Everything is going well for Grand Duke Henri and his wife Maria Teresa: last weekend, the grand-ducal couple caused a sensation on the international scene with a glamorous appearance on the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival. Shortly afterwards, they were the subject of six special pages in the Belgian edition of the magazine Paris Matchwho describes them thus in the title of his article: “Henri and Maria Teresa, radiant highnesses”.
A special cover, dedicated to the Grand Ducal couple, was designed for the editions distributed in Luxembourg. However, these were not available everywhere. On the other covers, the Crown Princess of Belgium, Elisabeth, is shown on the arm of a young man who has been assigned to her as a cavalier for a wedding.
The 69-year-old likes to walk barefoot around the 33-hectare estate, while his wife prefers to get around by golf cart.
Already on Tuesday, the Grand Duchess proudly announced on her Instagram account the imminent release of the article this Thursday and promised “a rare and intimate testimony”. To promote it, she posted making-of videos of the photo shoot that took place in the middle of the summery setting of her property in Cabasson, in the south of France. Dressed in casual, yet elegant, leisure outfits, and whose colors were of course matching, the sovereign couple allowed themselves to be staged in intimate poses in front of the lens. The fact that his trouser legs were soaked during the beach shots does not seem to have bothered the head of state, at least according to the photos.
The Grand Ducal couple pose amid impressive flora for the opening photo of Paris Match. © PHOTO: Marc Wilwert
The 69-year-old likes to walk barefoot around the 33-hectare estate that has belonged to his family since 1949, while his wife prefers to get around in a golf cart. “I don’t think I’ve missed a single summer here since I was born in 1955,” recalls the head of state, who clearly knows the site like the back of his hand – not least because he explored it extensively with his siblings and many cousins as part of numerous treasure hunts as a child.
Waterskiing is a bit rough on my back, but when it’s windy you can still spot me on a windsurfer.
Grand Duke Henri
On the estate, we come across a herd of goats that the Grand Duke has procured especially for the ecological maintenance of the landscape, in order to avoid the development of devastating bush fires. This information is appropriately illustrated by a photo of the master of the house making contact with the leader of the troop, an imposing billy goat.
A royal trip
It was in Cabasson that he learned to waterski, at the invitation of his mother Joséphine-Charlotte, continues Grand Duke Henri, who admits to having given up this sport to preserve his health: “It’s a bit brutal for my back, but when there’s wind, you can still see me on a windsurfer.” Meanwhile, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa prefers to take a bath on the beach, a morning ritual that is dear to her. Moreover, according to the article by Paris Matchfew people jump into the waves as early as her husband.
Recently, Grand Duke Henri and his wife made the flashbulbs crackle at the Venice Film Festival. © PHOTO: AFP
But the Grand Duke also occasionally travels on the water in a canoe or motorboat. For example, when he undertakes with his family or friends his traditional expedition to the islands of Porquerolles and Port-Cros. There, they hope to witness the whale migration that takes place at the beginning of August. “This extraordinary spectacle is a good opportunity to educate children about respecting the environment,” explains the monarch who, according to his own words, has taken the habit of picking up plastic waste washed up on the beach after his morning sea bath.
The Swedish royal family also visits them every summer by boat.
According to the story of Paris Matchthe “eternal lovers” cannot complain about the lack of visitors to their summer residence – even if their own children and grandchildren do not keep them company. They meet, for example, once a year with their direct neighbors, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte, and the Swedish royal family also visits them by boat every summer.
Moving to Fischbach
Of course, the foreseeable retirement of the master of the house is also mentioned – especially since the Cabasson property will traditionally be bequeathed to his successor Guillaume when power is handed over. “It seems appropriate to me to pass the baton: being head of state for 25 years is enough to both achieve things and not get bored,” believes the 69-year-old, who is hopeful that he will be able to continue spending holidays in Cabasson beyond his term – as was already the case with his father Jean. “My grandmother had several very simple bungalows built there for her children. We can meet up with 30 people without being on top of each other.”
One piece of information, which may be of particular interest to Luxembourgers, has been saved for the end of the article: after the abdication, Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa will turn their backs on their current residence, Colmar-Berg Castle, to move to Fischbach Castle, where Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his family are currently based. While it was already clear from the construction plans that were made public that the latter would move to Colmar-Berg, it had never been explicitly announced until now that this also involved an exchange of ownership with his parents, as had already been the case for previous generations. “It will be a lovely new page,” assures the Grand Duke.
This article was originally published on the website of Luxembourg Word.
Adaptation: Laura Bannier
