Royal and Noble Guests and Relatives gathered from around the World to celebrate Hereditary Grand Duke Henri’s 40th Birthday at the Château de Vianden in Luxembourg on this day in 1995, 30 years ago!
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg celebrated his 40th Birthday with a grand Dinner and Reception at the Château de Vianden, with Royalty from Belgium, Spain, The Netherlands, Jordan and Greece in addition to Royal Guests and Relatives from Austria, Baden, Hohenberg, Holstein-Ledreborg, Ligne, Limburg-Stritum, Sayn-Wittgenstien-Sayn, Waldburg-Zeil, and Wrede.
It was for the late summer evening of Saturday, September 9, 1995, – fairly mild temperatures and intermittent, moderate rainfall – that the Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple invited Imperial, Royal and Princely Highnesses of some twenty-five Sovereign Houses or former Nobility, mainly European, as well as Luxembourg and foreign Guests, in all more than 130 guests, to the Château de VIANDEN.
An imposing procession of Guests led more directly from the Grand Ducal House to the Château, up to the second imposing interior keep-gate, where large spotlights and antique torches provided ample lighting for the reception of the first Guests by the Hereditary Grand Ducal Couple, starting at 8:30 p.m.
The ancestral fortifications, including patrol paths and corner towers, bridgeheads and battlements on the parapets, and finally the upper courtyard and the great halls of the stately buildings, provided a very dignified setting for the cordial welcome.
Guests entered the rooms through the upper courtyard of the castle, first welcomed by special musical interludes that perfectly matched the castle’s atmosphere. These were music from the Indo-European Celtic genre, originating in this case from Ireland. These compositions were remarkably fresh and spontaneous, admirably performed by the young soloists of the “MANIPURA FILID,” a group from VIANDEN, formed only in 1994.
Aperitif reception in the first Knights’ Hall, followed by a banquet and evening in the majestic Stately Hall of the “Grand Palais,” adorned with magnificent tapestries and very old furniture dating from various distant eras.
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
Prince Philippe of Belgium, the Duke of Brabant and Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este
The Prince of Asturias and Infanta Cristina of Spain
Prince Constantjin on The Netherlands
Princess Alexia of Greece
Princess Rahmah and Princess Badiya bint Hassan of Jordan
The Duke of Braganza
Archduke Carl-Christian of Austria and Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria
Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein and Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg and Liechtenstein
Prince Guillaume and Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg
Princess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Marc Cunningham
