Princess Tessy of Luxembourg

Princess Tessy

Tessy on her wedding day
Spouse Prince Louis of Luxembourg
Issue Prince Gabriel of Nassau
Prince Noah of Nassau
Father François Antony
Mother Régine Anne Antony
Born 28 October 1985
Luxembourg

Princess Tessy of Luxembourg (born Tessy Antony on 28 October 1985) is the wife of Prince Louis and daughter-in-law of Grand Duke Henri.

Early life

Tessy Antony was born in 1985, the daughter François Antony, a tiler, and his wife Régine Anne.[1] She has three brothers and one sister: Mike (1978) and his twin brother Jerry († 1978), Patty (1981) and Ronny, her twin brother.[2] After being a pupil in a technical high school in Pétange (south of Luxembourg), she joined with her twin brother Ronny Antony the Luxembourg Army at the age of 18, eventually rising to the NCO rank of Corporal Drivers Permis B. From March to July 2004 she took part in a mission in Yugoslavia, as Sdt 1cl Chauffeur C2, in Mitrovica within KFOR, the NATO peacekeeping force in Kosovo.

Further education

Princess Tessy graduated from the Richmond American University in London with a Bachelor in International Relations. Princess Tessy wrote her thesis on the rise of nationalism in Europe using the example of the Greek "Golden Dawn" party. Besides, from 2005 to 2009 Princess Tessy attended several continuous trainings and lectures relating to the topics of “Education and psychology”. Princess Tessy will continue her academic career by pursuing a master's degree in diplomatic studies at a University in London after graduating in 2014.[3]

Marriage and family

Tessy met Prince Louis for the first time while he was visiting the Army. They were married on 29 September 2006 at a parish church in Gilsdorf.[4]

Upon their marriage, Prince Louis gave up succession rights for himself and his descendants, but retained the title of Prince of Luxembourg and the style of Royal Highness. The couple's sons were initially given the surname de Nassau with no titles.[5] On Luxembourg's National Day on 23 June 2009, Grand Duke Henri issued a Grand-Ducal decree granting Tessy the title of Princess of Luxembourg and Princess of Bourbon-Parma with the style Her Royal Highness. The same proclamation gave the title Prince of Nassau and style Royal Highness to their sons Gabriel and Noah and possible future children.In 2012, Princess Tessy received the Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau.[6][7][8]

Princess Tessy and Prince Louis have two children:

Prince Gabriel

On 12 March 2006, Princess Tessy gave birth to a boy, christened Gabriel Michael Louis Ronny de Nassau,[9] who was born at a private Swiss hospital, Clinic des Grangettes, in Geneva.[10] The baby is the first grandchild for Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa. The baby's godparents were his paternal aunt Princess Alexandra and maternal uncle Ronny Antony. On 24 May 2014, Prince Gabriel received his First Holy Communion at The Church of Saint Michel in Luxembourg.[11]

Prince Noah

The couple's second son, Noah Etienne Guillaume Gabriel Matthias Xavier de Nassau, was born on 21 September 2007.[12] The second grandchild for Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, the baby was baptised at the same church in Gilsdorf where his parents married and his elder brother was christened. His godparents are his paternal uncle Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his maternal aunt Patty Antony.

The family lives in London where the Prince and Princess are students.[13]

Official activities

Whenever her schedule and studies allow, Princess Tessy returns to Luxembourg, along with Prince Louis and their children, Prince Gabriel and Prince Noah, to take part to the Grand-Ducal Family's official duties [2]

Honours

See also List of honours of the Luxembourgish Grand-Ducal Family by country

Charity work

Princess Tessy is very much involved in charities and NGOs acting in favour of people with specific needs, She is actively taking part in charitable events in Luxembourg as well as in London. She has been as an active member of the Luxembourg “Groupe de Support Psychologique” (GSP) for the past five years.

Hobbies

A keen sportsperson, Princess Tessy regularly practises the following sports: swimming, scuba diving, spinning, skiing and hunting. She is a member of the Niederkorn Fanfare. She likes classic and contemporary music and is particularly interested in jazz. She regularly attends conferences and seminars on "psychology and social development", topics she also enjoys reading about most.[2]

References