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Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

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Maria Teresa
Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
File:Henri and Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.jpg
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa and Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
SpouseHenri
IssueGuillaume, Félix, Louis, Alexandra, Sébastien
FatherJosé Antonio Mestre
MotherMaria Teresa Batista-Falla de Mestre
Styles of
Maria Theresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Reference styleHer Royal Highness
Spoken styleYour Royal Highness
Alternative styleMa'am

Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (née Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla; born March 22 1956) is the grand ducal consort of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.

Early life and education

Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was born in Havana, Cuba, to José Antonio Mestre and Maria Teresa Batista-Falla de Mestre. In October 1959, at the time of the revolution, Maria Teresa Mestre left Cuba with her parents. The family settled in New York where, as a young girl, she was a pupil at Marymount School. From 1961 she carried on her studies at the Lycée Français. In her childhood, Maria Teresa Mestre took ballet and singing courses. She practices skiing, ice-skating and water sports. She lived in New York City, Santander, Spain and Geneva, where she met the Grand Duke.

In 1980 she graduated from the University of Geneva in political sciences. Miss Mestre met Prince Henri at this university. For four years they both carried on similar studies, working sometimes in the same study groups. Miss Mestre was for instance, the author of a report comparing legislation concerning women and motherhood within the European Union.

Social and human interests

During the same period she took an ever increasing interest in social and human problems, following the family tradition which had brought her grandparents to devote themselves actively to philanthropy and cultural tasks in Cuba.

Besides her studies, Miss Mestre was a member of a group in Geneva taking interest in the well-being of residents of retirement homes. She also taught children in a Geneva classroom.

As a native Cuban, Spanish is her native language, and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa knows French thoroughly, having carried on her studies at the French School (Lycée Français) and in Switzerland. When she was young, she learned English. After her marriage she learned Luxembourgish, and she also speaks German and Italian.

In 2006, the Grand Duchess received the Path to Peace Award from a Holy See Foundation for her "relentless contribution to humanitarian causes."

Marriage & Family

Maria Teresa Mestre married Prince Henri of Luxembourg on February 14, 1981. They have five children and two grandchildren:


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