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

Contents

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 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]

The wedding is mentioned in the Epstein files, where one of the guests, Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway, writes to Jeffrey Epstein that she is "dying of boredom" from the wedding and asks him to "come save us." The comment was widely reported on in the scandal over the relationship of Mette-Marit and Epstein.[5][6]

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]

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 nieces and nephew of the bride:[7]

  • Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg
  • Antonia Hamilton
  • Prince Gabriel of Nassau
  • Countess Caroline de Lannoy
  • Countess Louise de Lannoy
  • Isaure de le Court
  • Lancelot de le Court
  • Madeleine Hamilton

Guests

Relatives of the groom

Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

Extended family

  • Descendants of Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Hohenberg, the groom's paternal grandaunt:
  • 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
  • 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

de Lannoy family

  • The Count de Lannoy, the bride's father
  • 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 Sir 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

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 Hereditary Duke and Hereditary Duchess of Parma, the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife[11]
  • Princess Marie Françoise of Parma, the groom's first cousin twice removed[12] Prince Charles-Henri de Lobkowicz, the groom's second cousin once removed[13]
  • Tsar Simeon II and Tsarina Margarita of the Bulgarians, the groom's half-second cousin once removed, and his wife The Princess of Turnovo, wife of the groom's half-third cousin; The Prince of Preslav, the groom's half-third cousin[14]
  • The Duke and Duchess of Vendôme, the groom's fourth cousin and his wife[15]
  • 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 Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, the groom's third cousin once removed, and his wife
  • The Prince and Princess of Venice, the groom's second cousin once removed, and his wife[16]
  • 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
  • The Prince of Prussia, the groom's sixth cousin, once removed
  • Princess Alexandra and Count Jefferson von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth, the groom's third cousin once removed, and her husband
  • 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 of Serbia and Crown Princess Katherine, the groom's fourth cousin once removed, and his wife[17]

Nobility

  • Princess Dainé d'Arenberg
  • The Lady Brabourne The Hon. Alexandra Knatchbull
  • The Prince and Princess de Mérode Princess Blanche and Baron Philipp von und zu Bodman
  • The Prince and Princess of Stolberg-Stolberg
  • Princess Louise of Stolberg-Stolberg

Other notable guests

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

References

  1. 1.[1.2][1.3][1.4][1.5][1.6][1.7][1.8][1.9][1.10]"Luxembourg royal wedding: Crown Prince Guillaume weds". BBC News. 20 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  2. 2.[2.2]Rodriguez, Cecilia (20 October 2012). "Luxembourg's Royal Wedding Eliminates Europe's Last Bachelor Heir". Forbes Magazine. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. 3.[3.2][3.3][3.4][3.5][3.6][3.7][3.8][3.9][3.10][3.11][3.12][3.13][3.14][3.15][3.16][3.17][3.18][3.19][3.20][3.21]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. 4.[4.2]"Bride's mother dies two months before Luxembourg royal wedding". Hello. 21 October 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  5. 5."Norwegian Crown Princess called Grand Duke Guillaume's wedding 'boring'". RTL. Retrieved 3 February 2026.
  6. 6."Reagerer på kronprinsessens meldinger: – Uverdig å skrive på den måten". Nettavisen. Retrieved 2 February 2026.
  7. 7."The maids of honour, bridesmaids and pageboys" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014. Retrieved 24 October 2012.
  8. 8."Photo". www.redcarpet-fashionawards.com.
  9. 9.[9.2]Nikkhah, Roya (20 October 2012). "Luxembourg's royal wedding draws regal guest list". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  10. 10."The Wedding Of Prince Guillaume Of Luxembourg & Stephanie de Lannoy - Gala Dinner".
  11. 11."Carlos als hoofd van Huis Bourbon-Parma in Luxemburg". Royalblog.NL (in Dutch). 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  12. 12."Carlos als hoofd van Huis Bourbon-Parma in Luxemburg". Royalblog.NL (in Dutch). 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  13. 13."Carlos als hoofd van Huis Bourbon-Parma in Luxemburg". Royalblog.NL (in Dutch). 11 October 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
  14. 14."Ex Bulgarian Royalty Joins Splendid Luxembourg Wedding". Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency). 21 October 2012. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  15. 15."Jean d'Orléans : La princesse Philomena enceinte de leur 3e enfant".
  16. 16."Guillaume of Luxembourg and Stephanie de Lannoy fairtytale wedding". oggi.it. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  17. 17."Royal Couple at Luxembourg Royal Wedding". Serbian Royal Family. Retrieved 21 October 2012.