Royalty in the News

On Wednesday evening, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume took part in presenting the Edward Steichen Award at Luxembourg’s Museum of Modern Art. The award is under the high patronage of Guillaume’s mother, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, but it was he who gave it out this year.

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The Hereditary Grand Duke was not the only member of the Grand Ducal family to be at the event. Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla were also there. But it was the next Grand Duke of Luxembourg who handed out the award.

Held every two years, the Edward Steichen Award is supposed to be a cross-cultural, artistic and educational bridge between Luxembourg and New York. It is open to contemporary visual and fine artists between the ages of 25 and 35. The candidates are to be sponsored from art institutes not only in Luxembourg, but also the regions surrounding the tiny Grand Duchy, such as Wallonie in Belgium, the Lorraine in France and areas in Germany. Winners get to stay up to six months in New York City to expand their work.

To see more pictures of the event, click here

This week, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg will be in the Persian Gulf region to promote his country’s financial sector. He will be in Bahrain, Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Qatar, and is travelling with a delegation of representatives, including Finance Minister Luc Frieden.

Ministère des Finances de Luxembourg

In each country Guillaume stopped by, he met with political and business leaders. For example, in Bahrain Monday, the Prince and Frieden met with Prime Minister Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa.

Furthermore, Guillaume and Frieden will speak at seminars developed by the Luxembourg for Finance, a developmental agency.

This trip will last until Thursday.

Tuesday began Ireland’s President Mary McAleese’s state visit to Luxembourg. The grand duchy’s family played host to Mrs. McAleese, who is the first Irish leader to make such a visit to the micro-state.

REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

Grand Duke Henri and his son and heir, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, welcomed the Irish President in the morning. The national anthems of both countries during the official ceremony, and Henri and McAleese reviewed the troops. The two also laid a floral wreath at the Monument of Luxembourg.

Afterward came the President’s meeting with Luxembourg’s politicians, including Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies.

In the evening, there was a state banquet in McAleese’s honor.

Tomorrow, Mrs. McAleese will visit a monastery, discuss Ireland’s relationship with the European Union at an abbey, and then have lunch with Juncker. A meeting with Irish nationals living in this tiny country will tale place, and then the President would head back to the Emerald Isle.

This event also marks Grand Duchess Maria Teresa’s first engagement since her surgery last month. She was not expected to make many appearances, and it is uncertain if she was at the state banquet.

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On Wednesday, the Grand Ducal family of Luxembourg released new photographs to coincide with the 9th anniversary of Grand Duke Henri’s ascencion to the throne.

The reason for the new portraits may have to do with the family’s newest members – Princess Tessy, the wife of Prince Louis, and her two young boys, Princes Gabriel and Noah.  Tessy and her sons were given the style “Royal Highness” during National Day celebrations earlier this year.

Click here to see more photographs of the Grand Ducal family.

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On Wednesday, Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri was the recepient of the Van Thuan award at the Palazzo Colonna in Rome.  The award, named after Cardinal Van Thuân, is given to those who defend human rights. The Grand Duke was awarded for his right to life efforts and defense of religious freedom.

Last year, Henri, a devout Roman Catholic, lost his constitutional powers when he refused to sign a bill that would have allowed euthanasia in his tiny country.

Henri was accompanied by his son and heir, Guillaume. His wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, is recovering from surgery,

On Thursday, the Grand Duke and his son met with Pope Benedict XVI at his summer estate in Castel Gandolfo.

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The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was released from St. Luc Hospital in Brussels Saturday. She was there for a surgery, believed to be a gynecological one because of the doctor who did the operation.

Dr. Jacques Donnez is a world renowned gynecological surgeon. It is speculated that Maria Teresa might have had a hysterectomy, much like Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall had some time ago.

According to the Grand Ducal Court, the Grand Duchess is now resting at Castle Berg back in Luxembourg.

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It’s been announced by the Grand Ducal Court of Luxembourg that Grand Duchess Maria Teresa underwent surgery at St. Luke’s Hospital in Brussels, Belgium.

It is not known when exactly the surgery took place or what it was for, but the Court said the Grand Duchess’ procedure went without any complications.

She is to rest for the next few weeks.

This past Thursday saw Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri at the Chateau de Berg saying good-bye to the old and hello to a new government. He spent the morning thanking the outgoing ministers, and in afternoon, he swore in the new politicians.

For the outgoing members of the government, the Grand Duke thanked them for the service. Those who served a first term were awarded the Order of Civil Merit of Adolphe.

Later on, Henri held audience with the new government ministers. He started first with his prime minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, in the swearing-in ceremony before doing all 15 ministers. Everyone swore “loyalty to the Grand Duke, obedience to the Constitution and laws of the State” and “promise to fulfill my duties with integrity, accuracy and impartiality.”

Afterward, the Grand Duke signed five decrees which officiated the new government.

Once everything was done, a reception was held for the new members of Luxembourg’s government.

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Luxembourg’s Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume completed his studies at the University of Angers.

The 27 year-old earned a degree in humanities and political science, though he specifically concentrated in the latter.

Before, Guillaume attended school in Switzerland. After that, he went on to the famed military academy Sandhurst, where many of the world’s royals went for army training.

It is not known yet what will the Hereditary Grand Duke do next.

The eldest son of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Guillaume will take over the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg whether his father dies or abdicates.

Tuesday June 23rd marks Luxembourg’s national day, and as every year it’s Grand Ducal family was present for the celebrations.

But before everything began, Grand Duke Henri had some exciting news for his subjects: His daughter-in-law, Tessy Antony who is married to Prince Louis, received the title of Her Royal Highness Princess Tessy of Luxembourg.

Even more, Tessy’s two baby sons with Prince Louis, Gabriel and Noah, were stylized as Princes of Nassau, but not as Luxembourg. This is because only those who are the children of the current or former reigning monarch can be the Prince or Princess of Luxembourg.

Back in 2006, Prince Louis and Tessy had in Gabriel out of wedlock, and married later that year. Louis renounced his rights to the Grand Duchy around this time.

Also receiving a title was Princess Alexandra. The only daughter of Henri and Maria Teresa became a knight in the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau. Despite earning this title, Alexandra was not present for the National Day celebrations, since she was taking University finals.

But her parents were there. They began the day in the city Ell, where they both laid floral wreaths at the Monument des Mars. They then met with the city council, and visited local preschoolers. The royal couple were accompanied by government officials.

At nightfall, the House of Nassau – along with the new Princess Tessy – gathered in Luxembourg City to see the fireworks, and a torchlit parade. The Grand Ducal family walked from the palace to Place Guillaume to give Luxembourgers a chance to see their royal family.