For the Luxembourg monarchy, this 14 February will not just represent Valentine's Day, but will also signify 35 years of marriage between the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.
His Riyal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg first met Maria Teresa Mestre, as she was then known, whilst they were both studying Political Science at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. The two both graduated from the university in 1980.
Maria Teresa Mestre, who is descended from Spanish bourgeoisie, became Princess Maria Teresa, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, when she and HRH Prince Henri decided to wed on 14 February 1981 at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg. Prince Guillaume, the current Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, was born later that year, followed by Prince Félix in 1984, Prince Louis in 1986, Princess Alexandra in 1991 and Prince Sébastien in 1992.
It was only in October 2000 that Prince Henri acceded to the throne and TRH became the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
Three of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess' five children have also started their own families, with Prince Guillaume marrying Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy in 2012; Prince Félix holding both civil and religious weddings in 2013 with Claire Margareta Lademacher, with whom he has a daughter, Princess Amalia; and Prince Louis marrying Tessy Antony in 2006 who later had two sons, Prince Gabriel and Prince Noah.
To celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary, TRH the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess will be taking part in several events in the Grand Duchy on 14 February 2016, including the traditional Buergbrennen. Held on the first Sunday after Carnival, the Buergbrennen brings together thousands of people across the country as crosses are burned to mark the end of winter and the advent of spring.
Photo: ©2016 Cour grand-ducale/Carole Bellaïche / all rights reserved.
