Fit For a Princess

It was the first day of the two day wedding extravaganza of Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy. I must say, Stephanie looked SUPERB! She looked like the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, already.
 
The Morning portion of the day, and now my favourite, the evening:
 

The Upcoming Luxembourg Royal Wedding Guest List

**Royal Family**

TRH the Grand-Duke and the Grande-Duchess
HRH the Grand-Duke Jean
HRH the Crown Prince and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy
HRH Prince Félix
TRH Prince Louis and Princess Tessy
HRH Princess Alexandra
HRH Prince Sébastien

**Grand Duke’s brothers and sisters **

TRH Archduke Christian et l’Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria
HSH Prince Nicolas and
HRH Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein
HRH Prince Jean de Luxembourg and Countess Diane de Nassau
TRH Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg

**Members of the Royal and the de Lannoy Family **

Mr. and Mrs. Luis Mestre
Mrs. Catalina Esteve
Mr. Antonio Mestre
Mrs. Hélène Vestur
Count de Lannoy
Count Jehan de Lannoy
The Count and the Countess Christian de Lannoy
Mr. and Mrs. John Hamilton
Miss Antonia Hamilton
Countess Gaëlle de Lannoy
 Count Amaury de Lannoy
The Count and the Countess Olivier de Lannoy
Mr. and Mrs. Jean-Charles de le Court
Countess Albert de Lannoy
Countess Isabelle de Lannoy
The Count and the Countess Claude de Lannoy
Mr. and Mrs. Ladislas della Faille de Leverghem
The Knight and Mrs. Dominique de Schaetzen
Mr. and Mrs. Dominique della Faille de Lerverghem
Mr. and Mrs. Arnaud della Faille de Lerverghem

**Members of Foreign Royal Families **

HRH Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Belgians T
heir Majesties the King and Queen of Norway
TSH the Reigning Prince and Princess of Liechtenstein
Her Majesty the Queen of the Netherlands
Her Majesty the Queen of Sweden
Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark and
HRH the Prince Consort
TRH Prince Frédérik and Princess Mary of Denmark
TRH Crown Princess and Prince Daniel of Sweden
TRH the Prince and the Princess of Asturias
TRH the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
HRH the Crown Prince of Japan
TRH the Crown Prince and Crown Princess of Norway
TRH the Duke and the Duchess of Brabant
HRH Princess Märtha Louise of Norway and Mr. Ari Behn
HRH Prince Carl Philip of Sweden
TRH Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium
TRH Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium
HRH Prince Rashid and Princess Zeina of Jordan
TRH Crown Princess and Prince Radu of Romania
HRH the Princess of Hanover
TRH Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan
TRH Prince Edward of Countess Sophie of Wessex
Their Majesties King Constantin and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Bulgaria
 

Interview with Prince Guillaume and Countess Stephanie

The interview with Countess Stephanie de Lannoy and Prince Guillaume.
Countess, do you believe in Prince Charming?

Stephanie: "Not only do I believe in it, I also think I found it. I remember the day I met Guillaume I told a friend – who by the way is going to be maid of honour at our wedding – I had found an exceptional man with whom I shared many things in common.

"I really did not think such a man could exist. So of course I believe in Prince Charming."

Describe how you first met?

Stephanie: "We met about eight years ago in Germany while on holiday with mutual friends. We lost touch for several years, then, by chance, we met again in Germany three years ago. That was when our love story began."

Will there be a bachelor party?

Guillaume: "There is a surprise for me, but I don’t know the details."

Stephanie: "I know the details, but I can't say anything!"

Are you going to go on a honeymoon?

Stephanie: "Yes, but unlike the previous question, Guillaume is the one who knows the details. For me it will be a surprise, but I'm very excited about where we're going."

Guillaume: (Laughing) "All I can say is that it will be after the wedding."
There has been a lot of talk about the cost of your wedding, is that something that concerns you?

Guillaume: "I understand that this issue arouses some debate. But we forget that this is a royal wedding that will attract important personalities from around the world. Ulitmately, this is all beneficial for Luxembourg's image."

The fact that Stephanie has been granted Luxembourg nationality so quickly has caused some controversy. Do you understand why people might have reservations?

Guillaume: "Certainly. Many foreigners have to wait a long time until they obtain citizenship. It is a complicated process, but it hasn't been easy for Stephanie either. In the past few months, she has had to take many intensive language and cultural courses. Only now can she speak quite fluently and with ease.

We should also remember that from the day of marriage, Stephanie will take the title of Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, so it's very important to me that she is a national from the start."

Stephanie: "I understand that there is some debate about this issue. But it saddens me that there are people who feel I have received preferential treatment. I think my case is special and, as such, required special measures. For me, being granted Luxembourg nationality has been like a gift ,but it is related to the role I'll play in my marriage." Are you going to hold dual nationality?

Stephanie: "No. First I would like to stress that I am excited and deeply honored to have obtained Luxembourg citizenship. It is a gift that I humbly accept. As the Hereditary Grand Duchess I am proud to share my husband's nationality. Belgium will always be the country of my childhood and where my roots are, but I don't think keeping Belgian citizenship is consistent with the job that awaits me from now on."

How do you envision your lives as a married couple after the wedding?

Stephanie: "I plan to lead a normal family life – shopping, cooking, etc. As for work, I will focus one hundred percent on being a good representative for the Luxembourg State."

Guillaume: "Right now I am immersed in my work with economic missions abroad, which is a job I love. From now on, Stephanie will accompany me on those trips. The first state visit is expected to be in late November when we visit China. Stephanie also wants to devote time to social issues."

What social issues concern you?

Stephanie: "One thing I would like to address is the issue of loneliness. Many people, not only the elderly, suffer."

Are you planning to start a family in the near future?

Stephanie: "Good question! It depends on what you consider to be the near future. If in two or three years, then yes. For the moment, however, is not a priority, although we're not ruling it out.

I come from a large family of eight. If you think four or five children is a lot, just imagine eight! It was my parents' choice, and being the youngest daughter, I couldn't be more happy with their decision. While eight children are perhaps too many, I'd like to maintain the spirit of a large family."

Guillaume: "It's a blessing to have so many siblings. We're still unsure how many children we want. Only time will tell."

It's interesting that you're wearing two rings...

Stephanie: "I wear Guillaume's engagement ring and also my late mother's ring, which I'll still have on the day of the wedding. There are going to be various homages to my mother during the ceremony. We begin with a minute's silence and the image of Our Lady of Luxembourg will be covered in a veil.
Why was October 20 chosen as the date for the wedding?

Guillaume: "October 20 is a special date. We wanted an autumn wedding. A ceremony during that season is something very special."

Stephanie: "It is a time of year that I love. In the autumn I'm always in a good mood."

Guillaume: "And our anniversary is also in autumn."

Have you decided where you will live after the wedding?

Guillaume: "We want to maintain our independence, here in Luxembourg. But at the moment we don’t want to reveal too much about that topic."

How would you describe your relationship with the Grand Duchess?

Stephanie: "Very good. I consider myself very lucky. Since my mother died, the Grand Duchess has been very present in my life, and she has been a sort of second mother here in Luxembourg."

News On The Upcoming Royal Wedding

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy gave an interview to the Luxembourgish press. Here are some of the information the couple has revealed:

• The couple met 8 years ago in Germany on a holiday.
• Guillaume proposed to Stephanie just three weeks prior to the announcement of the engagement.
• Stephanie will be wearing two rings: her engagement ring and her late mother’s ring.
• Stephanie does not know where the honeymoon will be as it is her family’s tradition for the groom to organized the honeymoon.
• Guillaume addressed the outrage regarding the cost of wedding. He stated he understand it has sparked a debate; however, the wedding is an act of the state where many foreign guests are received.
• The couple also addressed the criticisms of the citizenship issues. Guillaume stated he understands why people who are opposed to the automatic citizenship of Stephanie as many foreigners waited a long time for their own citizenship. However, after the marriage, Stephanie will inherit the title of Hereditary Grand Duchess and be a representative of Luxembourg.
• Stephanie will not be getting a dual citizenship.
• One of the cause Stephanie wants to tackle as the Hereditary Grand Duchess is loneliness as it effect many people, not just the elderly.
• The couple’s first major engagement will be a visit to China in November.
• Although Stephanie is the youngest of eighth children, she does not plan on having that many children.
• In contrary to earlier report, the couple will not be living at Schloss Berg.
• Stephanie revealed she can understand Luxembourgish very well; however, still have trouble speaking it.

Luxembourg Royal Wedding: Tiara Guesses!

As we all (Or some) may know, the Luxembourgish Royal Family has a very grand tiara collection. As I posted, in March, there are the possible tiaras that Stéphanie could wear to her October Wedding.

Stéphanie, originally born as a Countess to Count Philippe de Lannoy and Alix della Faille de Leverghem (Who, sadly died on August 26, 2012.) She was born on February 18 in 1984, at Ronse, East Flanders, Belgium. She is the youngest of seven sibling and she grew up at the family estate, the Château d'Anvaing. Stéphanie is also going to be one of the only three consorts in waiting of Europe’s reigning houses to actually have descended from a noble background, once she gets married. The others? Countess Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz (Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant – in Belgium). The other – Duchess Sophie of Bavaria (Sophie, Hereditary Princess of Liechtenstein).
         
Like, I said a very grand amount of tiaras. There are however, a couple that I think would look great on Stéphanie, I do have to be reminded that she is a Countess. They may have a tiara in their vault, waiting to sit on Stéphanie’s head. No matter, I’m still choosing the tiaras!

The Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara is a good pick, it’s been a Luxembourgish tradition, for mostly every royal bride to wear the tiara. The Belgian Scroll Tiara, which was the tiara worn by Josephine-Charlotte for her wedding photos. I do really like that piece.

Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide's Tiara, my possibly FAVOURITE tiara of the whole collection, I love the design. Next, the floral tiara, it’s a nice piece, and I can see it on Stéphanie’s head at her wedding.

BIG Random Royal News!!: A Luxembourg Royal Engagement

The Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (Guillaume) will marry Countess  Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy later this year. Congrats to Guillaume and Stéphanie!