Category Archives: Luxembourg Royals

Archduke Carl Christian of Austria

by Scott Mehl

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Archduke Carl Christian of Austria (Carl Christian Maria Anna Rudolph Anton Marcus d’Aviano), known as Christian, is the husband of Princess Marie Astrid of Luxembourg.  He was born on August 26, 1954, at the Château de Belœil in Belgium, the second son of Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria and Princess Yolande of Ligne.  Carl Christian is a grandson of the last Austrian Emperor Karl I and his wife, Princess Zita of Bourbon-Parma.

Carl Christian has three siblings:

  • Archduke Rudolf of Austria (born 1950), married Baroness Hélène de Villenfagne de Vogelsanck, had eight children
  • Archduchess Alexandra of Austria (born 1952), married Héctor Riesle, Chilean ambassador to the Holy See, had three children
  • Archduchess Maria Constanza of Austria (born 1957) married Franz Josef, Prince of Auersperg-Trautson, had three daughters and one adopted daughter

On February 6, 1982, Archduke Carl Christian married his second cousin, Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg, the daughter of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium. A civil ceremony was held at the Grand Ducal Palace followed by a religious ceremony at the Cathédrale Notre Dame, both in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

The couple had five children:

  • Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria (born 1983), married Count Rodolphe de Limburg-Stirum, had three children
  • Archduke Imre of Austria (born 1985), married Kathleen Elizabeth Walker, had five children
  • Archduke Christoph of Austria (born 1988), married Adélaïde Marie Béatrice Drapé-Frisch, had four children
  • Archduke Alexander of Austria (born 1990), married married Natacha Roumiantzeff-Pachkevitch
  • Archduchess Gabriella of Austria (born 1994), married Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma, had two children

Carl Christian was very close to his uncle Archduke Otto (Dr. Otto von Habsburg), and traveled extensively with him, often speaking on his behalf. He was also a very visible member at any events relating to the beatification of his grandfather, Emperor Karl of Austria.

The Archduke works in Geneva, Switzerland where he manages a company specializing in audit and control of financial institutions. In addition, he serves as President of the Board of Directors of G&C Kreglinger.

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Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg, Archduchess of Austria

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Princess Marie-Astrid Liliane Charlotte Léopoldine Wilhelmine Ingeborg Antoinette Élisabeth Anne Alberte of Luxembourg was born on February 17, 1954, at Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg, the eldest child of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium.

Marie-Astrid has four younger siblings:

Marie-Astrid was educated in Luxembourg and Belgium, and earned her certification as a registered nurse in 1974, with a specialized certificate in tropical medicine in 1977. Since 1970, she has been President of the Red Cross for Luxembourg Youth. In the late 1970s, she was rumored to be a prospective bride for Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. However, these rumors proved to be unfounded, and quite unlikely. Marie-Astrid is a devout Catholic and a marriage between the two would not have been permitted under the British Royal Marriages Act.

Marie-Astrid was married on February 6, 1982, in Luxembourg, to her second cousin, Archduke Carl Christian of Austria. A civil ceremony was held at the Grand Ducal Palace followed by a religious ceremony at the Cathédrale Notre Dame, both in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Upon marriage, her full title became Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria, Princess Imperial of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, Princess of Luxembourg, Princess of Nassau, Princess of Bourbon-Parma. The couple had five children:

  • Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria (born 1983), married Count Rodolphe de Limburg-Stirum, had three children
  • Archduke Imre of Austria (born 1985), married Kathleen Elizabeth Walker, had five children
  • Archduke Christoph of Austria (born 1988), married Adélaïde Marie Béatrice Drapé-Frisch, had four children
  • Archduke Alexander of Austria (born 1990), married married Natacha Roumiantzeff-Pachkevitch
  • Archduchess Gabriella of Austria (born 1994), married Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma, had two children
photo: ©2013 Cour grand-ducale/Vic Fischbach

photo: ©2013 Cour grand-ducale/Vic Fischbach

Marie-Astrid is typically in attendance at family functions in Luxembourg, as well as the occasional official events. Amongst several patronages and involvements, she serves on the Board of Directors of l’Arche International, an organization that works with people with intellectual disabilities.  In the photo above, she is seen, along with her father, Grand Duke Jean, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess in October 2013, at a concert of the Luxembourg Philharmonic held in memory of her late mother, Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.

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Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg: Credit – © Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue

Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg

Prince Sébastien Henri Marie Guillaume of Luxembourg is the youngest son of Grand Duke Henri and Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla. He was born on April 16, 1992, at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

Sébastien was christened on May 28, 1992, at Fischbach Castle in Luxembourg. His godparents were:

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Prince Sébastien has four older siblings:

Following nursery school in Angelsberg, near the family home at Fischbach Castle, Sébastien began his schooling at St. George’s International School in Luxembourg. He then studied at Summer Fields School and Ampleforth College, both in the United Kingdom, before graduating from the International School of Luxembourg, in Luxembourg City, in 2011. He then studied marketing and communications at Franciscan College of Steubenville, in the US, graduating in May 2015. He is fluent in Luxembourgish, French, English, and German and has some knowledge of Spanish.

Following in the footsteps of his grandfather, father, uncle, two brothers, and several cousins, Sébastien attended the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom and graduated on August 12, 2017.  He was then sworn in as an officer in the Luxembourg army. Prince Sébastien has commanded a platoon of the Irish Guards, a regiment of the British army in which his grandfather, Grand Duke Jean served during World War II.

Prince Sebastian during the Sovereign’s Parade with King Abdullah II of Jordan at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom; Credit – Grand Ducal Court / Lola Velasco

Prince Sébastien often participates in official events and functions in Luxembourg, such as National Day, held in June each year.  He also serves as patron of the Luxembourg Federation of Swimming and Lifesaving.  Prince Sébastien enjoys climbing, skiing, swimming, and especially rugby. After participating in rugby at the club level for several years, he was selected for the Luxembourg U18 rugby national team, as well as for his university team.

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Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg

Princess Alexandra Joséphine Teresa Charlotte Marie Wilhelmine of Luxembourg was born February 16, 1991, at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. She is the fourth child and only daughter of Grand Duke Henri and Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla.

Alexandra was christened on March 23, 1991, at Fischbach Castle in Luxembourg. Her godparents were:

Alexandra has four brothers:

Following primary school in Angelsberg, near the family’s home at Fischbach Castle, Alexandra attended the Lycée Vauban in Luxembourg City where she graduated with honors in 2009. After studying psychology and social sciences at Franciscan College of Steubenville, in Ohio, Alexandra moved to a school in Paris where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in philosophy. In 2017, Alexandra received a Master’s Degree in interreligious studies from the Irish School of Ecumenics with a specialization in conflict resolution.

Until 2011, Luxembourg followed Semi-Salic law regarding the to succession to the throne. This meant that females could only inherit the throne in the absence of any other male descendants. However, Grand Duke Henri issued a decree on June 20, 2011, establishing absolute primogeniture beginning with his descendants, and Alexandra then had a place in the line of succession.

Princess Alexandra (far right) at the christening of her niece, Princess Amalia of Nassau, July 2014 photo: © Grand Ducal Court / Guy Wolff

Princess Alexandra (far right) at the christening of her niece, Princess Amalia of Nassau, July 2014
photo: © Grand-Ducal Court / Guy Wolff

Princess Alexandra is often in attendance at important events in Luxembourg, such as National Day, as well as family functions. She is the godmother to her niece Princess Amalia of Nassau and her nephew Prince Gabriel of Nassau.

Photo Credit – © Grand Duke’s House / Sophie Margue https://www.facebook.com/courgrandducale

On November 7, 2022, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg announced the engagement of their daughter Princess Alexandra to Nicolas Bagory. Nicolas was born on November 11, 1988, and grew up in Brittany, France. After studying political science and classical literature, he now works on creating social and cultural projects. Alexandra married  Nicolas in a civil ceremony in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg on April 22, 2023, followed by a religious ceremony at Saint Trophy in Bormes-les-Mimosas, Var, France on April 29, 2023.

 

On December 18, 2023, the Grand Ducal House announced that Princess Alexandra and Nicolas Bagory are expecting their first child in the spring of 2024.

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Tessy Antony de Nassau, former wife of Prince Louis of Luxembourg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Tessy Antony de Nassau in Thailand with Professors Without Borders in July 2019; Credit – Wikipedia

Tessy Antony de Nassau is the former wife of Prince Louis, the third son of Grand Duke Henri and Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla. Tessy Antony was born in Luxembourg on October 28, 1985, the daughter of François and Régine Antony, on October 28, 1985, in Luxembourg. Tessy has a twin brother Ronny, an older brother Mike and an older sister Patty. Another sibling, Mike’s twin Jerry, passed away shortly after birth.

Tessy completed her primary and secondary education in Luxembourg, before entering the Luxembourg Army at the age of 18. While serving on a mission connected to the NATO force in Kosovo, Tessy first met her future husband in 2004 when he was visiting troops in Yugoslavia.

In September 2005, the Royal Court announced that Prince Louis and Tessy Antony were expecting a child together. Tessy gave birth to a son, Gabriel Michael Louis Ronny, on March 12, 2006, in Geneva, Switzerland. As the couple was not married, the child was not given any royal titles and was simply Gabriel de Nassau. Tessy and Louis married six months later, on September 29, 2006, in Gilsdorf, a small village in northeast Luxembourg. At that time, Prince Louis relinquished his rights to succession for himself and his descendants. He retained his royal title and style, but Tessy simply became Tessy de Nassau.

On September 21, 2007, the couple’s second son, Noah Etienne Guillaume Gabriel Matthias Xavier, was born in Luxembourg. On Luxembourg’s National Day in 2009, Grand Duke Henri granted Tessy the title of Princess of Luxembourg with the style of Her Royal Highness, and raised their children to Prince of Nassau, also with the style of Royal Highness.

© 2014 Cour grand-ducale / Hana Noguch

photo © 2014 Cour grand-ducale / Hana Noguch

Following two years living in the United States while Prince Louis received training in Aeronautics and Aeronautical Management, the couple moved to London where both Tessy and Louis enrolled at Richmond American University. They both received their Bachelor’s degrees in May 2014, Tessy in International Relations, and Louis in Communications. Tessy also received a masters degree in diplomatic studies at the University of London. In 2016, Tessy co-founded Professors Without Borders, an NGO specializing in international educational efforts, and is currently its President.

The Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg announced on January 18, 2017, that Prince Louis and Princess Tessy of Luxembourg plan to divorce.  Their divorce was granted on February 17, 2017, in London where the couple lived, and was finalized on April 4, 2019.  Tessy held her titles until September 1, 2019, when she reverted to her maiden name and with de Nassau, Tessy Antony de Nassau. On December 31, 2020, Tessy announced her engagement to Swiss businessman Frank Floessel and on February 24, 2021, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child together. The couple married on July 23, 2021, in Zürich, Switzerland.  Tessy gave birth to a son, Theodor Frank Floessel, on August 26, 2021, at Hirslanden Clinic in Zurich., Switzerland.

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Princess Claire of Luxembourg

by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Princess Claire of Luxembourg is the wife of Prince Félix, the second son of Grand Duke Henri and Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla. She was born Claire Margareta Lademacher on March 21, 1985, in Filderstadt, Germany. She is the second child of Hartmut and Gabriele Lademacher and has an older brother, Felix.

Claire began her schooling in Germany, followed by several years at the Atlanta International School in Atlanta, Georgia. The family returned to Germany in 1999 and she was enrolled at the Frankfurt International School, and then the Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil in Switzerland, graduating in 2003. After earning her Bachelors degree in International Communication from the American University of Paris, Claire spent several years working for Condé Nast and IMG World. She returned to school to pursue her Masters degree in bioethics at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome. During this time, she worked with UNESCO alongside her studies. After earning her Masters, she decided to stay in Rome to pursue her doctorate in organ donation ethics. As part of this program, she spent several months as a visiting scholar at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University in the United States.

 

Claire and Félix’s engagement was announced in December 2012. The couple had met while both were students at Beau Soleil. They were married in a civil ceremony in Germany on September 17, 2013, followed by a religious ceremony on September 21, 2013, in the south of France. Following their wedding, the couple settled in Lorgues, France where they manage a winery, Château les Crostes, owned by Claire and her father.

The couple has three children:

  • Princess Amalia Gabriela Maria Teresa of Nassau (born June 15, 2014)
  • Prince Liam Henri Hartmut of Nassau (born on November 28, 2016)
  • Prince Balthasar Felix Karl (born January 7, 2024)

Félix and Claire live in Lorgues, France, where they manage Château les Crostes, a winery owned by Claire and her father.

Prince Felix with his wife Princess Claire and his children Princess Amalia and Prince Liam, 2023; Credit – The Grand Ducal Court

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Prince Félix of Luxembourg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Prince Félix Léopold Marie Guillaume of Luxembourg was born June 3, 1984, at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. He is the second son of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla. Félix was christened on June 24, 1984. His godparents were:

Prince Félix has four siblings:

Félix attended primary school in Lorentzweiler and then attended the Notre Dame (Sainte-Sophie) private school, and The American School of Luxembourg. From 1998 to 2003, he attended the Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil in Switzerland. He then enrolled in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, but was forced to leave early due to a severe knee injury.

Following a year of expanding his education through several internships, Prince Félix began working in the Marketing and Public Relations department of Grand Chelem Management SA. The company specializes in organizing sports and cultural events. The Prince continues to work with them as an independent consultant. He later attended the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum in Rome, earning his bachelor’s degree in biophysics.

photo © 2013 Cour grand-ducale/Guy Wolff

photo © 2013 Cour grand-ducale/Guy Wolff

Prince Félix’s engagement to Claire Lademacher was announced in December 2012. Félix and Claire had met while both were attending the Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil. They married in a civil ceremony on September 17, 2013, in Königstein im Taunus, Germany, and a religious ceremony on September 21, 2013, at the Basilica of Saint Mary Magdalene in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France.

The couple has three children:

  • Princess Amalia Gabriella Maria Teresa of Nassau (born June 15, 2014)
  • Prince Liam Henri Hartmut of Nassau (born on November 28, 2016)
  • Prince Balthasar Felix Karl (born January 7, 2024)

Félix and Claire live in Lorgues, France, where they manage Château les Crostes, a winery owned by Claire and her father.

Prince Felix with his wife Princess Claire and his children Princess Amalia and Prince Liam, 2023; Credit – The Grand Ducal Court

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Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

 

Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg was the reigning Grand Duke from 1964 until 2000 when he abdicated in favor of his eldest son. Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d’Aviano was born on January 5, 1921, at Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg. He was the eldest of six children of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma.  Jean had one younger brother and four younger sisters:

 

Jean received his primary education and started his secondary education in Luxembourg. He completed his secondary education at Ampleforth College, a Roman Catholic boarding school in Yorkshire, England. When Jean reached the age of 18, he was styled Hereditary Grand Duke, recognizing his status as the heir apparent.

The day before Germany invaded Luxembourg in May 1940, the Grand Ducal family left for Paris, France where they stayed for several weeks. They then went to the United States, where they rented an estate on Long Island in Brookville, New York.  Later they lived in Canada, and the United Kingdom. During this time period, Jean studied law and political science at Université Laval in Quebec City, Canada.

In October 1942, Prince Félix and Hereditary Grand Duke Jean left Canada for the United Kingdom to join the British Army. Jean joined the Irish Guards on the advice of King George VI of the United Kingdom. After some preliminary training, Jean completed his military education at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst.  He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and later was promoted to lieutenant.  Jean landed near Bayeux, Normandy on June 11, 1944, five days after D-Day. He took part in the Battle for Caen and the liberation of Brussels. On September 10, 1944, he took part in the liberation of Luxembourg before participating in the invasion of Germany.

For his military service, Jean received the following military decorations:

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom appointed Jean Colonel of the Regiment of the Irish Guards in 1984 and Honorary General of the British Army in 1995.

On April 9, 1953, Jean married Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (1927–2005), daughter of Léopold III, King of the Belgians at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

 

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte had a happy 52-year marriage which ended with Joséphine-Charlotte’s death in 2005.  The couple had five children:

On November 12, 1964, Jean’s mother Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicated and he became Grand Duke.  Grand Duke Jean then reigned until October 7, 2000, when he abdicated in favor of his eldest son Henri.

Jean Henri Guillaume

Grand Duke Jean with his son Grand Duke Henri and his grandson Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume; Photo: Zimbio

Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg died on April 23, 2019, at the age of 98. His death was announced by his son Grand Duke Henri on the official website of the Grand Ducal Family: “It is with great sadness that I inform you of the death of my beloved father, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Jean, who has passed away in peace, surrounded by the affection of his family.” Grand Duke Jean had been hospitalized with a pulmonary condition.

The funeral of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg took place on May 4, 2019, at the Cathedral Notre-Dame of Luxembourg in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. He was laid to rest in the Ducal Crypt of the Cathedral Notre-Dame of Luxembourg.

Grand Duke Jean’s coffin resting in the Ducal Crypt. Memorial plaques for family members are on the wall; Photo – www.cathol.lu

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Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Princess Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

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Countess Stéphanie Marie Claudine Christine de Lannoy was born February 18, 1984, in Ronse, East Flanders, Belgium. She is the youngest of eight children of Count Philippe de Lannoy (1922 – 2019) and Alix della Faille de Leverghem (1941–2012). Both of Stéphanie’s parents come from noble Belgian families. Stéphanie grew up on the family estate, Anvaing Castle (Château d’Anvaing), in Anvaing, Hainaut, Belgium.

Stephanie_Lux_home

Anvaing Castle; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Stéphanie has seven siblings, who, along with Stéphanie, all have the rank of Count and Countess in Belgium, as sons and daughters of a Count:

  • Count Jehan de Lannoy (born 1966), married Béatrice Spates, had four children
  • Count Christian de Lannoy (born 1968), married Luisa Moreno de Porras-Isla-Fernández, had three children
  • Countess Nathalie de Lannoy (born 1969), married John Hamilton, had five children
  • Countess Gaëlle de Lannoy (born 1970), a Roman Catholic nun
  • Count Amaury de Lannoy (born 1971), married Countess Astrid d’ Harcourt, had one child
  • Count Olivier de Lannoy (born 1974), married Alice van Havre. had three children
  • Countess Isabelle de Lannoy (born 1976), married Baron Jean-Charles de le Court, had six children

Stéphanie received her primary education at Sancta Maria, a Dutch-speaking school in Ronse, Belgium. She started her secondary education at the Collège Sainte-Odile in northern France and completed her schooling at the Institut de la Vierge Fidèle in Brussels, Belgium where she obtained her school-leaving certificate in 2002. Stéphanie then spent a year in Moscow, Russia where she studied Russian language and literature and further developed her violin-playing skills. She received a degree in German philology at the Université Catholique de Louvain in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium. Stéphanie continued her education in Berlin, Germany where she completed her Masters Degree by writing her thesis on the influence of German Romanticism on Russian Romanticism. She extended her stay in Berlin with an internship with the Walloon Export and Foreign Investment Agency under the sponsorship of the Belgian Embassy. When she returned to Belgium, she worked for an investment fund company. Stéphanie is fluent in French, German, and English and has a knowledge of Russian, Dutch, and Luxembourgish.

Guillaume_civil wedding

The couple exiting Town Hall after the civil marriage; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Guillaume_religious wedding

Photo Credit – Zimbio

Stéphanie first met Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg when they were introduced by friends in Germany eight years before they married. They did not see each other until they met again about five years later and that was when they fell in love. Guillaume proposed to Stéphanie three weeks before their engagement was announced. Unfortunately, Stéphanie’s mother died from a stroke two months before the wedding.

On April 26, 2012, the Luxembourg Court announced the engagement of Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke to Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy. The couple was married in a civil ceremony at the City Hall in Luxembourg City, on October 19, 2012. Their religious wedding took place on October 20, 2012, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City.

Photo Credit: Grand Ducal Court/ Marion Dessard

Stéphanie and Guillaume have two sons:

Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Theresa holding Prince François, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, Prince Charles, and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume; Credit – House of the Grand Duke / Sophie Margue

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Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2014

Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg; Credit – Maison du Grand-Duc / Sophie Margue

Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie) was born on November 11, 1981, at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. He is the eldest of five children of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg and Cuban-born María Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla.

Guillaume has four younger siblings:

Henri_family

The Princely Family in 2009; Photo Credit – Zimbio

Guillaume was christened on December 2, 1981, at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. His godparents were:

Prince Guillaume attended Lorentzweiler Primary School in Lorentzweiler, a small town in Luxembourg. He then completed his lower secondary education at Lycée Robert-Schumann Luxembourg in Luxembourg City, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. Guillaume completed his secondary education at Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil in Villars-sur-Ollon, Switzerland where he passed his French Baccalaureate in 2001.

From September 2001 until August 2002, Guillaume underwent officer training at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom. He was commissioned as an officer in the Luxembourg Army in December 2002 and currently holds the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. In June 2009, Guillaume was awarded a Bachelor’s degree with distinction in Humanities and Languages with a specialization in Political Science at the University of Angers in France. He is fluent in Luxembourgish, French, English, German, and Spanish.

Prince Guillaume is interested in politics, economics, and philosophy. His favorite books
include biographies and historical novels. He enjoys music, both classical and modern,
and plays piano and guitar. As a child, he sang in a boys’ choir, the Pueri Cantores Choir of Luxembourg. While in school in Switzerland, he was a singer in the school rock band and participated in several school plays. Guillaume loves sports, particularly football (soccer), tennis, skiing, swimming, and water sports.

Guillaume became Hereditary Grand Duke in 2000 when his father acceded to the throne upon the abdication of his grandfather, Grand Duke Jean (born 1921).  The Hereditary Grand Duke is a member of the State Council (Conseil d’Etat), composed of twenty-one citizens who advise the Chamber of Deputies, the legislature of Luxembourg, in the drafting of legislation.

Prince Guillaume participates in the administration and fundraising of the following organizations:

Guillaume_civil wedding

The couple exiting Town Hall after the civil marriage; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Guillaume_religious wedding

Photo Credit – Zimbio

Prince Guillaume first met Countess Stéphanie de Lanoy, (born 1984 in Ronse, East Flanders, Belgium to a Belgian noble family) when they were introduced by friends in Germany eight years before they married. They did not see each other until they met again about five years later and that was when they fell in love. Guillaume proposed to Stéphanie three weeks prior to the announcement of their engagement on April 26, 2012.  The couple was married in a civil ceremony at the City Hall in Luxembourg City, on October 19, 2012. Their religious wedding took place on October 20, 2012, at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City.

Photo Credit: Grand Ducal Court/ Marion Dessard

Guillaume and Stéphanie have two sons

Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Theresa holding Prince François, Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, Prince Charles, and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume ; Credit – House of the Grand Duke / Sophie Margue

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Grand Duchy of Luxembourg Resources at Unofficial Royalty