Country awaits its own royal wedding

Following the unions last year of England's Prince William and Catherine Middleton and Monaco's Prince Albert II and Charlene Wittstock, Luxembourg is eagerly awaiting its own royal wedding later this year.

'The biggest highlight of 2012 is the marriage of our hereditary Grand-Duke Prince Guillaume with the Comptesse Stephanie De Lannoy on October 20,' says Pierre Barthelme, executive counsellor first class at the Ministry of Tourism.

Guillaume and Stephanie, who reportedly met through relatives five years ago, announced their engagement in April.

Luxembourgers were invited to write congratulatory messages in books at the castles of Berg and Fischbach and the Grand Ducal Palace last month.

The eldest child of Grand Duke Henri, Luxembourg's head of state, and his wife, Cuban-born Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, the 30-year-old Guillaume is heir apparent to the crown of Luxembourg. Stephanie, 28, is the daughter of Belgian nobles Count Philippe de Lannoy and Countess Alix.

Guillaume was educated in Luxembourg, Switzerland and England. Among his duties are chairman of the board of directors of the Kr?izbierg Foundation for the mentally handicapped and honorary president of the Board of Economic Development.

His fiancee studied in Belgium, Germany and Russia, and lives in Belgium.