First Lady of Luxembourg

Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

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.

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).
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. 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.

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.

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:

Prince Guillaume, born on 11 November 1981

Prince Félix, born 3 June 1984

Prince Louis, born 3 August 1986; married 29 September 2006, Tessy Antony.
Prince Gabriel of Nassau (born 12 March 2006)
Prince Noah of Nassau (born 21 September 2007)

Princess Alexandra, born 16 February 1991.

Prince Sébastien, born 16 April 1992.