Weekly Roundup: Another Party in the Garden, Nature Visits and More

June 22 to 28, 2019

Photo: Claude Piscitelli / Cour grand-ducale

This week was much influenced by Luxembourg's National Day which took place last weekend. For our coverage please have a look at our posts about the National Day events, the gala and the fashion during all the events. The National Day events continued with a second garden party on Monday this week hosted by the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess. More pictures.

Photo: Cour grand-ducale

On Tuesday, the launch of the white paper about the "Stand Speak Rise Up!" conference hosted by Grand Duchess Maria Teresa was announced.  The white paper is available here.

Photo: Claude Piscitelli / Cour grand-ducale

On Wednesday it was audience time in the Grand Duchy as Grand Duke Henri received the directorate general of the Caisse Médico-Complémentaire Mutualiste, a supplemental health insurance supplier, as well as representatives of the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation.

Photo: Claude Piscitelli / Cour grand-ducale

On Thursday, Grand Duke Henri got to be bus driver for a day as he visited the transportation company Sales-Lentz Group. (Well, sort of - he simply toured their facilities and got to sit down in some fancy busses and more.) 

Photo: Claude Piscitelli / Cour grand-ducale

Continuing his run of fun activities that day, the Grand Duke also visited the valley of the river Syre and the birdringingstation Schlammwiss. Parts of the valley are run by the the Fondation Hëllef fir d’Natur - natur&ëmwelt, the Grand Duke is patron of. Plenty of photos at the cour.

Photo: IKR

There weren't an awful lot of Liechtenstein news this week apart from Hereditary Prince Alois receiving several new ambassadors to the country to be presented with their letters of credence. The new ambassadors came from Benin, Saudi Arabia, Chad, Bulgaria and Vietnam.

Fashion Focus: National Day Edition

Fashion Focus is back! This is our first post in 2019 and there are two explanations for that. First of all, there hasn't been much to cover when it comes to fashion before this National Day weekend. Second of all, we wanted to respect the period of mourning for the late Grand Duke Jean. I can't say the Fashion Focus posts will be back on a regular schedule because it will depend on the activities of the grand-ducal family. So I think the next Fashion Focus will be published when I have enough information to write about in a full post. Now, let's start this Fashion Focus edition with a few fashion ids from earlier this year.

On 22 May, the Grand Ducal couple, the Hereditary Grand Ducal couple and Prince Louis opened the 4th edition of the exhibition 'Révélations' in Paris. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a Lanvin coat.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Photo: Lanvin

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie wore a Hobbs dress with an LK Bennett bag.

Photo: Hobbs

Photo: LK Bennett

For the closing of the Octave, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a new coat while Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie wore an old dress and repeated accessories. Princess Claire wore a dress by Zimmermann.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Photo: Zimmermann

On 18 June, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa gave a garden party for the forces vives. Maria Teresa wore a green lace outfit by Carolina Herrera.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Photo: Carolina Herrera

On 21 June, Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Prince Felix, Prince Louis, and Princess Alexandra attended a reception for residents of Colmar-Berg. Maria Teresa wore a red Carolina Herrera wrap top.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Photo: Carolina Herrera

22 June marked the start of the National Day weekend. Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa visited the Château de Bourscheid while Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie attended celebrations in Esch-Sur-Alzette. Stephanie wore a new yellow Natan dress with her Russell and Bromley clutch.

Photo: Guy Wolff / Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu

Photo: Lutz.nl

Photo: 1stDibs

In the evening, the Grand Ducal family attended the torchlight parade. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore an Etro long coat with her Sergio Rossi shoes.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli

Photo: Farfetch

Photo: Sergio Rossi

Princess Alexandra wore an Etro ikat print jacket while Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie wore the same outfit as earlier in the day.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Claude Piscitelli 

Photo: Farfetch

On 23 June, the Grand Ducal family celebrated the National Day. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a new Lanvin dress with Prada pumps.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Photo: Lanvin

Photo: Prada

While she changed her earrings for the Te Deum, she wore mismatched Isabel Marant earrings at the Philarmonie.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Photo: MyTheresa

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie wore a beautiful pink dress by Paule Ka (with thanks to Avery) with her Sophie Habsburg clutch and Rupert Sanderson pumps. Her hat was created by Sylvia Martinez for Les Folies Bibis and it is made of porcelain.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Photo: Harrods

Photo: Sophie Habsburg

Photo: Rupert Sanderson

Photo: Sylvia Martinez

Princess Alexandra wore a suit that was first worn by her mother in 2003.

This wouldn't be a proper Luxembourg national day without some clothes sharing/recycling going on... Maria Teresa anno 2003, Alexandra earlier today. pic.twitter.com/rfGzHI1xOn

— Svenja · Castleholic · Luxarazzi (@SydneyLux) June 23, 2019

In the evening, the family attended the gala dinner. Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa wore a Paule Ka gown, belt and bolero (with thanks to @ImperialJPNFan) and I think she might have worn her Prada silver pumps.  I don't know anything about Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie's outfit and Princess Alexandra wore a top that was first worn by her mother in the 1980s.

Photo: © Cour grand-ducale / Sophie Margue

Photo: Paule Ka

Photo: Lyst

Photo: Lyst

Photo: Prada

What did you think of this year's national day fashion?

Tiara Galore and Dashing Gentlemen: National Day Gala

All photos: Sophie Margue / Cour grand-ducale

Today is Luxembourg's National Day and, saving the best for last, the Grand Ducal Family rounded off the day with the traditional gala events a.k.a. the only sure time of the year we get to see the grand ducal ladies in tiaras - and today was no different. Everyone who attended the day's events minus Prince Félix, who probably had to head back to wife and kids, was present for the evening event as well.

Grand Duchess Maria Teresa sported one of her go-to tiaras, the Belgian Scroll Tiara, together with pearl earrings that we believe date back to the days of Grand Duchess Adelheid-Marie.

Hereditary Grand Duchess Stéphanie adorned her red gown with the Nassau Floral Tiara and one of the Nassau Rose Brooches as well as some mystery ruby earrings she previously sported in Cannes. Fun fact: I believe this is actually a tiara premiere for the Hereditary Grand Duchess. If my memory serves me right, she has not worn this tiara before.

Princess Alexandra topped of her dress that is older than this lovely lady herself (well, part of it at least) with the Turquoise Tiara, necklace and earrings as well as a major diamond ring.

Of course the gentlemen of the Grand Ducal Family also were their dashing selves this evening. While Grand Duke Henri, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Prince Sébastien sported their military uniforms, Prince Louis was in white tie.

Among the invitees for tonight's gala were members of the government, the bureau of the Chamber of Deputies, the Council of State, representatives of the judiciary, heads of the administration and foreign ambassadors - and they all looked to have a jolly good time!