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Imagine being in Stockholm Thursday and Friday. One would’ve seen a sight often seen at royal weddings, funerals and coronations! It was the gathering of nine royal women, plus two royal men to-be, coming together for the 20th anniversary of the United Nation’s Child Convention.
 Billed Bladet/Martin Hoien Queen Silvia of Sweden brought together the Queens of Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands, as well as the Crown Princesses of Norway and Denmark, and finally the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg to mark this event. All of them have to some degree worked for the rights of children, particularly Silvia, with her World Childhood Foundation.
The royal women first met at the royal palace to discuss children’s rights. The Convention, signed by every country in the world besides Somalia and the United States, is to ensure children’s safety and welfare – both civil, political, economic, cultural and social rights.
After that, they went to the children’s center in Stockholm as part of the Convention’s anniversary.
Later on, the ladies held a conference, which also featured Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleine.
In the evening, there was a gala at Berwaldhallen. This time, Victoria and Madeleine’s fiancees, Daniel Westling and Jonas Bergstrom attended. This was the first time either man officially attended a royal event.
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.
 www.monarchie.lu 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.
 Getty Images FILE 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.
 Getty Images FILE 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.
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.
 - Tom Wagner
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.
Sunday saw the Grand Duchess of Luxembourg begin her week long tour of two African countries as part of her role as UNICEF’s “Eminent Advocate for Children.”
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Maria Teresa was in Burundi from Sunday till Wednesday, and will spend Thursday and Friday in Kenya.
On Monday, the Grand Duchess went to projects for the reintegration of child soldiers and young girls who become mothers through rape.
She then later went on to a prison in Bujumbura, Burundi’s capital, to meet with incarcerated women, and to meet with the children they gave birth to while in prison.
In addition, Maria Teresa met with AIDS orphans or children who have the illness.
While she is in Kenya, the Grand Duchess will attend the international conference “Diagnostic to Action – Microfinance in Africa”, organized by the Women’s World Banking. She will also stop by the Dream Center (Drug Resource Enhancement against AIDS and Malnutrition), which is renowned for its work on AIDS treatment.
This visit to Africa also coincides with the 20th anniversary of the International Convention of Children’s Rights.
Luxembourg’s Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and their family took part in the closing of the octave at Our Lady of Luxembourg Sunday.
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The annual event is draws hundreds of devout Catholics from not only Luxembourg, but France and Germany.
A procession went through the streets of the capital. In the parade were clergy, Luxembourg’s government officials, and of course it’s royal family. The children of the Grand Ducal couple who were involved yesterday were Prince Felix, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Louis and his young family – his two sons included! Prince Guillaume, the heir to the Grand Duchy, was not in attendance.
Following the procession, the Grand Ducal family appeared on the balcony of the royal palace.
The Virgin Mary is the patron saint of Luxembourg, and has been since the 1600’s.
The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg attended the National Committees of UNICEF at its 54th annual meeting. With representatives of 36 nations in attendance, UNICEF-Luxembourg proudly celebrated its 30th year.
 monarchie.lu Maria Teresa brought attention to UNICEF’s work, especially in the field of HIV/AIDS, which the Grand Duchess works tirelessly for. She made an emphasis of that in her speech.
“Although so much has been done, it is essential to remain focused on the challenges ahead: one of them is the HIV pandemic as unfortunately the numbers are not decreasing.
“According to UNAIDS most recent report 2007, an estimated 33 million people are living with HIV. During that same year, 2.7 million new HIV infections were recorded.
“Although people from all walks of life are affected, HIV/AIDS is hitting hard at the most vulnerable sections of our society: it is the poor, the illiterate, the marginalized, especially women and children who bear most of the burden of the HIV pandemic. Mothers and children are being ‘infected’ or ‘affected’ by the AIDS virus in greater and greater numbers, every single day. Their situation is dramatic as a mother with HIV will not give up the responsibility of caring for her children easily.”
Maria Teresa talked about her role as UNICEF’s Eminent Advocate for Children in 2007, in which she chose to focus on the HIV/AIDS pandemic and child soldiers. She explained how the two coincide.
“We all have to protect these children, as they are easy preys and victims of child abuse and exploitation through the horror of prostitution, children hard labor, enrolment into guerilla armies as child soldiers, where all too often the girls enrolled are used as sex-slaves.
“So what can we do?
“UNICEF is working with communities that provide an environment where children and their families are supported and protected, and where their rights are respected. It is my firm belief that without this community involvement there is little prospect that the programs can produce any tangible results. Strengthened social protection is needed to ensure that those affected by HIV can access services. Social welfare ministries, who are often mandated to provide support to children and families, have inadequate human, financial, and institutional capacity and also limited influence over government priorities and budgets, especially at local levels.”
Following her speech, the Grand Duchess attended the Castle Vianden official dinner for the 54th Annual Meeting of National Committees for UNICEF.
The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg has been enjoying a visit by the Italian President Giorgio Napolitano these past three days. He, along with couple of other dignitaries were invited by Grand Duke Henri. 
The point of this visit is to both strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries, and strengthen links with the local Italian community, the second in Luxembourg in terms of numbers.
Napolitano arrived on Monday, with a military welcoming by Henri and his wife Grand Duchess Maria Theresa. Afterwards, the Italian President met privately with Henri at the palace.
At the same time, Luxembourg’s Minister for Justice, Luc Frieden, met with Minister of Foreign Affairs, Franco Frattini, to discuss co-operation at a European level of judicial and police matters.
That night, a state dinner was held in honor of the Italian guests.
Tuesday, Napolitano laid a wreath at the national Solidarity Monument in the presence of Luxembourg’s Prime Minister, Jean-Claude Juncker, Luxembourg’s Minister for Defense, Jean-Louis Schiltz, and the army’s Chief of Staff, General Gaston Reinig. They then went to the Chambre des Députés to meet Mr Lucien Weiler as well as Luxembourg’s deputy Prime Minister, Mr Jean Asselborn. Prime Minister Juncker will then hosted an official dinner at the Château de Bourglinster, prior to the presidential couple meeting Mme Octavie Modert, Secretary of State for Culture, Higher Education and Research, at the opening of a new exhibition at the Natural History Museum.
Wednesday, the Presidential couple will meet members of the Italian community in Luxembourg, represented by various Italian associations here. Before they depart the Grand Duchy, they will also visit the European Court of Justice as well as the European Investment Bank.
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