert
de cuisse confite aux jus mousseline de céleri rave at marrons glacés
(Chicken breast stuffed with foie gras escalope in papillote of green cabbage and thigh confit with celery and candied chestnuts)

*****

Sphère de chocolat noir grand cru façon poire Belle-Hélène arrosée de sauce chocolat chaud
(sphere of dark chocolate with pears poached in sugar with vanilla ice cream sprinkled with hot chocolate sauce)

Wedding Guests

source: Daily Mail

In addition to the large extended families of both the bride and groom, guests at the wedding included many members of current and former royal and noble families, as well as members of the government, military, and clergy. Below is a partial guest list.

The Groom’s Immediate Family
Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa
Grand Duke Jean
Prince Félix of Luxembourg and Miss Claire Lademacher
Prince Louis and Princess Tessy of Luxembourg
Prince Gabriel and Prince Noah of Nassau
Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg
Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg

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Archduchess Marie Astrid and Archduke Carl Christian of Austria

The Groom’s Extended Family
Archduchess Marie Astrid and Archduke Carl Christian of Austria
Archduchess Marie Christine and Count Rodolphe of Limburg-Stirum
Archduke Imre and Archduchess Kathleen of Austria
Archduke Christoph of Austria and Adélaïde Drapé-Frisch
Archduke Alexander of Austria
Archduchess Gabriella of Austria
Prince Jean of Luxembourg and Countess Diane of Nassau
Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Nassau
Prince Constantin of Nassau
Prince Wenceslas of Nassau
Prince Carl-Johan of Nassau
Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein
Prince Leopold of Liechtenstein
Princess Maria-Anunciata of Liechtenstein
Princess Marie-Astrid of Liechtenstein
Prince Josef-Emanuel of Liechtenstein
Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg
Prince Paul Louis of Nassau
Prince Léopold of Nassau
Princess Charlotte of Nassau
Prince Jean of Nassau
Prince Robert of Luxembourg and Princess Julie of Nassau
Princess Anna of Hohenberg and Count Andreas of Bardeau
Princess Sophie of Hohenberg and Jean-Louis de Potesta
Countess Charlotte Henckel von Donnersmarck and Count Christoph Johannes von Meran
Princess Lydia, Hereditary Countess of Holstein-Ledreborg
Countess Veronica Holstein til Ledreborg
Countess Silvia Holstein til Ledreborg and John Munro
Princess Charlotte of Nassau and Marc-Victor Cunningham
Princess Alix of Luxembourg, Dowager Princess of Ligne
Michel and Eleanora, The Prince and Princess of Ligne
Princess Alix of Ligne
Prince Wauthier and Princess Régine of Ligne
Princess Elisabeth-Eleonore of Ligne and Baron Baudouin Gillès de Pelichy
Princess Anne of Ligne and Charles de Fabribeckers de Cortils et Grâce
Princess Christine and Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza
Countess Sophie de Nicolay
Prince Antoine-Lamoral and Princess Minthia de Ligne
Princess Yolande of Ligne and Hugo Townshend
Hélène Vestur
Luis and Nicole Mestre
Maike Mestre
Luis Mestre
Antonio Mestre
Catalina Esteve
Natalie Esteve
Katarina Esteve
Victoria Esteve

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The Bride’s Family
Philippe, Count de Lannoy
Count Jehan de Lannoy
Countess Caroline de Lannoy
Countess Louise de Lannoy
Count Christian and Countess Luisa de Lannoy
Countess Nathalie de Lannoy and John Hamilton
Antonia Hamilton
Madeleine Hamilton
Countess Gaëlle de Lannoy
Count Amaury de Lannoy
Count Olivier and Countess Alice de Lannoy
Countess Isabelle de Lannoy and Jean-Charles de le Court
Isaure de le Court
Lancelot de le Court
Countess Chantal de Lannoy
Count Bruno and Countess Christine de Limburg Stirum
Countess Isabelle de Lannoy
Count Claude and Countess Claudine de Lannoy
Ladislas and Anne della Faille de Leverghem
Dominique and Lydia de Schaetzen
Dominique and Claude della Faille de Leverghem
Arnaud and Marie-Pascale della Faille de Leverghem

Royal and Noble Guests
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan of Abu Dhabi
Archduchess Maria Beatrice of Austria-Este, Countess of Arco-Zinneberg
Countess Anna of Arco-Zinneberg
Countess Olympia of Arco-Zinneberg
Princess Dainé d’Arenberg
Archduke Martin and Archduchess Katharina of Austria-Este
Archduchess Isabella of Austria-Este and Count Andrea Czarnocki-Lucheschi
Archduke István and Archduchess Paola of Austria
Archduchess Yolande of Austria
Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Marie-Hélène of Austria
Archduchess Priscilla of Austria
Archduchess Anna Gabriele of Austria
Archduke Karl-Peter and Archduchess Alexandra of Austria
Archduke Simeon and Archduchess Maria of Austria
Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria and Prince Peter Galitzine
Archduchess Catharina-Maria of Austria and Count Massimiliano Secco-d’Aragona
Archduke Michael and Archduchess Christiana of Austria
The Margrave and Margravine of Baden
The Hereditary Prince and Hereditary Princess of Baden
Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria and Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria
Prince Ludwig of Bavaria
The King and Queen of the Belgians
Queen Fabiola of Belgium
The Duke and Duchess of Brabant
Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium
Prince Amedeo of Belgium
Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium
The Duke and Duchess of Bragança
Tsar Simeon and Tsaritsa Margarita of Bulgaria
Princess Miriam of Bulgaria, Princess of Turnovo
Prince Kyril of Bulgaria, Prince of Preslav
Duchess Gabriele of Croÿ
Duke Rudolf and Duchess Alexandra of Croÿ
The Queen of Denmark and The Prince Consort
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Denmark
Count Axel and Countess Jutta of Rosenborg
King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece
The Princess of Hanover
The Crown Prince of Japan
Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan
Prince Rashid and Princess Zeina of Jordan
The Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein
Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein
Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein
Princess Nora of Liechtenstein
Princess Maria Francisca, Princess of Lobkowicz
Prince Charles-Henri of Lobkowicz
The Prince and Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
Baroness Blanche (née Princess of Mérode) and Baron Philipp von und zu Bodman
Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco
Jean-Christophe, Prince Napoléon
The Queen of the Netherlands
The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
The King and Queen of Norway
The Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Mr. Ari Behn
Sheikha Al-Mayassa of Qatar
Sheikh Hamad of Qatar
The Duke and Duchess of Parma
Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia
Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania
Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth
The Prince and Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia
The Prince and Princess of Asturias (Spain)
The Prince and Princess zu Stolberg-Stolberg
Princess Louise zu Stolberg-Stolberg
The Queen of Sweden
The Crown Princess and Prince Daniel of Sweden
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden
The Earl and Countess of Wessex (United Kingdom)
The Duke and Duchess of Vendôme
The Prince and Princess of Venice
The Prince and Princess of Windisch-Graetz
The Hereditary Countess of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg

The Wedding Attendants

source: Grand Ducal Court, photo: Nicolas Bouvy

Maids of Honour
Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg – Guillaume’s sister
Antonia Hamilton – Stéphanie’s niece

Bridesmaids and Pageboys
Madeleine Hamilton – Stéphanie’s niece
Countess Caroline de Lannoy – Stéphanie’s niece
Countess Louise de Lannoy – Stéphanie’s niece
Isaure de le Court – Stéphanie’s niece
Prince Gabriel of Nassau – Guillaume’s nephew
Lancelot de la Court – Stéphanie’s nephew

The Wedding Attire

source: Daily Mail

Stéphanie’s dress, designed by Elie Saab, was made of ivory lace, embroidered with silver thread leaves, three-quarter length sleeves, and a 4-½ meter train. It consisted of 50 meters of Chantilly lace, 40 meters of Calais lace, 30 meters of silk organza, and 70 meters of tulle and silk crepe. The dress took 10 seamstresses 700 hours to create, with another 15 people working 3200 hours to do all of the embroidering and beading work. Her veil was made of ivory silk tulle embroidered with silver thread leaves and contained 15 meters of silk tulle.

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Stéphanie wore the Lannoy Tiara, a piece privately owned by the Lannoy family. The diamond tiara is set in platinum and contains 270 old-cut brilliants in a scrolling design, with several large brilliants and a large pear-shaped diamond at the top. Despite having the Grand Ducal collection at her disposal, Stéphanie chose to continue the tradition in her family of wearing this tiara for her wedding. She also wore her mother’s engagement ring along with her own, as she had done since her mother’s death.

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Stéphanie’s bouquet consisted of light yellow roses and white orchids and was created by Maison Lachaume Paris.

Prince Guillaume wore his Grand Ducal uniform, with the sash and star of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau, and the star of the Order of the Oak Crown.

The Religious Ceremony

source: Grand Ducal Court, photo: Vic Fischbach

The religious ceremony was held on October 20, 2012, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Luxembourg.  The church was decorated with nearly 3000 roses, 500 green plants, and other flowers.  Later, the cut flowers were offered to the public after the ceremony, and the potted plants were re-planted in parks and gardens within Luxembourg.  The mass was officiated by the Archbishop of Luxembourg, Jean-Claude Hollerich, assisted by the Apostolic Nuncio in Luxembourg, the Archbishop Emeritus, and the Father Abbot of Clervaux.  Music was provided by three choirs from the Cathedral and two orchestras:

• La Maîtrise de la Cathédrale
• La Chapelle de la Maîtrise
• Le Petit Ensemble
• l’Orchestre de Chambre du Luxembourg
• La Musique Militaire Grand-Ducale

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At just before 11 am, once the other guests had arrived and been seated, the Grand Duke arrived, accompanying Stéphanie’s aunt, followed by the groom and his mother, The Grand Duchess.  After greeting the crowds, they entered the Cathedral and the procession began.

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Finally, the bride arrived, in a blue Daimler from the Grand Ducal fleet.  Stéphanie was escorted and walked down the aisle by her eldest brother, Count Jehan, as their father was confined to a wheelchair. Upon reaching the altar, Stéphanie’s father was helped to his feet to kiss his daughter and spent several moments speaking with the couple before the ceremony started. In a touching tribute, the service began with a moment of silence in memory of the bride’s mother. As another tribute, the statue of the Lady of Consolation in the cathedral was draped with a veil that had belonged to the late Countess.

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After the readings and homily, the marriage rites were performed.  Conducted in French, the couple exchanged their vows and then rings, before receiving a blessing from the Archbishop.

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Following the final blessing and the singing of the national anthem, Guillaume and Stéphanie signed the marriage register, along with their witnesses.  Once all had signed, it was held up for the guests to see and the Cathedral erupted in applause for the newly married couple.

Witnesses for Guillaume
Prince Félix of Luxembourg
Don Lawrence Doimi de Frankopan

Witnesses for Stéphanie
Baroness Blanche von und zu Bodman (née Princess Blanche of Mérode)
Princess Louise zu Stolberg-Stolberg

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After returning to the Grand Ducal Palace, the newly married couple appeared on the balcony to the cheers of the well-wishers gathered below. After several minutes – and several kisses – they went back inside to attend a reception for family and royal guests.

Post-Wedding Celebrations and Honeymoon

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That evening, following the reception, Guillaume and Stéphanie left the palace and attended a fireworks display held in their honor. They then slipped away to Berg Castle to begin their honeymoon. Following a tradition in the family, Guillaume made all the plans for the honeymoon, and it was all a surprise for Stéphanie. It also remains a mystery to the public! Both Guillaume and Stéphanie, while very aware of their public roles, are intensely private people. Just as they have remained quiet about the proposal, they’ve also remained quiet about the honeymoon. Even their residence is kept private, although in a pre-wedding interview, they stated that they did not intend to live at Berg Castle, but would be somewhere nearby.

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