First Communion of Prince Gabriel

All Photos: Marc Wilwert / Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu

This morning, Prince Gabriel, the oldest son of Prince Louis and Princess Tessy, received his First Communion at the Église Saint-Michel in Luxembourg and even a few glitches such as the way from the palais to the church not being closed off and plunging building rubble could not tarnish the day. The mass was presided over by Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich and concelebrated by the former Archbishop Fernand Franck, the grand ducal chaplain François Muller, the honorary grand ducal chaplain (and everyone's favourite parachute jumping priest) Georges Vuillermoz as well as the priest of Gilsdorf, Albert Franck. The master of the ceremonies was priest Jean-Pierre Reiners. Altar servers were children from the parishes of Bridel, Kehlen, Keispelt and Nospelt.

Naturally, the whole event brought out quite a number of members of the Grand Ducal Family: Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa, Grand Duke Jean, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie, Prince Félix and Princess Claire, Prince Louis and Princess Tessy with Prince Noah in addition to Prince Gabriel, Princess Alexandra as well as Prince Sébastien. In addition, Archduke Carl-Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid, Prince Jean's former wife Hélène Vestur, Princess Margaretha, Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla with Princess Charlotte and Prince Jean as well as the Grand Duchess' brother Luis Mestre, his wife Nicole and their daughter Maike were also present. The family of Princess Tessy was represented by her parents, grandmother, siblings and siblings-in-law.

Starting at 10am, the mass that featured music by the church's choir under the direction of Gerry Welter, soprano Meeta Reval, tenor Olivier Gerrish as well as organist Alain Wirth ended at around 11:45am. Photographers weren't allowed inside the church though the cour grand-ducale will release a few pictures including a joint family picture late this afternoon.

Pictures from outside the church are available at L'essentiel, Tageblatt, Wort in German and Wort in French.

Source: Cour grand-ducale, Tageblatt