Engagement of HGD Guillaume & Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy: April 26, 2012

[Rayarena]

Originally Posted by Sephora

Congratulations!

Stéphanie is from Belgian Nobility, house of De Lannoy had connections with Luxemburgisch Nassau house since 1415, to whom it belongs since 1551.

Biography of Stéphanie:
Stéphanie de Lannoy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Infos about De Lannoy house:
Maison de Lannoy - Wikipédia

Wow! I'm impressed. According to Wikipedia the Lannoy family dates back to the 8th century! That's what I call an old and illustrious family! I mean, when you think of someone like the late Princess Diana Spencer, her grand family became ennobled in 1603: that's recent by comparison! Guillaume really chose an impeccable blue blood of exquisite lineage.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Rayarena

Wow! I'm impressed. According to Wikipedia the Lannoy family dates back to the 8th century! That's what I call an old and illustrious family! I mean, when you think of someone like the late Princess Diana Spencer, her grand family became ennobled in 1603: that's recent by comparison! Guillaume really chose an impeccable blue blood of exquisite lineage.

The Nassau's themselves can be traced back to the 11th century, so that's a win for Stephanie: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Nassau

I am reading a biography of William of Orange at the moment and also in his times the Lannoy family seems to belong to the top 10 of the Burgundian Netherlands, on the same level as the Ligne's, Croy's, Lalaings, Nassaus, Arenbergs, Egmonts, Barleymonts, Horne's etc. The family also supplied several stadholders:

Hugo van Lannoy, Stadholder of Holland & Zeeland 1433-1440.
Jan III van Lannoy, stadholder of Holland & Zeeland 1448-1462.
Ferdinand van Lannoy, stadholder of Atresia 1571-1578

[Madame Royale]

How old are her parents?

[Hilda Thomas]

Stephane does not seem to be pretentiuos nor haughty I daresay since she is the last child for her parents she might be a little spoiled. She is quite natural and confident. I trust that she would be an asset to her new country after her marriage.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

How old are her parents?

Count Philippe is 90 years old and his wife is 71 y/o.


Lannoy

[Madame Royale]

Thanks Marengo.

I confess I thought the people seated on the Grand Dukes left were infact her grandparents...

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

Thanks Marengo.

I confess I thought the people seated on the Grand Dukes left were infact her grandparents...

Well, she is the last of 8 children, her eldest brother Jehan being 18 years older than herself. Her parents married in 1965 the count was 62 and the countess 43 when Stephanie was born.

[Frelinghighness]

Not a beauty??!! Count me in as another who is baffled with that comment. She is tall, slim, blonde, with lovely skin and smile. She is obviously trying very hard with hairdo and clothes. Her french is impeccable and polite, she is obviousy very well educated. What a pleasure to see such a couple in love.
Her ring is elegant and confident, like she.

[Rayarena]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The Nassau's themselves can be traced back to the 11th century, so that's a win for Stephanie: House of Nassau - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

I am reading a biography of William of Orange at the moment and also in his times the Lannoy family seems to belong to the top 10 of the Burgundian Netherlands, on the same level as the Ligne's, Croy's, Lalaings, Nassaus, Arenbergs, Egmonts, Barleymonts, Horne's etc. The family also supplied several stadholders:

Hugo van Lannoy, Stadholder of Holland & Zeeland 1433-1440.
Jan III van Lannoy, stadholder of Holland & Zeeland 1448-1462.
Ferdinand van Lannoy, stadholder of Atresia 1571-1578

Fascinating information Marengo. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us! The Hapsburgs were also--I believe---a Burgundian family. Since her family dates back so far, does she have any relation to the Hapsburgs? Hard to believe that a family as illustrious as her's wouldn't. I know that her grandmother is a Princess of Ligne. How many other royals, kings, princes, etc.. does she have in her family? Isn't she also a descendant of William the Taciturn just like Guillaume is?

[Lindy]

Originally Posted by sugarbaby318

I believe Chateau de Berg. That's the residential home of the GDF. That's where Guillaume and Stephanie will live after they marry.

Are you sure that's where they will live? When Henri and Maria Teresa were a young crown prince couple they had their own home, as did Jean and Josephine-Charlotte.

[Tyger]

Originally Posted by Baroness of Books

Congratulations to the happy couple. While Stephanie is not a conventional beauty, she has the breeding, illustrious background and education to bring a variety of assets into her marriage and the royal family. She seems an engaging and personable young lady, important qualities to have. Guillaume has made a wise choice and I really look forward to their wedding.

Agree - I myself find her attractive - though the camera does not totally 'like' her. I suspect she is lovely in person. However, no matter any of that, she clearly has poise and self-confidence and knows how to carry herself. For some reason I detect in the unforgiving glare of the camera's eye a sweetly gentle soul, and grounded to boot!

[Rayarena]

We now know about the Lannoy's, but what about Stepanie's mother's side? I take it that her mother is also a noble in her own right, but does anyone know anything about her mother's side of the family. I love to hear about them. Her mother is so distinguished.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Rayarena

Fascinating information Marengo. Thanks for sharing it with the rest of us! The Hapsburgs were also--I believe---a Burgundian family. Since her family dates back so far, does she have any relation to the Hapsburgs? Hard to believe that a family as illustrious as her's wouldn't. I know that her grandmother is a Princess of Ligne. How many other royals, kings, princes, etc.. does she have in her family? Isn't she also a descendant of William the Taciturn just like Guillaume is?

I can't see any quick relation to the Habsburgs, but if we dig deep enoguh I am sure we will be able to find something. Throught the de Lignes she descends from Johan VI of Nassau Dillenburg and Elisabeth of Leuchtenberg, the former being a brother of William the Taciturn.

Originally Posted by Rayarena

We now know about the Lannoy's, but what about Stepanie's mother's side? I take it that her mother is also a noble in her own right, but does anyone know anything about her mother's side of the family. I love to hear about them. Her mother is so distinguished.

The della Faille family (ennobled in 1562) are quite well known in Belgium too,. Several mayors of Antwerp came from this family and traditionally they were involved with banking. A cousin, Katia della Faille married to count Thierry de Limburg Stirum, the eldest son of princess Helene of France. Countess Katia ( a former model) is a polician who was elected in 2007 for a seat in parlament for Louvain, in 2010 she was not re elected.


You can trace her mothers genealogy here:
http://www.geneall.net/W/per_page.php?id=163245

[4Pam]

Thank you for the videos! They looked so happy and excited at the same time. She has a nice voice.

But, is it just me or do French speakers seem to have a deeper voice?

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by Marengo

TBH, I don't see what makes her look so unappealing that we need to comment about it at length. She isn't a Grace Kelly, but very few people are. She seems pleasant and indeed has a very nice smile.

In an interview on VTM Stephanie's father says: I am happy with it, and so are they in Luxembourg so that is perfect'. He hopes that: 'They will continue to appreciate each other as they do now, spontanious and without a fuss. But that is not the style of Guillaume (marengo: the fuss).

Belgische wordt groothertogin Luxemburg | Het Nieuws

Great post, Marengo. After watching this young lady on live video I am definitely a fan...Stephanie appears graceful, poised and natural all at once. Her voice is delightful, it reminds me of CP Mathilde's.

And she and Guillaume seem genuinely happy together..no awkwardness.

Who cares if she doesn't resemble a TV starlet? She is lovely, aristocratic, and has the most impressive background of all the current crop of CP's imo(other than Masako of Japan).

Guillaume not only chose with his heart, he has also selected a bride that is a credit to his country and to the House of Nassau-which is frankly more than I can say for some of the current Royal princes and princesses.

ETA: By the way, that engagement ring is the last word...very, very beautiful!

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by marlene

I speak french fluently and I didn't detect a single bit of haughtyness in the interview.She seemed quite lovely.

I thought it was just me, seeing something completely different. I am not fluent but I do understand a little French and she seems as far from haughty as one could be...lovely, with a ready smile, a little nervous of course.

She definitely doesn't come off like the girl-next-door, like Mary Donaldson did in her engagement interview.

Stephanie gives off "vibes" of being a young noblewoman, which is great because that is exactly who she is. Why should she pretend otherwise?

She and Guillaume appear besotted with one another.

And I think the photos of her above are very flattering...she looks both elegant and pretty.

[claypoint2]

Originally Posted by Rayarena

Wow! I'm impressed. According to Wikipedia the Lannoy family dates back to the 8th century! That's what I call an old and illustrious family! I mean, when you think of someone like the late Princess Diana Spencer, her grand family became ennobled in 1603: that's recent by comparison! Guillaume really chose an impeccable blue blood of exquisite lineage.

The article in French Wikipedia (Maison de Lannoy - Wikipédia) says that the proven lineage of the Lannoy family dates to the 13th century, not the 8th. There are very, very few families who trace their lineage to a time before the 10th century. The Limburg-Stirums are one (dating to the 9th, I believe), and by some accounts perhaps the Habsburgs. At any rate I am pretty sure that the Limburg-Stirums are the oldest family in Belgium, and even they can't be traced back to the 8th century.

[Madame Royale]

What appeals to me about the young Countess, is that she comes into this fully understanding what's required of the life she is about to lead. Much like Mathilde of Belgium.

Mary, Maxima, Mette-Marit and Letizia have all had to accustom themselves with the fundamentals of elite society, wheres as Stéphanie and Mathilde were born of it.

[4Pam]

So she's not a conventional beauty, like MT, Mary, Maxima or Letizia - why is it an issue when it shouldn't be at all?

[claypoint2]

Originally Posted by Marengo

The Nassau's themselves can be traced back to the 11th century, so that's a win for Stephanie

Marengo, I think that Guillaume wins here. (See post #221). Stephanie's family dates back to the 13th century, not the 8th. The Nassaus are older....

Maison de Lannoy - Wikipédia