Grand Duke Henri looks back on an eventful year

Grand Duke Henri during his Christmas message

There are so many things for Grand Duke Henri to be thankful for. So, in his Christmas message to his subjects, he makes it all clear. Although Luxembourg, like the rest of Europe, is hard-hit by the credit crunch, still, there are many things to be happy about.

Wurt.lu gives  us a detail of all the things that Grand Duke Henri and, perhaps, the entire Luxembourgers are thankful for:

“In his Christmas speech the Grand Duke looks back on some joyous occasions without failing to acknowledge that Luxembourg is facing big challenges for the future.
Grand Duke Henri said that he was looking back at 2012 with mixed feelings, as a year in which good news and bad news came in quick succession.
But, while the economic crisis abroad and in Luxembourg dominated the news, Henri said the cheerful times should not be forgotten, such as Prince Guillaume's wedding in October to Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, but also the more recent announcement of Prince Félix's engagement to Claire Lademacher.
The Grand Duke also thanked the country's foreign population who shared this important moment of the Grand Ducal family and indeed the country.
Solidarity in times of crisis
However, the Grand Duke also talked about the difficult times the country was experiencing, with companies closing, redundancies and savings measures. The effects that this crisis has on Luxembourg are felt by the people, Henri added, saying that it was important to think of the people who were suffering and to grow together and stand together in this crisis.
Luxembourg's long tradition of social solidarity, within the country but also in Europe and around the world, was especially needed today, he said.
While the crisis was also an opportunity for change and reform, Henri warned that it was also the time to learn from the past and to be aware of the consequences of our actions and to be responsible for the future.
Looking forward with courage and trust
Maybe addressing some of the recent rumours which arose in the wake of the Luxembourg secret service scandal about ties of the Grand Duke to the British MI6, Henri said that it was important to remain objective and calm in a world that turns at an ever quicker pace, to be in the service of truth and not to forget the people behind the news.
But the Grand Duke ended on a positive note, saying that he was convinced that Luxembourg's citizens were ready to pave the way for the future. The way Luxembourg will look tomorrow depends on our actions today, he said, adding that the country was ready to take on this challenge and to look forward with courage and trust.”

Grand Duchess Stephanie glitters at the gala dinner

Grand Duke Henri proposes a toast to the newly weds Grand Duke Guillaume and
Grand Duchess Stephanie

Elegant in the green Elie Saab gown plus fresh from the wedding, Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg was definitely the center of limelight at the gala dinner hosted by his father-in-law Grand Duke Henri in honor of the new wedded-couple.

The event gathered together the most glittering royal personalities, all in their equally stunning evening dresses and sparkling jewels, who were one with the Luxembourgers in greeting Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and her bride, Grand Duchess Stephanie.

The Crown Prince and Princess of Belgium

The Crown Prince and Princess of Norway

The Crown Prince and Princess of Yugoslavia

Crown Princess Margarita and Prince Radu of Romania

Prince Emanuele Filiberto and Princess Clotilde of Savoy

The Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg

The Greek Royal Family. From left to right, Crown Princess Marie-Chantal,
Crown Prince Pavlos, King Constantine, and Queen Anne-Marie

Prince Hassan and Princess Savrath of Jordan

The King and Queen of Belgium

The King and Queen of Sweden

The King and Queen of Norway

Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium

Princess Margaretha of Leichtenstein

Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria

Princess Martha Louise of Norway

The Crown Prince and Princess of the Netherlands

Prince Nicholaus of Liechtenstein

The Princess of Hanover, Princess Caroline of Monaco

Queen Fabiola of Belgium

Grand Dukes Sebastian, Louis
and Felix of Luxembourg

Royal wedding puts Luxembourg in the spotlight

Luxembourg becomes the world's spotlight at the wedding of
Grand Duke Guillaume and Countess Sophie de Lannoy

The wedding of Grand Duke Guillaume and Countess Sophie de Lannoy, dubbed as the wedding of the year, puts Luxembourg in the spotlight. The world’s only Grand Duchy, and one of the smallest country’s in the world, rarely enjoys this media frenzy, let alone a gathering of some of the world’s most glamorous personalities, heads of states, dignitaries.


Luxembourg is an independent country smaller than the smallest U.S. state, Rhode Island. It would certainly fit 138 times in its neighboring country, Germany. It didn’t win any medal at the recent London Olympics and in fact, the last it did was during the 1952 games.

But despite this, Luxembourgers enjoy a lifestyle better off than the U.S., or any of the biggest countries for that matter. In fact, the grand duchy enjoys the distinction as one of the most developed countries, with an advanced economy. It’s the second wealthiest countries in terms of per capita income, at a little over $80,000. The country also enjoys a very high human development index, at 0.867, which placed it 25th all over the world.

The country’s economy depends heavily  on steel manufacturing, although it has diversified over a variety of sectors including chemicals and rubbers. Banking and finance are the two key players in keeping the economy afloat. The country is the second largest investment fund hub in the world, after the U.S., and the largest in Eurozone.

Luxembourg's Grand Ducal Family

Until 1867, Luxembourg came under the rule of the Bourbons, Habsburgs, Hohenzollerns and the French. In 1867, Luxembourg was official recognized as a sovereign grand duchy, with the King of the Netherlands as its sovereign. Upon the death of King William III, the grand duchy passed on to Adolphe of Nassau-Weilburg.

The country’s strategic position caused it to be invaded by the Germans, despite the fact that Luxembourg maintained its neutrality. In became a founding member of the UN and NATO in 1946 and 1949 respectively.

The current Grand Duke, Henri inherited the throne in 2000 after his father, Grand Duke Jean abdicated. He is married to Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla, from Cuba, whom he met while studying in Geneva. Today, his heir apparent, Grand Duke Guillaume, marries Belgian noblewoman Countess Stephanie de Lannoy

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume was born on November 11, 1981 at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg. He was christened Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie. Guillaume had attended Lycée Robert-Schumann in Luxembourg, Beau Soleil and Institut Le Rosey  in Switzerland, and the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. He  also attended the University of Durham and Brunel University, both in England. In 2009, he finished his bachelor’s degree in letters and political science at the Institut Albert-le-Grand in Angers.

Since becoming his father’s heir apparent, the Grand Duke has been active in numerous duties, including serving as Honorary Chairman of the Board of Economic Development of Luxembourg and representing his father in the celebrations in honor of Prince Christian of Denmark's christening in January 2006, Queen Sonja of Norway's birthday in July 2007 and later on in September 2007, during the 40th birthday celebrations of the heir-apparent to the Dutch throne, the Prince of Orange.

Grand Duke Guillaume has dated Countess Stephanie de Lannoy for two years prior to the announcement of their engagement in April 2012. Countess Stephanie is the daughter of Count Philippe de Lannoy and the late Alix della Faille de Leverghem. She was born on February 18, 1984 and grew up at the family estate, the Chateau d’Anvaing.

Luxemburg Royals on State Visit to Germany

Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Theresa and Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxemburg went on a state visit to Germany, where they attended a round of official functions, including the opening of the Luxembourg silver treasury at the German Historical Museum. 

The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg is welcomed by Berlin's Mayor.

Grand Duke Henri with President Joachim Gaulk

The Grand Duke and the President inspects the honor guards

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg gives a speech at a reception held in
his honor by the mayor of Berlin.

The Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg with Hereditary
Grand Duke Guillaume during the silver treasury exhibit
at the German Historical Museum.