Grand Duchess at Reading of Svetlana Alexievich

On Friday night, about two hours before the gala concert, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa was to attend another event, a reading by Svetlana Alexievich, the Belorussian author who was awarded with the Nobel Prize in Literature last year. The reading took place as part of the 6th Luxembourg City Film Festival. I say 'was to' because of all the pictures I could find of Svetlana Alexievich in Luxembourg, I could not spot the Grand Duchess in any of them. Naturally, this post will be updated if we find any.

A Statement on the Situation in Burundi

Today the Foundation of the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess released a comment about the escalating tensions in Burundi that have resulted in staff at Maison Shalom being laid off and others leaving the country.

The statement from the Cour:

C’est avec la plus grande inquiétude que la Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-Duchesse suit la dégradation constante de la situation politique, économique et sociale au Burundi. Un des acteurs phare de la vie sociale du pays, à savoir la Maison Shalom, partenaire étroit de la Fondation, est aujourd’hui dans l’incapacité totale d’agir: ses cadres ont dû fuir le pays et l’entièreté du personnel mise au chômage technique.

And a rough translation, via Google:

It is with great concern that the foundation of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess follows the continuing deterioration of the political, economic and social situation in Burundi. One of the leading players in the social life of the country, namely the Maison Shalom, close partner of the Foundation, is now completely unable to act: its executives have fled the country and the entire development staff laid off.

Photo: Marc Schmit / Cour grand-ducale

Additionally, the Cour released the statement with the photo, shown left, of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa with Marguerite Barankitse, a founder of Maison Shalom. Grand Duchess Maria Teresa also visited Burundi in 2009, through her work with UNICEF, and met with Marguerite Barankitse at Maison Shalom. In October of 2011, Barankitse visited Luxembourg to open a photography exhibit  supporting Maison Shalom.

Guillaume Awards Diplomas

Photo: Chambre des Métiers

It's that time of the year again: Last night, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume was on hand to hand out diplomas to Luxembourg's newest master craftsmen as well as to awardees of the Promotion du Travail. The event took place at the Grand Théâtre. More information on the website of the Chambre des Métiers and not much more on the website of the cour.

It's a Girl for Imre and Katie

Archduke Imre, son of Princess Marie-Astrid, and his wife Archduchess Kathleen welcomed a baby daughter on Wednesday last week. Archduchess Magdalena was born on February 24 in Luxembourg. Young Magdalena is the couple's second daughter, big sister Maria-Stella was born on November 11, 2013. Magdalena is the fifth grandchild for Princess Marie-Astrid and Archduke Carl-Christian and the eigth great-grandchild of Grand Duke Jean.

Guillaume at Indian and Nepalese Bazaar

Photo: Lucien Wolff / Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu

Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume visited the 37th bazaar of the Aide à l’Enfance de l’Inde (Help for the Children of India) in Sandweiler today. The bazaar showcased art, handmade goods and food from India and Nepal with the profits going to Nepal to help with reconstruction after the devastating earthquake that hit the country in April of last year. In addition to the stands, there were also performances of Bharatanatyam, a classical dance from Southern India, as well as a traditional Napalese concert. The visit might have reminded the Hereditary Grand Duke of his own time in Nepal. Guillaume visited the country for a humanitarian aid camp as a member of the Luxembourg scout movement.

Galleries of visuals of the event at Wort and Tageblatt.

Grand Ducal Couple at Gala Concert

Photo: Isabella Finzi / Luxemburger Tageblatt / Tageblatt.lu

Last night, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa attended a gala concert at the Philharmonie. The Orchestre philharmonique du Luxembourg played a concert under the direction of Jamie Philips to benefit the refugee aid. The concert was jointly organised by the Luxembourg-branch of the Red Cross, which the Grand Duchess is the patron of, as well as Deloitte.

Pictures of the evening at Tageblatt.

Princess Angela at Sotheby's Party

Photo: Christian Rudnik /
Action Press

On January 25, the Munich branch of the auction house Sotheby's hosted a party marking the transfer of everyday operation from Count Heinrich of Spreti to his now former assistent Countess Nicola Keglevich, who is the new head. The party was attended by some 200 guests among them Princess Angela, daughter-in-law of Prince Hans-Adam II by his second son Prince Max. Princess Angela and her family live in Munich. 

Other party guests included Hereditary Princess Sophie's sister Duchess Anna in Bavaria, her husband Baron Andreas of Maltzan as well as Duke Philipp in Württemberg, husband of Sophie's and Anna's sister Marie.

More visuals at APA.

Prince Philipp Hands Out Media Award

Photo: Wirtschaftszeit

Last night saw the award ceremony of the LGT's annual media award at the Stadtpalais in Vienna. As the LGT Group's chairman of the board of trustees, Prince Philipp was on hand to hand out the media prize that aims to support quality journalism in economic reporting. While the main prize went to Michael Ortner, who wrote on Airbnb, recognition awards were awarded to Mirijana Miljkovic and Matthias Auer. Loads more information at Wirtschaftszeit.

Grand Ducal Meets Presidential Couple

Photo: Cour grand-ducale

Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa received the President of the Republic of Austria, Heinz Fischer, and his wife Margit for an audience at the palais today. The two couples (or, on occasion, only the Grand Duke and the Austrian presidential couple) met before during the 2013 Luxembourgish state visit to Austria as well as the annual gatherings of the German-speaking heads of state in 2014 and 2015.

Prince Guillaume Supports Mérite Jeunesse

Photo: Pierre Matgé / Luxemburger Wort / Wort.lu

As he does regularly, Prince Guillaume again participated in support of Mérite Jeunesse, encouraging young people to get involved in social responsibility projects. The organization particularly supports young people between the ages of 14 and 24 to take on projects related to sports, culture, or the environment. On Tuesday, the Prince spoke to attendees at the Lycée Josy Barthel in Mamer.

Prince Guillaume will also attend the awards ceremony at the end of the year to distribute the gold, silver, and bronze badges.

Some more photos, as well as a little more information about the organization, at Wort.