Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Grand Duchess Maria Teresa (born
March 22 1956) is the
grand ducal consort of
Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg.
She was born in
Havana, Cuba, to José Antonio Mestre and Maria Teresa Batista-Falla de Mestre. In her childhood, Maria Teresa Mestre took
ballet and singing courses. 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.
She practices
skiing,
ice-skating and water sports.
During the same period she took an ever increasing interest in social and human problems, following the family tradition which had brought her grand-parents 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 care of the residents of old people's homes. She also taught children in a Geneva classroom.
Spanish is her
mother tongue, 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."
Maria Teresa Mestre married Prince Henri of Luxembourg on
February 14,
1981.
Maria Theresa and Henri have five children, four sons and one daughter:
* Prince
Guillaume, born on
November 11,
1981.
* Prince
Félix, born
June 3,
1984.
* Prince
Louis, born
August 3,
1986.
* Princess
Alexandra, born
February 16,
1991.
* Prince
Sébastien, born
April 16,
1992.
and one grandson :
* Gabriel (b. 12 March 2006), non-marital son of Prince Louis
*
The Mentor Foundation charity website
