Wedding of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy

The wedding of Prince 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]

Wedding of Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy
Guillaume and Stéphanie on their wedding day
Date19 October 2012 (civil ceremony)
20 October 2012 (religious ceremony)
LocationNotre-Dame Cathedral
ParticipantsGuillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg & Countess Stephanie de Lannoy
The couple after their civil wedding, receiving children's paintings.

Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last unmarried heir apparent of a monarchy in Europe prior to the wedding.[2] The bride, Countess Stephanie de Lannoy, became Stéphanie, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.

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] Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg is set to succeed his father, Henri, as the 7th Grand Duke of Luxembourg upon the latter's death or abdication.

Stéphanie de Lannoy is a member of a Belgian noble family, considered one of the oldest aristocratic families in Europe.[1][3] She is the youngest of eight brothers and sisters.[3] A graduate of the Université catholique de Louvain, Stéphanie is multilingual, speaking French, German and Russian.[1]

The union of Guillaume and Stéphanie was not controversial.[1] 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

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

Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

  • 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
      • Princess Maria-Anunciata of Liechtenstein, the groom's first cousin
      • Princess Marie-Astrid of Liechtenstein, the groom's first cousin
      • Prince Josef-Emanuel of Liechtenstein, the groom's first cousin
    • 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 great-aunt:
    • 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 great-aunt:
    • 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 great-aunt:
    • 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 great-uncle
    • Princess Charlotte and Marc-Victor Cunningham, the groom's first cousin, once removed, and her husband
    • Prince Robert and Princess Julie of Nassau, the groom's first cousin, once removed, and his wife
  • The Dowager Princess of Ligne, the groom's paternal great-aunt:
    • 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

de Lannoy family

  • 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

Members of reigning royal families

Members of non-reigning royal families

Nobility

Other notable guests

Approximately 270 citizens of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg attended the wedding ceremony.[3]

References

  1. "Luxembourg royal wedding: Crown Prince Guillaume weds". BBC News. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  2. Rodriguez, Cecilia (20 October 2012). "Luxembourg's Royal Wedding Eliminates Europe's Last Bachelor Heir". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. Siuberski, Philippe (20 October 2012). "Europe's elite gather for Luxembourg royal wedding". Agence France Press. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  4. "Bride's mother dies two months before Luxembourg royal wedding". Hello. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  5. "The maids of honour, bridesmaids and pageboys" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  6. "Photo". www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com.
  7. Nikkhah, Roya (20 October 2012). "Luxembourg's royal wedding draws regal guest list". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  8. "The Wedding Of Prince Guillaume Of Luxembourg & Stephanie de Lannoy - Gala Dinner".
  9. Limited, Alamy. "Stock Photo - Prince Carlos and Annemarie de Bourbon de Parme, Duke and Duchess of Parma, (members of Dutch royal family) during the wedding of Prince Guillaume, the Hereditary Grand Duke of". Alamy.
  10. "Photo". www.nettyroyal.nl.
  11. "Ex Bulgarian Royalty Joins Splendid Luxembourg Wedding". Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency). 21 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  12. "Jean d'Orléans : La princesse Philomena enceinte de leur 3e enfant".
  13. "Guillaume of Luxembourg and Stephanie de Lannoy fairtytale wedding". oggi.it. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  14. "Duarte Pio Duke of Braganza and his wife Isabel de Castro". getty images. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  15. "Prince Nikolai and Prince Georg Friedrich".
  16. "Princess Alexandra Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth Photostream".
  17. "Royal Couple at Luxembourg Royal Wedding". Serbian Royal Family. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  18. "Wedding Guest List". www.luxarazzi.com.
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