Several new images, taken by Lola Velasco, have been released by the Grand Ducal Court ahead of the 62nd birthday of His Royal Highness Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg on Sunday.
The Grand Duke and Duchess of Luxembourg. Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
In all of the nine images, the Grand Duke poses with his wife of 36 years, Her Royal Highness Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. Two of the photos also feature two of their beloved dogs in the gardens of the palace.
© Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
© Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
The Grand Duke is not the only member of the Grand Ducal Family who is celebrating a birthday on Sunday. The Grand Duke and Duchess’s youngest child, Prince Sébastien, who is currently going through a 44-week training course at Sandhurst, will turn 25.
Grand Duke Henri turns 62 on Sunday, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa celebrated her 61st birthday on 22 March. Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
Henri met Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista while studying in Geneva, Switzerland, at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies. They married in a civil ceremony 4 February 1981. Their religious ceremony was ten days later on Valentine’s Day.
© Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
Their Royal Highnesses have five children: Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (b. 11 November 1981), Prince Félix (b. 3 June 1984), Prince Louis (b. 3 August 1986), Princess Alexandra (b. 16 February 1991) and Prince Sébastien (b. 16 April 1992).
© Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
The Grand Duke and Duchess also have four grandchildren. Prince Gabriel and Prince Noah are from Prince Louis’s marriage to Princess Tessy (née Antony). Louis and Tessy announced their separation in January 2017. Princess Amalia and Prince Liam are from Prince Félix’s marriage to Princess Claire (née Lademacher).
© Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
© Cour grand-ducale / Lola Velasco / tous droits réservés.
Two other European royals will celebrate their birthdays on the 16th of April. Queen Margrethe of Denmark will celebrate her 77th birthday, and Princess Eléonore of Belgium will turn nine-years-old. Eléonore is the youngest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium.
HRH The Grand Duke looks darn good.