Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
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Maria Teresa | |
Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Duchess of Nassau |
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Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg |
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Titles | HRH The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (2000-) HRH The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1981-2001) Miss Maria Teresa Mestre (1956-1981) |
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Born | March 22, 1956 |
Birthplace | Havana, Cuba |
Consort | October 7, 2000 - present |
Consort to | Henri |
Issue | Guillaume, Félix, Louis, Alexandra, Sébastien |
Father | José Antonio Mestre |
Mother | Maria Teresa Batista-Falla de Mestre |
Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (née Maria Teresa Mestre; born March 22, 1956) is the grand ducal consort of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.
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[edit] Early life and education
Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was born in Havana, Cuba, to José Antonio Mestre and Maria Teresa Batista-Falla de Mestre. In October 1959, at the time of the revolution, Maria Teresa Mestre left Cuba with her parents. The family settled in New York where, as a young girl, she was a pupil at Marymount School. From 1961 she carried on her studies at the Lycée Français. In her childhood, Maria Teresa Mestre took ballet and singing courses. She practices skiing, ice-skating and water sports. She lived in New York City, Santander, Spain and Geneva, where she met the Grand Duke.
In 1980 she graduated from the University of Geneva in political sciences. Miss Mestre met Prince Henri at this university. For four years they both carried on similar studies, working sometimes in the same study groups. Miss Mestre was for instance, the author of a report comparing legislation concerning women and motherhood within the European Union.
[edit] Social and human interests
During the same period she took an ever increasing interest in social and human problems, following the family tradition which had brought her grandparents to devote themselves actively to philanthropy and cultural tasks in Cuba.
Besides her studies, Miss Mestre was a member of a group in Geneva taking interest in the well-being of residents of retirement homes. She also taught children in a Geneva classroom.
As a native Cuban, Spanish is her native language, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa knows French thoroughly, having carried on her studies at the French School (Lycée Français) and in Switzerland. When she was young, she learned English. After her marriage she learned Luxembourgish, and she also speaks German and Italian.
In 2006, the Grand Duchess received the Path to Peace Award from a Holy See Foundation for her "relentless contribution to humanitarian causes."
Styles of Maria Theresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg |
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Reference style | Her Royal Highness |
Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
Alternative style | Ma'am |
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[edit] Marriage & Family
Maria Teresa Mestre married Prince Henri of Luxembourg on February 14, 1981. They have five children and two grandchildren:
- Prince Guillaume, born on November 11, 1981.
- Prince Félix, born June 3, 1984.
- Prince Louis, born August 3, 1986; married 29 September 2006, Tessy Antony.
- Gabriel de Nassau (born 12 March 2006; legitimized son of Prince Louis and Tessy Antony)
- Noah de Nassau (born 21 September 2007)
- Princess Alexandra, born February 16, 1991.
- Prince Sébastien, born April 16, 1992.