Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

For other uses, see Maria Theresa.

Maria Teresa Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg Tenure 7 October 2000 – present Spouse Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Issue Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg Prince Félix Prince Louis Princess Alexandra Prince Sébastien House House of Bourbon-Parma House of Nassau-Weilburg Father José Antonio Mestre y Alvarez Mother María Teresa Batista y Falla de Mestre Born 22 March 1956 (1956-03-22) (age 55) Marianao, Havana, Cuba

Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg HRH The Grand Duke HRH The Grand Duchess HRH The Hereditary Grand Duke HRH Prince Félix HRH Prince Louis HRH Princess Tessy HRH Prince Noah HRH Prince Gabriel HRH Princess Alexandra HRH Prince Sébastien HRH Grand Duke Jean HI&RH Archduchess Marie-Astrid HRH Prince Jean HRH Princess Marie-Gabrielle HRH Prince Constantin HRH Prince Wenceslas HRH Prince Carl-Johan HRH Princess Margaretha HRH Prince Guillaume HRH Princess Sibilla HRH Prince Paul Louis HRH Prince Léopold HRH Princess Charlotte HRH Prince Jean HRH The Dowager Duchess of Hohenberg HRH Princess Marie Gabriele HRH Princess Joan HRH Princess Charlotte HRH Prince Robert HRH Princess Julie HRH Princess Charlotte HRH Prince Alexandre HRH Prince Frederik HRH The Dowager Princess of Ligne v · d · e

Styles of Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Reference style Her Royal Highness Spoken style Your Royal Highness Alternative style Ma'am

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

Early life and education

Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was born in Marianao, Havana, Cuba, to José Antonio Mestre y Alvarez (Vedado, Havana, 1926 -) and wife (m. Vedado, Havana, 1951) María Teresa Batista y Falla de Mestre (Vedado, Havana, 1928–1988), both from families of the bourgeoisie and Spanish nobility (including some Conquistadors). Direct descendant of Ricardo O'Farrill. On 26 March 1713 the English Slave-Trading Agreement (asiento) was signed, which would remain in force for thirty years, and for this purpose the South Sea Company was created and obtained the monopoly for supplying enslaved Africans to all the Spanish possessions. Ricardo O’Farrill and Wergent Nicholson ran a company in Havana which also had a branch in Santiago de Cuba run by Messrs. Cumberlege and Walsh.^[1]

In October 1959, at the time of the revolution, Maria Teresa Mestre left Cuba with her parents. The family settled in New York City, 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 de New York. 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 allegedly brought her grandparents to devote themselves 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 Vauban) and in Switzerland. When she was young, she learned English. After her marriage she learned Luxembourgish, and she also speaks German.

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

She is the President of the Luxembourg Red Cross.

Family

Maria Teresa Mestre married Prince Henri of Luxembourg on 4 February/14 February 1981 with previous consent of the Grand Duke dated 7 November 1980. They have five children and two grandchildren:

1. Prince Guillaume Jean Joseph Marie, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg (b. 11 November 1981)
2. Prince Félix Léopold Marie Guillaume (b. 3 June 1984)
3. Prince Louis Xavier Marie Guillaume (b. 3 August 1986), married to Princess Tessy
   1. Prince Gabriel Michael Louis Ronny of Nassau (born 12 March 2006), son of Prince Louis and Princess Tessy
   2. Prince Noah Guillaume of Nassau (born 21 September 2007), son of Prince Louis and Princess Tessy
4. Princess Alexandra Joséphine Teresa Charlotte Marie Wilhelmine (b. 16 February 1991)
5. Prince Sébastien Henri Marie Guillaume (b. 16 April 1992)

Ancestry

16. Francisco Javier Mestre Domínguez

8. Francisco Mestre y Fernández-Criado

17. María Luisa Fernández-Criado y Gómez

4. José Antonio Mestre y Ramos-Almeyda

18. José Benito Ramos-Almeyda y Marrero

9. Matilde Ramos-Almeyda y Gómez

19. Matilde Gómez Petit

2. José Antonio Mestre Álvarez

20. Lucas Álvarez Guillén

10. Lucas Álvarez Cerice

21. Águeda de la Encarnación Cerice Lima

5. María Narcisa Álvarez Tabío

22. Pablo Tabío Rodríguez

11. Narcisa Tabío y de la Lanza

23. Rosa de la Lanza y Espinosa de los Monteros

1. María Teresa, Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg

24. Melchor Batista Caballero

12. Melchor Batista y de Varona

25. Irene de Varona y de la Torre

6. Agustín Batista y González de Mendoza

26. Antonio González de Mendoza y Bonilla

13. Julia González de Mendoza y Pedroso

27. María de las Mercedes Pedroso y Montalvo

3. María Teresa Batista Falla

28. Juan Manuel Falla Gutiérrez

14. Laureano Falla Gutiérrez

29. Isabel Juana Gutiérrez Diego

7. María Teresa Falla Bonet

30. Cristóbal Bonet y Pi-Mauri

15. María Dolores Bonet y Mora

31. María Adelaida de Mora y González de Ávila

Footnotes

1. ^ http://www.wargs.com/royal/mestre.html Ancestry of Maria Teresa Mestre (b. 1956), Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

External links

• Ancestry of Maria Teresa Mestre (b. 1956), Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
• Grand-Ducal House of Luxembourg
• The Mentor Foundation charity website

Luxembourgish royalty
Preceded by Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium	Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg 2000 – present	Incumbent

Persondata
Name	Teresa, Maria, Grand Duchess Of Luxembourg
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	22 March 1956
Place of birth	Marianao, Havana, Cuba
Date of death
Place of death