Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg marked an important royal milestone as she hosted her first state banquet since becoming Grand Duchess, welcoming Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and his wife, Suzanne Innes-Stubb, to the Grand Ducal Palace.
The 42-year-old royal was joined by her husband, Grand Duke Guillaume, 44, for the formal gala in Luxembourg City. The evening formed part of the Finnish presidential couple’s state visit and brought together diplomatic ceremony, royal tradition and an impressive display of jewellery from the Nassau-Weilburg collection.
The visit was particularly notable because it marked the first official visit by a Finnish head of state to Luxembourg in 18 years.
Grand Duchess Stéphanie Makes a Regal Debut
Stéphanie and Guillaume welcomed President Stubb and Suzanne Innes-Stubb to the Grand Ducal Palace before hosting the formal dinner.
The banquet concluded a day of official engagements that included ceremonial honours and a cultural programme as Luxembourg welcomed the Finnish delegation.
For Stéphanie, the occasion represented another significant moment during her first year as Grand Duchess. She and Guillaume assumed the throne last November following the abdication of Guillaume’s father, Grand Duke Henri, after 25 years as Luxembourg’s sovereign.
Stéphanie Wears Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte’s Tiara
For the state banquet, Stéphanie selected a historic piece from the House of Nassau-Weilburg’s jewellery collection: the tiara of Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.
The striking piece features pear-shaped diamonds alongside sapphires associated with the legacy of Grand Duchess Hilda of Baden.
Its most distinctive feature, however, is its versatility.
The jewel was originally created as a necklace and can be worn in different configurations. Stéphanie has previously demonstrated its adaptability, wearing it as a choker during celebrations marking the 80th birthdays of King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway in 2017.
She also wore the transformable jewel as a choker during the state visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands to Luxembourg in 2018.
Its latest appearance as a tiara gave the state banquet an especially regal finish.
A Significant State Visit for Luxembourg
The Finnish state visit came with considerable diplomatic significance.
The last time a Finnish head of state made an official visit to the Grand Duchy was 18 years ago. The programme combined formal ceremony with cultural engagements before concluding with the state banquet hosted by the new Grand Duke and Grand Duchess.
The visit also came as European royal families continued a busy period of international engagements. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were hosting French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, in Madrid around the same period.
The Spanish royal couple were also preparing for an official visit to Finland scheduled for October 5 to 7.
Guillaume and Stéphanie’s First Year as Grand Duke and Grand Duchess
Guillaume and Stéphanie began their reign last November after Grand Duke Henri abdicated.
Their accession was followed by a series of public ceremonies, including Guillaume’s swearing-in, an appearance on the palace balcony, a welcome ceremony at Luxembourg City Hall, a public meet-and-greet, a reception and a gala dinner.
The couple have also undertaken international duties during their first year on the throne.
Earlier this year, they met Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. During that audience, Stéphanie exercised the privilège du blanc, the protocol that permits certain Catholic royal women to wear white when meeting the Pope.
The couple also attended the state funeral of King Harald of Norway last month, joining representatives from royal families across Europe.
Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie’s Family
Guillaume, the eldest child of former Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, married Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy on October 19, 2012.
The couple became parents for the first time in May 2020, when their son Prince Charles was born. Their second son, Prince François, was born in March 2023.
Their first state banquet as Luxembourg’s Grand Duke and Grand Duchess adds another milestone to their early reign, with Stéphanie’s transformable historic tiara providing one of the evening’s most distinctive royal details.
