HRH Grand Duchess Celebrates 63rd Birthday

This Friday 22 March 2019, Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa will celebrate her 63rd birthday.

Descended from Spanish bourgeoisie, Maria Teresa Mestre was born in Havana (Cuba) in 1956. Her family moved to New York in 1959 and on to Geneva in 1965, where she acquired Swiss citizenship.

She met His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg when 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. They married 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. In October 2000, Prince Henri acceded to the throne and he and Maria Teresa became the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.

HRH Maria Teresa is interested in social and humanitarian causes and created the Prince Henri and Princess Maria Teresa Foundation, which aims to support persons with specific needs to help their integration in society. On 10 June 1997, Princess Maria Teresa was made a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO, through which she aims to promote the education of young girls and women and fight against poverty through microcredits.