HGD Guillaume and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, Current Events 1: May - October 2012

[dbarn67]

Originally Posted by Charlotte_Aster

archduke imre's fiancée Kathleen is an extreme pro-life supporter, who is proud of campaigning in front of Planned Parenthood. she is very vocal about her views.

Oh thanks for the update.

[HRHHermione]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Ah, happely mingling with a woman who is sharing her extremist views in an unorthodox way with the world. I can't imagine my own crown prince being able to that, even when such a woman will be a cousin-by-marriage.

Yes, she's certainly not someone I could have a civil conversation with. The American anti-abortion movement is often incredibly narrow minded and ugly and they resort to harassing young women who are simply trying to see their doctors in peace, and it's quite distasteful.

I don't know that I could tolerate her even to preserve family unity.

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by dbarn67

Who's extremist and what's are her views?

Kathleen Walker, fiancee to Archduke Imre.


For starters, I have read that she told one American news outlet that rape victims must shoulder at least some of the responsibility for their circumstances because of the way they are dressed....which to me is vicious and uncalled for if it is true.

Perhaps all the females of this country, including infants and elderly women-should wear burqas?

I can't really fault Guillaume for being photographed with her though...Imre is his cousin...what can he do?? I doubt he shares her views...he is a intelligent, rational and sympathetic a young man.

[dbarn67]

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

Kathleen Walker, fiancee to Archduke Imre.


For starters, I have read that she told one American news outlet that rape victims must shoulder at least some of the responsibility for their circumstances because of the way they are dressed....which to me is vicious and uncalled for if it is true.

Perhaps all the females of this country, including infants and elderly women-should wear burqas?

I can't really fault Guillaume for being photographed with her though...Imre is his cousin...what can he do?? I doubt he shares her views...he is a intelligent, rational and sympathetic a young man.

Wow, that's a really harsh view of women. I wouldn't be surprised if the Luxembourg royal family are of similar; if not as extreme, view on abortion as they're very devout Catholics. I think they're smart enough to keep any extreme view themselves though. I don't mind differing opinions but extremists of any kind are dangerous IMO.

[Kataryn]

I'm from a very devout Catholic family as well and have managed all my life never to talk to any of them about those very Catholic topics... I don't think the future Archduchess will be so gauche and force such topics on her future-in-laws. As a Habsburg asked for her hand in marriage, she at least should have good manners.

[suztav]

I'm an observant Catholic, however, I would never impose my views so publicly on anyone else. Even though the Grand Ducal family is very Catholic, I can't imagine them approving of this woman publicly stating that women who are raped deserve some of the blame. Really!?

[maria-olivia]

Why writing about Kathleen Walkers in this thread?

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by dbarn67

Wow, that's a really harsh view of women. I wouldn't be surprised if the Luxembourg royal family are of similar; if not as extreme, view on abortion as they're very devout Catholics. I think they're smart enough to keep any extreme view themselves though. I don't mind differing opinions but extremists of any kind are dangerous IMO.

The GDF are famously devout, which means that there is a good chance that they are anti-abortion.

I happen to believe that being anti-abortion does NOT make a person an extremist...any more than being so-called pro choice.

I am an observant Catholic who in general finds the idea of abortion on demand abhorrent, but I am no extremist.

What does sound extreme to me is insisting that women who have survived this assault on their bodies and their spirits must carry through with any pregnancy that might result because "it's not the baby's fault".

THAT is extreme, and it is what Ms. Walker believes.

[4Pam]

I'll have Google more info on Ms. Walker. I've heard snippets about her but not a lot.

G & S are such a cute couple. I'm really excited for their wedding.

[dbarn67]

Originally Posted by Moonmaiden23

The GDF are famously devout, which means that there is a good chance that they are anti-abortion.

I happen to believe that being anti-abortion does NOT make a person an extremist...any more than being so-called pro choice.

I am an observant Catholic who in general finds the idea of abortion on demand abhorrent, but I am no extremist.

What does sound extreme to me is insisting that women who have survived this assault on their bodies and their spirits must carry through with any pregnancy that might result because "it's not the baby's fault".

THAT is extreme, and it is what Ms. Walker believes.

That's what I meant, as I said I can respect differing views but saying a woman who's raped bear some responsibility is extreme in my view.


As, this is not a discussion that focuses on GD Guillaume & Stephanie I will end my contribution here.

[Mariel]

Haven't heard any Stephanie/Guillame news lately, in mid July.

[Moonmaiden23]

This is the time of year that the Grand Ducal Family traditionally leaves for the South of France, where they have their summer residence.

It wouldn't surprise me if Countess Stephanie has joined her soon to be in-laws there, at least for a period of time.

[Rayarena]

Guillaume and Stephanie at the Olympics. They look as if they are really happy!

London 2012: Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy attend Olympics - hellomagazine.com

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by Rayarena

Guillaume and Stephanie at the Olympics. They look as if they are really happy!

London 2012: Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy attend Olympics - hellomagazine.com

I love these two as a couple, they seem so simple and genuine even though they are about as "Royal" as it gets. I cannot wait for their wedding!

[dazzling]

Originally Posted by Rayarena

Guillaume and Stephanie at the Olympics. They look as if they are really happy!

London 2012: Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg and Countess Stephanie de Lannoy attend Olympics - hellomagazine.com

They seem like a very happy and fun couple. At the official events they ahve attended they give the opposite impression.

[Moonmaiden23]

Other than the Swedish christening where they did indeed appear solemn and pre-occupied, I don't think they have made any official appearances as a couple.

They attended a garden party at Berg Castle for National Day where they color coordinated their clothes and looked happy and relaxed, and a few days later a Red Cross rescue dog event at Berg where they again seemed quite casual and relaxed.

[Mariel]

It is a relief that they are not (as far as we know) "living together". The Christian monarchs of England and Europe have accustomed us now to having royal boyfriends and girlfriends living together even before engagement. This is a new way of doing things, not necessarily immoral if it's considered seriously as an engagement period. But certainly not in the tradition of Christian marriage. And yet they have Christian "christenings". I wish them all well and hope God blesses them all.

Some royal young people do not even live together, but hop from partner to partner. This is very much against the tradition of Christian marriage. How much is press related and how much is actual, we do not know. I think that Prince Harry's interminable affair with Chelsey was an example of this. Reasonable people should be able to get the families together and discuss the possibilities instead of just going on and on and hoping something OK will emerge. Apparently nothing OK emerged with Harry and Chelsey, which I think is absurd, considering the length of their relationship.
There is no REASONABLE consideration of the situation. It's seemingly back to the bad behavior of Edward VII and George V when they were young men. And then George V objected to his son's endless affairs with married women--guess he would have preferred unmarried paramours.

Well, anyway, here's to the traditional charm of Stephanie and Guillaume.

[HRHHermione]

Lots of puritanical ideas about relationships floating around the forums these days. I personally, much prefer to see people learn to know each other as adults and take as long as they need before deciding whether they want more, and I think the idea that marriage is the ultimate goal of any relationship is really limiting and puts undue pressure on couples.

(Note that I don't mean to imply that the way these two have approached marriage is bad, just that I don't see it as the only good way to do things.)

[Rayarena]

I'm not going to get into the morality of the situation, nor to say that one way of living is better than another. I.E. William's cohabitation with Kate is not any better or any worst than Guillaume's [as far as we know] traditional courtship with Stephanie. That said, it is striking how traditional the Nassau's of Luxembourg are [Louis aside]. Guillaume's engagement with Stephanie is something out of yesteryear. Stephanie is what years ago would have been considered a "good" girl. She lives on her family's estate and presumably has had no prior relationships. Guillaume is seen with Stephanie in formal engagements and its all quite wholesome. Guillaume has also lead a quiet and scandal free life.

I find it charming how the Nassau's are bucking the trend. Not only is Stephanie a genuine noble, she is also [and forgive the use of the word] a "good" girl. So different than the other royal families.

[Lindy]

Originally Posted by Rayarena

It is striking how traditional the Nassau's of Luxembourg are [Louis aside]. Guillaume's engagement with Stephanie is something out of yesteryear... I find it charming how the Nassau's are bucking the trend. Not only is Stephanie a genuine noble, she is also [and forgive the use of the word] a "good" girl. So different than the other royal families.

I don't think of the Nassau's as traditional and scandal free. Just the opposite. Three generations in a row have had princes who either had children out of wedlock (Grand Duke Henri's brother Prince Jean; Prince Louis) or married their pregnant girlfriend (Grand Duke Jean's brother Prince Charles.) Not ideal situations.