Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess Maria Teresa turns sixty on Tuesday 22 March 2016.
Descended from Spanish bourgeoisie, Maria Teresa Mestre was born in Cuba in 1956. Her family moved to New-York in 1959 and on to Geneva in 1965, where she acquired Swiss citizenship.
She met His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg when they were both studying Political Science at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. The two both graduated from the university in 1980. They married on 14 February 1981 at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Luxembourg. Prince Guillaume, the current Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, was born later that year, followed by Prince Félix in 1984, Prince Louis in 1986, Princess Alexandra in 1991 and Prince Sébastien in 1992.
It was only in October 2000 that Prince Henri acceded to the throne and TRH became the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke celebrated his 60th birthday on 16 April 2015.
She is interested in social and humanitarian causes and created the Prince Henri and Princess Maria Teresa Foundation, which aims to support persons with specific needs to help their integration in society. On 10 June 1997, Princess Maria Teresa was made a Goodwill Ambassador for UNESCO, through which she aims to promote the education of young girls and women and fight against poverty through microcredits.
On Monday 21 March, Princesse Claire's birthday, HRH Grand Duke Henri and HRH Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, together with their children and grand-children, were received in audience by Pope Francis at the Vatican.
Photos © 2016 Cour grand-ducale / Carole Bellaïche / tous droits réservés.
