The wedding of Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy took place over a two-day period on October 19 and October 20, 2012. A civil ceremony was held on October 19 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.
Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg was the last unmarried heir apparent of a monarchy in Europe prior to the wedding.
The House of Nassau-Weilburg, which includes the Grand Ducal Family, has headed Luxembourg since 1890. Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg is set to succeed his father, Henri, as the 7th Grand Duke of Luxembourg upon the latter's death or abdication.
Stéphanie de Lannoy is a member of a Belgian noble family, considered one of the oldest aristocratic families in Europe. She is the youngest of eight brothers and sisters. A graduate of the Université catholique de Louvain, Stéphanie is multilingual, speaking French, German and Russian.
The union of Guillaume and Stéphanie was not controversial. Guillaume and Stéphanie had known each other for many years. The couple began dating in 2009. They announced their engagement in April 2012. Prince Guillaume was 30 years old and Stéphanie was 28 years old at the time of their wedding.
Stéphanie's mother, Alix de Lannoy, died from a stroke on August 26, 2012, just two months before the grand ducal wedding.
The 2012 grand ducal wedding is estimated to have cost approximately 500,000 euros (US$650,000), paid with Luxembourgish taxes. The two-day ceremony included public street fairs, fireworks, and free concerts, all open to the public.
Stephanie's change of citizenship was expedited prior to the wedding, which caused some controversy within Luxembourg. She became a naturalized Luxembourger October 19, 2012.
Prince Guillaume and Countess Stéphanie were married in a small civil ceremony on October 19, 2012, conducted by Luxembourg Mayor Xavier Bettel.
The more elaborate, Catholic wedding ceremony was held in Notre-Dame Cathedral the next day. The ceremony, which began shortly after 11:00 a.m. on October 20, was officiated by Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Luxembourg. The weather on the day of the ceremony was described as "unseasonably warm." Stéphanie was escorted into the Cathedral by her eldest brother, Count Jehan. Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume arrived at the ceremony with his mother, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
The bride and groom exchanged wedding rings crafted entirely from fair trade gold.
The couple exchanged a public kiss before a crowd of well-wishers on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace after the ceremony.
Countess Stéphanie's wedding dress was designed by Lebanese fashion designer Elie Saab. The dress was described as an "ivory lace gown embroidered with silver filigree" with "three-quarter length sleeves." Her gown was accompanied by a silk tulle veil, featuring a motif of silver floral designs trailing thirteen feet behind her and the Lannoy family tiara.
Prince Guillaume wore a Luxembourgish military uniform.
The bridal attendants were the bridegroom's sister and nephew, and nieces and nephew of the bride:
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.
Grand Duke Jean; the groom's grandfather
Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa; the groom's parents
Prince Félix and Claire Lademacher; the groom's brother and his girlfriend
Prince Louis and Princess Tessy; the groom's brother and sister-in-law
Prince Gabriel of Nassau; the groom's nephew
Prince Noah of Nassau; the groom's nephew
Princess Alexandra: the groom's sister
Prince Sébastien; the groom's brother
Archduchess Marie Astrid and Archduke Carl Christian of Austria; the groom's aunt and uncle
Archduchess Marie Christine and Count Rodolphe of Limburg-Stirum; the groom's cousin and her husband
Archduke Imre and Archduchess Kathleen; the groom's cousin and his wife
Archduke Cristoph and Adélaïde Drapé-Frisch; the groom's cousin and his fiancé
Archduke Alexander; the groom's cousin
Archduchess Gabriella; the groom's cousin
Prince Jean and Countess Diane; the uncle and aunt
Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Nassau; the groom's cousin
Prince Constantin of Nassau; the groom's cousin
Prince Wenceslas of Nassau; the groom's cousin
Prince Carl-Johan of Nassau; the groom's cousin
Princess Margaretha and Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein; the groom's aunt and uncle
Prince Leopold; the groom's cousin
Princess Maria-Anunciata; the groom's cousin
Princess Marie-Astrid; the groom's cousin
Prince Josef-Emanuel; the groom's cousin
Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla; the groom's uncle and aunt
Prince Paul Louis of Nassau; the groom's cousin
Prince Léopold of Nassau; the groom's cousin
Princess Charlotte of Nassau; the groom's cousin
Prince Jean of Nassau; the groom's cousin
Princess Anna of Hohenberg and Count Andreas of Bardeau; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Princess Sophie of Hohenberg and Jean-Louis de Potesta; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Countess Charlotte Henckel of Donnersmarck and Count Christoph Johannes von Meran; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Princess Lydia, Hereditary Countess of Holstein-Ledreborg; the groom's first cousin once removed
Countess Veronica Holstein til Ledreborg; the groom's first cousin once removed
Countess Silvia Holstein til Ledreborg and John Munro; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Countess Antonia Holstein til Ledreborg; the groom's first cousin once removed
Princess Charlotte of Nassau and Marc-Victor Cunningham; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Prince Robert of Nassau and Princess Julie; the groom's first cousin once removed and his wife
Princess Alix of Luxembourg, Dowager Princess of Ligne; the groom's grandaunt
Prince Michel, 14th Prince of Ligne and Princess Eleanora, Princess of Ligne; the groom's first cousin once removed and his wife
Princess Alix de Ligne; the groom's second cousin
Prince Wauthier de Ligne and Princess Régine de Ligne; the groom's first cousin once removed and his wife
Princess Elisabeth-Eleonore de Ligne and Baron Baudouin Gillès de Pelichy; the groom's second cousin and her husband
Princess Anne de Ligne and Charles de Fabribeckers de Cortils et Grâce; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Princess Christine and Prince Antônio of Orléans-Braganza; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Countess Sophie de Nicolay, née Princess de Ligne; the groom's first cousin once removed
Prince Antoine-Lamoral de Ligne and Princess Minthia de Ligne, née Countess de Lannoy; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Princess Yolande de Ligne and Hugo Townshend; the groom's first cousin once removed and his wife
Luis and Nicole Mestre; the groom's maternal uncle and aunt
Maike Mestre; the groom's cousin
Luis Mestre; the groom's cousin
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
Hélène Vestur, former wife of Prince Jean
The Count of Lannoy, father of the Bride
Count Jehan of Lannoy; the bride's brother
Countess Caroline de Lannoy; the bride's niece
Countess Louise de Lannoy, the bride's niece
Count Christian and Countess Luisa of Lannoy; the bride's brother and sister-in-law
Countess Nathalie of Lannoy and John Hamilton; the bride's sister and brother-in-law
Antonia Hamilton; the bride's niece
Charlotte Hamilton; the bride's niece
Madeleine Hamilton; the bride's niece
Countess Gaëlle of Lannoy; the bride's sister
Count Amaury of Lannoy; the bride's brother
Count Olivier and Countess Alice of Lannoy; the bride's brother and sister-in-law
Countess Isabelle of Lannoy and Jean-Charles de le Court; the bride's sister and brother-in-law
Isaure de le Court; the bride's niece
Lancelot de le Court; the bride's nephew
Countess Chantal of Lannoy; the bride's aunt
Countess Christine de Limburg Stirum, née Countess de Lannoy and Count Bruno de Limburg Stirum; the bride's first cousin and her husband
Countess Isabelle of Lannoy; the bride's aunt
Count Claude and Countess Claudine of Lannoy, Countess of Ursel; the bride's uncle and aunt
Ladislas and Anne della Faille de Leverghem; the bride's uncle and aunt
Dominique and Lydia de Schaetzen, née Lydia della Faille de Leverghem; the bride's uncle and aunt
Dominique and Claude della Faille de Lerverghem; the bride's uncle and aunt
Arnaud della Faille de Leverghem and Marie-Pascale della Faille de Lerverghem; the bride's uncle and aunt
House of Arenberg:
Princess Dainé d'Arenberg
Austrian Imperial family:
Archduchess Maria Beatrice of Austria-Este, Countess von und zu Arco-Zinneberg
Countess Anna von und zu Arco-Zinneberg
Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg
Archduke Martin and Archduchess Katharina of Austria-Este
Archduchess Isabella of Austria-Este and Count Andrea Czarnocki-Lucheschi
Archduke István and Archduchess Paola of Austria
Archduchess Yolande of Austria
Archduke Rudolf and Archduchess Marie-Hélène of Austria
Archduchess Priscilla of Austria
Archduchess Anna Gabriele of Austria
Archduke Karl-Peter and Archduchess Alexandra of Austria
Archduke Simeon and Archduchess María of Austria
Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria and Prince Peter Galitzine
Archduchess Catharina-Maria of Austria and Count Massimiliano Secco d'Aragona
Archduke Michael and Archduchess Christiana of Austria
Baden
Maximilian, Margrave of Baden and Valerie, Margravine of Baden
Bernhard, Hereditary Prince of Baden and Hereditary Princess Stephanie of Baden
Bavaria:
Prince Max, Duke in Bavaria and Princess Elisabeth, Duchess in Bavaria
Prince Ludwig of Bavaria
Belgium:
Queen Fabiola; the groom's great-aunt
King Albert II and Queen Paola; the groom's great-uncle and great-aunt
Prince Philippe, The Duke of Brabant and Princess Mathilde, The Duchess of Brabant; the groom's first cousin once removed and his wife
Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz; the groom's first cousin once removed and her husband
Prince Amedeo; the groom's second cousin
Prince Laurent and Princess Claire; the groom's first cousin once removed and his wife
House of Bonaparte;
Jean-Christophe, Prince Napoléon
Bulgarian Royal Family:
King Simeon II and Queen Margarita
Princess Miriam, Princess of Turnovo
Prince Kyril, Prince of Preslav
Croÿ:
Duchess Gabriele of Croÿ, née Princess of Bavaria
Duke Rudolf and Duchess Alexandra of Croÿ
Denmark:
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary
Count Axel and Countess Jutta of Rosenborg
Orléans-French Royal Family:
Prince Jean, Duke of Vendôme and Princess Philomena, Duchess of Vendôme
German Imperial and Royal Family:
Crown Prince Georg Friedrich, Prince of Prussia
Anastasia, Princess of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg and Alois-Konstantin, 9th Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Princely Family:
Princess Alexandra, Countess Pfeil and Klein-Ellguth and Count Jefferson of Pfeil and Klein-Ellguth
Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Alexander, Prince zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and Princess Gabriela zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn
Greek Royal Family:
King Constantine II and Queen Anne-Marie
Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal
Italian Royal Family:
Prince Emanuele Filiberto, Prince of Venice and Piedmont and Princess Clotilde, Princess of Venice and Piedmont
Parmese Ducal Family:
Carlos, Duke of Parma and Anne-Marie, Duchess of Parma
Princess Maria Francisca, Princess of Lobkowicz
Prince Charles-Henri of Lobkowicz
Japan:
Crown Prince Naruhito
Jordan:
Prince Hassan bin Talal and Princess SarvathPrince Rashid bin Hassan and Princess Zeina
Liechtenstein:
Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie
Princess Isabelle von und zu Liechtenstein
Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein
Princess Nora of Liechtenstein
House of Merode:
Prince Charles-Louis and Princess Clothilde of Merode
Princess Blanche of Merode and Baron Philipp von und zu Bodman
Monaco:
Princess Caroline, Hereditary Princess of Monaco
Morocco:
Princess Lalla Salma
The Netherlands:
Queen Beatrix
Prince Willem-Alexander, The Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Norway:
King Harald V and Queen SonjaCrown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit
Princess Martha Louise
Portuguese Royal Family:
Duarte Pio, Duke of Braganza and Isabel, Duchess of Braganza
Qatar
Princess Al-Mayassa
Prince Hamad
Romanian Royal Family:
Crown Princess Margareta and Prince Radu
House of Stolberg:
Fürst Jost-Christian zu Stolberg-Stolberg and Fürstin Sylvianne zu Stolberg-Stolberg
Princess Louise zu Stolberg-Stolberg
Spain:
The Prince and Princess of Asturias
Sweden:
Queen Silvia
Crown Princess Victoria, Duchess of Västergötland and Prince Daniel, Duke of Västergötland
Prince Carl Philip, Duke of Värmland
United Kingdom:
The Earl and Countess of Wessex
Penelope Knatchbull, Baroness Brabourne
Windisch-Graetz
Mariano Hugo, Prince of Windisch-Graetz and Sophie, Princess of Windisch-Graetz
House of Württemberg:
Duchess Mathilde of Württemberg, Hereditary Countess von Waldburg zu Zeil und Trauchburg,
Yugoslavian Royal Family:
Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine
Approximately 270 citizens of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg attended the wedding ceremony.
Jean-Claude Juncker, Prime Minister of Luxembourg
Xavier Bettel, Mayor of Luxembourg City, and his partner
José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission
