Wedding of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy
The couple after their civil wedding, receiving children's paintings.
The wedding of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg , and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy took place on 19 and 20 October 2012. A civil ceremony was held on 19 October followed by a Roman Catholic wedding ceremony at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg City the next day. The 2012 wedding marked the largest event for the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg and the country in years. More than 120 international media organisations requested accreditation for the event, including TV channels and newspapers from China, Morocco, Russia and the US.[1] Guillaume was the last unmarried heir apparent of a monarchy in Europe prior to the wedding.[2]
Background
The couple exiting the Town Hall after the civil ceremony; r.: the mayor of Luxembourg City, X. Bettel .
The House of Nassau-Weilburg , which includes the Grand Ducal Family , has headed Luxembourg since 1890.[3] Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume is the heir apparent of his father, Grand Duke Henri .
Stéphanie de Lannoy is a member of a Belgian noble family , considered one of the oldest aristocratic families in Europe .[1] [3]
Guillaume and Stéphanie had known each other for many years. The couple began dating in 2009.[1] They announced their engagement in April 2012.[4] Prince Guillaume was 30 years old and Stéphanie was 28 years old at the time of their wedding.[1]
Stéphanie's mother, Alix de Lannoy , died from a stroke on 26 August 2012, just two months before the grand ducal wedding.[4]
The 2012 grand ducal wedding is estimated to have cost approximately 500,000 euros (US$650,000), paid with Luxembourgish taxes.[3] The two-day ceremony included public street fairs, fireworks , and free concerts , all open to the public.[3]
Stephanie's change of citizenship was expedited prior to the wedding, which caused some controversy within Luxembourg.[1] She became a naturalized Luxembourger 19 October 2012.[3]
Ceremony
Interior of Notre-Dame Cathedral .
Civil ceremony
Prince Guillaume and Countess Stéphanie were married in a small civil ceremony on 19 October 2012, conducted by Luxembourg Mayor Xavier Bettel .[2] [3]
A white tie gala dinner was held that evening at the Grand Ducal Palace .
Religious ceremony
The more elaborate, Catholic wedding ceremony was held in Notre-Dame Cathedral the next day.[3] The ceremony, which began shortly after 11:00 a.m. on 20 October, was officiated by Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Luxembourg .[3] The weather on the day of the ceremony was described as "unseasonably warm."[3] Stéphanie was escorted into the Cathedral by her eldest brother, Count Jehan.[3] Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume arrived at the ceremony with his mother, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg .[3]
The bride and groom exchanged wedding rings crafted entirely from fair trade gold .[3]
The couple exchanged a public kiss before a crowd of well-wishers on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace after the ceremony.[3]
Dual Cypher of Prince Guillaume and Princess Stephanie (and wedding logo)
Wedding attire
Countess Stéphanie's wedding dress was designed by Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab .[3] The dress was described as an "ivory lace dress embroidered with silver filigree " with "three-quarter length sleeves."[3] Her dress was accompanied by a silk tulle veil , featuring a motif of silver floral designs trailing thirteen feet behind her[3] and the Lannoy family tiara.
Prince Guillaume wore a Luxembourgish military uniform.[3]
Bridal attendants
The bridal attendants were the bridegroom's sister, nephew and second cousin, and nieces and nephew of the bride:[5]
The couple amidst the grand ducal family after the religious ceremony.
Guests
Relatives of the groom
Grand Duke Jean , the groom's paternal grandfather
The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess , the groom's parents
Archduchess Marie-Astrid and Archduke Carl Christian of Austria, the groom's paternal aunt and uncle
Archduchess Marie Christine and Count Rodolphe of Limburg-Stirum, the groom's first cousin and her husband
Archduke Imre and Archduchess Kathleen of Austria, the groom's first cousin and his wife
Archduke Cristoph of Austria and Adélaïde Drapé-Frisch, the groom's first cousin and his fiancée
Archduke Alexander of Austria, the groom's first cousin
Archduchess Gabriella of Austria, the groom's first cousin
Prince Jean and Countess Diane of Nassau, the paternal uncle and aunt
Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Nassau, the groom's first cousin
Prince Constantin of Nassau, the groom's first cousin
Prince Wenceslas of Nassau, the groom's first cousin
Prince Carl-Johan of Nassau, the groom's first cousin
Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein , the groom's paternal aunt and uncle
Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla, the groom's paternal uncle and aunt
Prince Paul Louis of Nassau, the groom's first cousin
Prince Léopold of Nassau, the groom's first cousin
Princess Charlotte of Nassau, the groom's first cousin
Prince Jean of Nassau, the groom's first cousin
Extended family
Descendants of Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Hohenberg , the groom's paternal grandaunt:
Princess Anna of Hohenberg and Count Andreas of Bardeau, the groom's first cousin once removed, and her husband
Princess Sophie of Hohenberg and Jean-Louis de Potesta, the groom's first cousin once removed, and her husband
Descendants of Princess Marie-Adélaïde, Countess Henckel von Donnersmarck , the groom's paternal grandaunt:
Countess Charlotte Henckel and Count Christoph Johannes von Meran, the groom's first cousin once removed, and her husband
Descendants of Princess Marie Gabriele, Dowager Countess of Holstein-Ledreborg , the groom's paternal grandaunt:
Countess Lydia of Holstein-Ledreborg, the groom's first cousin once removed
Countess Veronica of Holstein-Ledreborg, the groom's first cousin once removed
Countess Silvia of Holstein-Ledreborg and John Munro, the groom's first cousin once removed, and her husband
Countess Antonia of Holstein-Ledreborg, the groom's first cousin once removed
Descendants of Prince Charles of Luxembourg , the groom's paternal granduncle
Princess Charlotte and Marc-Victor Cunningham, the groom's first cousin once removed, and her husband
Prince Robert and Princess Julie, the groom's first cousin once removed, and his wife
The Dowager Princess of Ligne , the groom's paternal grandaunt
The Prince and Princess of Ligne, the groom's first cousin once removed, and his wife
Princess Alix de Ligne, the groom's second cousin
Prince and Princess Wauthier de Ligne, the groom's first cousin once removed, and his wife
Princess Elisabeth-Eleonore and Baron Baudouin Gillès de Pelichy, the groom's second cousin and her husband
Princess Anne and Charles de Fabribeckers de Cortils et Grâce, the groom's first cousin once removed, and his wife
Princess Christine and Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza, the groom's first cousin once removed, and her husband
Princess Sophie, Countess Philippe de Nicolay, the groom's first cousin once removed
Prince and Princess Antoine-Lamoral de Ligne, the groom's first cousin once removed, and his wife
Princess Yolande and Hugo Townshend, the groom's first cousin once removed, and her husband
Hélène Vestur, former wife of Prince Jean
Mestre family
Luis and Nicole Mestre, the groom's maternal uncle and aunt
Maike Mestre, the groom's first cousin
Luis Mestre, the groom's cousin
Antonio Mestre, the groom's maternal uncle
Catalina Esteve, the groom's maternal aunt
Natalia Esteve, the groom's cousin
Katarina Esteve, the groom's cousin
Victoria Esteve, the groom's cousin
Relatives of the bride
The Count de Lannoy , the bride's father
Count Jehan de Lannoy, the bride's brother
Countess Caroline de Lannoy, the bride's niece
Countess Louise de Lannoy, the bride's niece
Count Christian and Countess Luisa de Lannoy, the bride's brother and sister-in-law
Countess Nathalie and John Hamilton, the bride's sister and brother-in-law
Antonia Hamilton, the bride's niece
Charlotte Hamilton, the bride's niece
Madeleine Hamilton, the bride's niece
Countess Gaëlle de Lannoy, the bride's sister
Count Amaury de Lannoy, the bride's brother
Count Olivier and Countess Alice de Lannoy, the bride's brother and sister-in-law
Countess Isabelle and Jean-Charles de le Court, the bride's sister and brother-in-law
Isaure de le Court, the bride's niece
Lancelot de le Court, the bride's nephew
Countess Chantal de Lannoy, the bride's paternal aunt
Countess Christine and Count Bruno de Limburg Stirum, the bride's first cousin and her husband
Countess Isabelle de Lannoy, the bride's paternal aunt
Count Claude and Countess Claudine de Lannoy, the bride's paternal uncle and aunt
della Faille de Leverghem family
Ladislas and Anne della Faille de Leverghem, the bride's maternal uncle and aunt
Lydia and Dominique de Schaetzen, the bride's maternal aunt and uncle
Dominique and Claude della Faille de Lerverghem, the bride's maternal uncle and aunt
Arnaud and Marie-Pascale della Faille de Lerverghem, the bride's maternal uncle and aunt
Foreign royal guests
Members of reigning royal families
Queen Fabiola of Belgium , the groom's paternal grandaunt by marriage
The King and Queen of the Belgians , the groom's paternal granduncle and grandaunt
The Queen and Prince Consort of Denmark , the groom's second cousin twice removed, and her husband
Count Axel and Countess Jutta of Rosenborg, the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife
The Crown Prince of Japan (representing the Emperor of Japan )[1]
Prince Hassan bin Talal and Princess Sarvath al-Hassan of Jordan (representing the King of Jordan )[1]
The Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein , the groom's third cousin once removed, and his wife [3]
Princess Isabelle of Liechtenstein, wife of the groom's third cousin once removed
Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein, the groom's fourth cousin
The Dowager Marchioness of Mariño , the groom's third cousin once removed
The Princess of Hanover , wife of the groom's third cousin twice removed (representing the Prince of Monaco )[3]
The Princess Consort of Morocco (representing the King of Morocco )[3]
The Queen of the Netherlands , the groom's fourth cousin once removed
The King and Queen of Norway , the groom's first cousin twice removed, and his wife [1]
Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani of Qatar (representing the Emir of Qatar )[8]
Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber bin Mohammed bin Thani Al Thani of Qatar
The Prince and Princess of Asturias , the groom's fourth cousin once removed, and his wife (representing the King of Spain )[7]
The Queen of Sweden , wife of the groom's third cousin once removed (representing the King of Sweden )
The Earl and Countess of Wessex , the groom's third cousin twice removed, and his wife (representing the Queen of the United Kingdom )[1]
Members of non-reigning royal families
Archduchess Maria Beatrice, Countess Riprand von und zu Arco-Zinneberg, the groom's second cousin once removed
Archduke Martin and Archduchess Katharina of Austria-Este, the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife
Archduchess Isabella and Count Andrea Czarnocki-Lucheschi, the groom's second cousin once removed, and her husband
Archduke István and Archduchess Paola of Austria, the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife
Archduchess Yolande of Austria , widow of the groom's first cousin twice removed
Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Marie-Hélène of Austria, the groom's second cousin once removed
Archduchess Priscilla of Austria, the groom's third cousin
Archduchess Anna Gabriele of Austria, widow of the groom's first cousin twice removed
Archduchess Maria Anna and Prince Peter Galitzine, the groom's second cousin once removed, and her husband
Archduke Karl Peter and Archduchess Alexandra of Austria, the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife
Archduke Simeon and Archduchess María of Austria, the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife
Archduchess Catharina-Maria of Austria and Count Massimiliano Secco d'Aragona, the groom's second cousin once removed, and her husband
Archduke Michael and Archduchess Christiana of Austria, the groom's fourth cousin once removed, and his wife
Archduchess Sophie and The Prince of Windisch-Graetz , the groom's fourth cousin once removed, and her husband
The Margrave and Margravine of Baden, the groom's third cousins twice removed
The Hereditary Prince and Hereditary Princess of Baden, the groom's fourth cousin once removed, and his wife
The Duke and Duchess in Bavaria, the groom's second cousin twice removed, and his wife
Prince Ludwig of Bavaria, the groom's third cousin
The Dowager Duchess of Croÿ, the groom's first cousin twice removed
The Duke and Duchess of Croÿ, the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife
The Duke and Duchess of Parma , the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife [9]
Princess Marie Françoise of Lobkowicz , the groom's first cousin twice removed [10]
Tsar Simeon II and Tsarina Margarita of the Bulgarians , the groom's half-second cousin once removed, and his wife
The Duke and Duchess of Vendôme , the groom's fourth cousin and his wife [13]
The Prince Napoléon , the groom's fourth cousin once removed
King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece , the groom's third cousin twice removed, and second cousin twice removed
The Prince and Princess of Venice , the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife [14]
The Princess and Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg , the groom's fifth cousin twice removed, and her husband
The Duke and Duchess of Braganza , the groom's second cousin twice removed, and his wife [citation needed ]
The Prince of Prussia , the groom's sixth cousin, once removed [citation needed ]
Princess Alexandra and Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth , the groom's third cousin once removed, and her husband [citation needed ]
The Prince and Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu of Romania , the groom's second cousin once removed, and her husband
The Princess of Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia , the groom's fourth cousin once removed, and his wife [15]
Nobility
Other notable guests
Approximately 270 citizens of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg attended the wedding ceremony.[3]
References
External links