State visit of Luxembourg to Latvia: 13 to 14 March 2023

[Blog Real]

At the invitation of His Excellency Mr. Egils Levits, President of the Republic of Latvia, His Royal Highness the Grand Duke will travel to Latvia for a State Visit from 13 to 14 March 2023.

https://monarchie.lu/fr/actualites/v...u-14-mars-2023

[An Ard Ri]

I wonder who will accompany him,the Grand Duchess or Princess Alexandra?

[Blog Real]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

I wonder who will accompany him,the Grand Duchess or Princess Alexandra?

The announcement of the state visit does not mention this, which is strange. But I hope that the Grand Duchess or Princess Alexandra can accompany the Grand Duke.

[An Ard Ri]

And its a 2 day State Visit which it seems has become the norm of late!

[Marengo]

It would be terribly odd if the Grand Duchess will be absent, so let's hope she will be there. What a farce this is becoming.

[An Ard Ri]

The fact that there's no mention of the Grand Duchess makes me think that Princess Alexandra will accompany the Grand Duke.
I think Princess Stephanie has also filled in in the past?

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

The fact that there's no mention of the Grand Duchess makes me think that Princess Alexandra will accompany the Grand Duke.
I think Princess Stephanie has also filled in in the past?

Don't think Princess Stephanie has accompanied the Grand Duke on State Visits abroad but rather helped out at incoming

[Prisma]

Yes, I believe HGD Stephanie stepped in for GD Maria Teresa for some events during state visits from Germany... and Belgium? MT had knee surgery twice.

I also hope Princess Alexandra will accompany her father if MT cannot attend due to fear of flying or other reasons.

[An Ard Ri]

Is the fear of flying a recent phobia of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa?
In the past she has flown all over the world,Nepal,Brazil and China and also to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Last year she flew to London for the late Queen's Funeral and memorial to the late Duke of Edinburgh.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Is the fear of flying a recent phobia of Grand Duchess Maria Teresa?
In the past she has flown all over the world,Nepal,Brazil and China and also to Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Last year she flew to London for the late Queen's Funeral and memorial to the late Duke of Edinburgh.

I think i read about it the first time about 10 years ago.

[Prisma]

The court disclosed her fear in October 2015: https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembour...135b923613c3da

... Luxembourg's Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa has a fear of flying, the Royal Court has said responding to questions about why she had not accompanied the Grand Duke abroad.

[...] that for some time, Grand Duchess Maria-Teresa had no longer accompanied her husband on numerous trips abroad, a fact which had not gone unnoticed...

Reorganisation of the Grand Ducal Court Plus the Grand Duchess Is Afraid of Flying

The phobia may never go away but seems manageable at times: OK for Norway, Lebanon, Portugal, etc. since announcement. Japan was too far in 2017.

[iceflower]

Grand Duke Henri has already arrived in Latvia today, March 12, and visited Riga:


** monarchie: Visite d'Etat en Lettonie - Arrivée et visite de Riga **

[Blog Real]

The Grand Duchess will not participate in this state visit, it is very strange...

[iceflower]

Grand Duke Henri was officially welcomed by the President of Latvia Egils Levits today, March 13:


** Pic ** monarchie.lu gallery day 1 **

[Marengo]

It is a 22 hour drive between Luxembourg and Riga. If the GDss had wanted to be there she could have. But she preferred to be absent, as is the case more often recently. It may be best for the court to announce the 'retirement' of the Grand Duchess.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Marengo

It is a 22 hour drive between Luxembourg and Riga. If the GDss had wanted to be there she could have. But she preferred to be absent, as is the case more often recently. It may be best for the court to announce the 'retirement' of the Grand Duchess.

I agree and a shame that the Grand Duke has undertake solo State Visit to an EU/European country.

[Duc_et_Pair]

Originally Posted by Marengo

It is a 22 hour drive between Luxembourg and Riga. If the GDss had wanted to be there she could have. But she preferred to be absent, as is the case more often recently. It may be best for the court to announce the 'retirement' of the Grand Duchess.

Maybe the Grand-Duke could have followed the Dutch practice: since Prince Claus was not able to join the Queen, the Prince of Orange (and after 2001 also Princess Máxima) were her escorts during outgoing State Visits. It would also serve as a very good introduction of the future grand-ducal couple.

[Tilia C.]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

Maybe the Grand-Duke could have followed the Dutch practice: since Prince Claus was not able to join the Queen, the Prince of Orange (and after 2001 also Princess Máxima) were her escorts during outgoing State Visits. It would also serve as a very good introduction of the future grand-ducal couple.

If Stephanie weren't in her final stages of pregnancy that would be a good solution. When the GD visited Japan, Princess Alexandra has accompanied him. But maybe she is already too much taken up by her wedding preparations.

[mybags]

It seems that the First Lady of Latvia didn't participate either.

[iceflower]

Grand Duke Henri and Latvian President Egils Levits opened the Latvian-Luxembourg business forum today, March 14:


** flickr gallery **