H.R.H. the Grand duch*ess | Cour grand-ducale (2024)

Her Royal Highness Grand duch*ess Maria Teresa is one of four children of Mr José Antonio Mestre and Mrs Maria Teresa Batista-Falla de Mestre.

On 14February 1981, Maria Teresa Mestre married His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Henri of Luxembourg at the Notre-Dame Cathedral of Luxembourg. They have four sons and a daughter:

• Prince Guillaume (born in 1981), the Crown Prince,
• Prince Félix (born in 1984),
• Prince Louis (born in 1986),
• Princess Alexandra (born in 1991),
• Prince Sébastien (born in 1992).

On 7October 2000, Prince Henri became Grand Duke of Luxembourg. Since then, Princess Maria Teresa bears the title of Grand duch*ess of Luxembourg.

Her Royal Highness the Grand duch*ess is the grandmother of six grandsons and two granddaughters:

• Prince Charles (born 10May 2020) and Prince François (born on 27March 2023), the two sons of the Crown Prince and Princess,
• Princess Amalia (born on 15June 2014), Prince Liam (born on 28November 2016) and Prince Balthazar (born on 7January 2024), the three children of Prince Félix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg,
• Prince Gabriel (born on 12March 2006) and Prince Noah (born on 21September 2007), the two sons of Prince Louis of Luxembourg, and
• Victoire (born on 14May 2024), the daughter of Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg and Mr. Nicolas Bagory.

Pictures of the Grand duch*ess

In this gallery, discover the Grand duch*ess in all her facets, whether in her official photo, gala outfit or au naturel.

• Photo gallery

The Grand duch*ess showed an interest in social and humanitarian causes very early on. This was in line with the family tradition, as her grandparents Augustin Batista Y Gonzalez De Mendoza and Maria Teresa Falla Y Bonet had also been involved in philanthropic and cultural life in Cuba. The construction of community clinics offering free treatment in deprived rural areas were among their most remarkable achievements. Her grandparents also contributed to the creation of the Havana Philharmonic Orchestra and remained its principal patrons until the Cuban Revolution.

Because of the revolution led by Fidel Castro, the young Maria Teresa Mestre left Cuba in 1960together with her parents José Antonio Mestre and Maria Teresa Batista-Falla de Mestre and her two brothers and her sister. The family of Spanish origin settled in New York, where the future Grand duch*ess enrolled at the Marymount School. From 1961onwards, she pursued her education at the École Française (French School). As of June 1965, her parents stayed on the family property in Santander (Spain), for a few months before choosing Geneva (Switzerland) as their permanent home. Like her two brothers and her sister – Antonio, Luis and Catalina – Maria Teresa has enjoyed an excellent education. While her father worked in finance, her mother, passionate about the arts and literature, dedicated herself to her family and conveyed the values of Christian faith to her children.

After studying at the École Française (French School) in New York, Maria Teresa pursued her education from 1965onwards at the Institut Marie-José in Gstaad, then at the Marie-Thérèse boarding school in Geneva, where she graduated with a French baccalaureate in June 1975. In the meantime, she became a Swiss citizen.

After her secondary studies, she enrolled at the University of Geneva where she studied Political Science. At university, she met her future husband, Prince Henri of Luxembourg, who studied the same subjects.

She obtained her degree in Political Science in 1980, and on 7November the same year, their engagement was announced.

She has granted her patronage to numerous Luxembourgish charities and socio-cultural organisations, such as the Luxembourg Red Cross and the Fondation Cancer (Cancer Foundation).

Her actions are guided by the principles of defending the rights of women and girls and the fight against all forms of violence against them. She is committed to encouraging women to actively participate in building fairer societies based on respect for human dignity and solidarity.

In 1997, she became a 'Goodwill Ambassador' of UNESCO for her actions in favour of girls’ education and gender equality, women’s rights and microfinance. She was nominated 'Eminent Advocate for Children' of UNICEF in 2007, committing to defend the interests of children throughout the world.

During a visit to the central prison of Bujumbura (Burundi) in June that same year, the Grand duch*ess learned that children were put into prison for minor offences. Within four years, through the Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-duch*esse, and with the help of the Maison Shalom, founded by Maggy Barankitse, the project La Main tendue (Extending a hand) succeeded in freeing 600minors incarcerated under inhumane conditions in Burundian prisons. These children then received psychological, legal, medical, social and educational assistance.

In September 2016, the Grand duch*ess joined the Council of Patrons of the Asian University for Women (AUW). Based in Chittagong, Bangladesh, the university has trained more than 1,200young girls to become women leaders in Asia since its creation in 2008.

Her official activities and humanitarian and social commitments in pictures

• Official activities
• Social and humanitarian commitments

The Grand duch*ess is particularly affected by the trauma, isolation and stigmatisation of women and girls who had been victims of sexual violence in fragile environments and commits herself to their cause from 2014onwards.

After doing extensive research on the subject, she met with survivors. In 2016, Her Royal Highness met with the winners of the Sakharov Prize, Nadia Murad (Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2018) and Lamiya Aji Bachar, two young Iraqi women from the Yezidi community, who have become symbols for all the victims of violence from the so-called Islamic State and spokespersons of their community.

This international forum, which brought together 50survivors and three Nobel Peace Prize laureates, Professor Mohammed Yunus, Doctor Denis Mukwege and Nadia Murad, attracted 1,200people.

Set up as a true debating platform among the key actors in the fight against sexual violence in fragile environments and the victims themselves, this forum highlighted the experiences, actions and recommendations of both representatives of national and international organisations and particularly of the survivors of sexual violence, who were at the heart of the debate. The socio-economic impacts of these crimes and human rights abuses were discussed. The survivors presented their initiatives to heal, access justice, obtain reparations, make their voices heard and become actors of peace and change.

The Grand duch*ess created the association 'Stand Speak Rise Up!' in September 2019to condemn rape as a weapon of war and sexual violence in fragile environments, prevent their proliferation and support victims in their reconstruction and their need for justice. The association gathers numerous renowned personalities who are committed to help around the world.

Photo gallery of the international forum Stand Speak Rise Up!

Discover the most moving moments of the international forum for survivors of sexual violence in fragile environments

• See the pictures

In order to be prepared for the forum, the Grand duch*ess made a humanitarian trip to Lebanon in 2018. She met with survivors of sexual violence (refugees and migrants), collected their testimonies and supported them in their quest for justice and reparation. She also visited a microfinance project aimed at improving the conditions of women, especially refugee women.

In 2018, the Grand duch*ess was invited to speak at the Entretiens de Royaumont on the theme 'Being a woman and a victim'. She evoked the serious socio-economic consequences of rape in armed conflicts and in fragile environments. She called for an international alliance of survivors and civil society actors to strengthen the fight against sexual violence in fragile environments, improve prevention and implement appropriate reparation tools and recognition.

In 2020, the Grand duch*ess was invited to participate in a virtual dialogue by NATO on the subject of sexual violence in conflict zones.

In 2020, she was the Honorary President of the jury of the Prix de la Femme d’Influence, which rewarded women who stood out during the health crisis.

For all these years, the Grand duch*ess' ongoing commitment to defend women’s rights throughout the world is also illustrated by her numerous projects to support women in Luxembourg.

In 2019and 2020, she was actively involved in the campaigns organised for the launch of 'Orange Week' in Luxembourg and she met with various associations, in particular those active in the protection of victims of domestic violence.

Since the beginning of the Covid-19pandemic, the Grand duch*ess has maintained regular contact with the associations she supports, through telephone calls, through video messages calling for solidarity, or by participating in campaigns on social networks.

With the Fondation du Grand-Duc et de la Grande-duch*esse, she has initiated numerous actions, such as giving smartphones and tablets to shelters that protect victims of domestic violence, and has notably offered financial support to students in precarious situations.

In 2021, the Grand duch*ess supported the 'Vodafone Foundation Luxembourg' and the non-profit organisation Femmes en Détresse (Women in Distress) in the fight against violence against women and girls by supporting the 'Bright Sky' application, which helps victims and their families.

The honours that the Grand duch*ess has received, amongst others for her humanitarian actions, are an illustration of her extraordinary commitments.

In October 1999, Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Teresa was awarded an honorary doctorate from Seton Hall University (New Jersey, USA).

In February 2003, she received the title of Doctor honoris causa from the University of Leon (Nicaragua). In June 2006, the Holy See's Representation to the United Nations awarded her the 'Path to Peace Award', a prize given annually to a person for their humanitarian and social engagements.

In 2013, the ELPIDA association of Friends of Children with Cancer awarded her the 'International Solidarity Award' in recognition of her work for children with cancer.

Passionate about literature, she was a member of the jury for the literary prize for historical novels, the Prix des Princes, in Paris in 2016.

In January 2019, the Grand duch*ess awarded the 'Prix de l’Histoire' to Loris Chavanette for his book 'Quatre-vingt-quinze, La Terreur en procès'.

The passions of the Grand duch*ess

• Floral decorations
• Art, architecture and culture

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