Prince Louis and Princess Tessy to Divorce: January 18, 2017

[Stefan]

As far as I know in the Netherlands (I work at a family court) people always get the name they had before they married back. In Germany a woman’s name changes legally when she marries and she can’t get it back, or at least a lot don’t. That’s why, in my region, there are a lot of divorces of women whose first marriage was in Germany whose names look like first-husband-name, born birth-name. Like Jansen geboren Pieters. It gets really complicated when people marry multiple times in countries where women’s names legally change to that of their husbands.

Actually it is not automaitc anymore then when one marries in Germany that a woman takes the name of her husband. She can decide if she wants to change her name to her husbands name, if she keeps her name or if she wants a double-name. Of course it is the same for the husband.

 

[Pranter]

It must be my Dutch background, where ladies return to their own family name after divorce: it baffles me why an ex-wife would continue the use of a surname which was never hers.

It can be even weirder: after divorcing the third husband, not returning to the own family name but choosing the surname of the second husband instead (Lady Diana's stepmother).

Ms Tessy Antony (formerly princess Louis of Luxembourg) , that is a precise and correct surname, reflecting the real situation.

Very common here for the woman to keep her married last name if there are children involved.


LaRae

 

[JR76]

My Swedish mum has been divorced from my dad since 1984 and she still has his surname. Originally because it was the name of her children and now she just can't be bothered to change it.

 

[JuliannaVictoria]

I still have my ex-husbands last name. It would have been a pain in the ass to change, since it's on all my documents (2 Master's degrees, passport, military records, state department records, etc), so I kept it. We had no children together, but if I were to ever remarry, I have no idea how I would navigate it. Maybe I will just go through the trouble of changing it for my new husband, until then, legally I have my ex-husband's name, professionally and socially, I use my maiden name.

 

[Winnie]

I still have my ex-husbands last name. It would have been a pain in the ass to change, since it's on all my documents (2 Master's degrees, passport, military records, state department records, etc), so I kept it. We had no children together, but if I were to ever remarry, I have no idea how I would navigate it. Maybe I will just go through the trouble of changing it for my new husband, until then, legally I have my ex-husband's name, professionally and socially, I use my maiden name.

Same with me. Funny thing, which I never knew, my friend Sharon's sister divorced for the second time told her attorney that she didn't want either of her ex-husbands last names and not her maiden one either. He said that she could have any name she wished when the final papers were stamped. So the woman chose Summer because it is her favorite season. 10 years later she still goes by it. Floored me as I did not realize one could do that.

 

[W.Y.CII]

Great to see it finally has been settled.

It is always strange to see women keep their husbands's surnames even after divorce. But well, in my culture, it's uncommon for married women to replace their maiden name with their husbands' surnames automatically and officially, normally they would keep using their maiden name, and some would use both in fornal ocassion.

 

[Prisma]

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The decree absolute for Prince Louis and Princess Tessy has been decided and pronounced at the Family Division of the High Court in London today, April 4:


** Press Association article via dailymail: UK judge ends marriage of Prince Louis of Luxembourg and Princess Tessy **

Hopefully everyone can move forward now. I'm confused about this part:
"Mr Justice MacDonald decided that Princess Tessy and the children could live in a property the couple had shared when married."

Does that mean the judge changed his earlier decision where Tessy and the boys could live at their current residence but the GDF could ask them to leave with a 6 month notice? Or maybe the article simply didn't go into the details of the judgement from 4 months ago?

According to a short talk Tessy had with Royal Central she'll keep her title until 1 September 2019 and will after that use the name Antony - de Nassau
EXCLUSIVE: Prince Louis and Princess Tessy divorce official – Royal Central

That's odd, why wait another 6 months? I wonder if the GDF made concessions to finalize the divorce or maybe Tessy wants to use her title to build up her consultancy or summer projects (Professor Without Borders offers summer school) before losing it.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I have looked it up and indeed in the three Benelux-countries the own family-name as mentioned on the birth certificate is the only legal surname. ("Le seul nom légalement reconnu est celui qui figure sur votre acte de naissance")

In the three countries it is optional to have the surname of the spouse, of the partner, of the late spouse mentioned in a passport (Nom de l'époux / de l'épouse). The three countries have a passport in the EU-format and the name of the spouse is mentioned at the back side of the document. The front side only shows the birth name.

 

[lucien]

Strange that she will continue to be a Princess til 01. September. She had enough time to prepare for that she will loose it at she must have known when the separation was announced that she would not be able to keep it after the divroce is final.

Good ridence T!!

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Hopefully everyone can move forward now. I'm confused about this part:
"Mr Justice MacDonald decided that Princess Tessy and the children could live in a property the couple had shared when married."

Does that mean the judge changed his earlier decision where Tessy and the boys could live at their current residence but the GDF could ask them to leave with a 6 month notice? Or maybe the article simply didn't go into the details of the judgement from 4 months ago?

I feel sure it was the latter. As Tessy herself decided not to appeal the judge's decision, according to the article, I can't see a way or a reason he could have altered his legal judgment.

I have looked it up and indeed in the three Benelux-countries the own family-name as mentioned on the birth certificate is the only legal surname. ("Le seul nom légalement reconnu est celui qui figure sur votre acte de naissance")

True, but it is a different situation for the wives and widows of Princes of Luxembourg, Princes of Nassau, and Counts of Nassau. The family bylaws provide that it is the family name "of Nassau", not their birth name, which is mentioned on their legal documents.

Vorbehaltlich der nachstehenden, in Absatz 4 festgelegten Bestimmung, tragen, in den öffentlichen und privaten Handlungen, die sie betreffen, die Mitglieder des Großherzoglichen Hauses (§ 2 Absatz 4) und der Großherzoglichen Familie (§ 2 Absatz 3),

1) die eheliche Nachkommen ersten Grades des Hauschefs sowie des nach Primogeniturrecht zur Thronfolge berufenen Hausmitglieds sind, ferner deren hausrechtsgemäß angeheirateten Gemahlinnen, das Prädikat Königliche Hoheit (Altesse Royale), ihren Vornamen und den Familiennamen "zu Nassau" ("de Nassau") sowie die Titel Prinz oder Prinzessin von Luxemburg (Prince ou Princesse de Luxembourg), etc., etc.

2) die eheliche männliche Nachkommen zweiten und weiteren Grades des Hauschefs sind, mit Ausnahme der Nachkommen ersten Grades des nach Primogeniturrecht zur Thronfolge berufenen Hausmitglieds (Ziffer 1), ferner deren hausrechtsgemäß angeheirateten Gemahlinnen, das Prädikat Königliche Hoheit (Altesse Royale), ihren Vornamen und den Familiennamen "zu Nassau" ("de Nassau") und die Titel Prinz oder Prinzessin zu Nassau (Prince ou Princesse de Nassau), etc., etc.

3) die eine Ehe geschlossen haben, zu deren Abschluss der Hauschef nicht zugestimmt hat, weiterhin den Familiennamen "zu Nassau" ("de Nassau") sowie ihren angestammten Titel. Die Gemahlinnen und legitimen Nachkommen einer solchen Ehe, tragen ihren Vornamen und den Familiennamen "zu Nassau" ("de Nassau") sowie den Titel Graf oder Gräfin zu Nassau (Comte ou Comtesse de Nassau).​

Décret grand-ducal du 18 juin 2012 portant coordination du Statut de famille du 5 mai 1907. - Legilux
Family Bylaws Concerning the House Law of the House of Luxembourg-Nassau

 

[maria-olivia]

Luxarazzi wrote : We will not cover Tessy 's public and private lives anymore.

To the mods :
Please don't post Tessy's Fashion on the same Thread of TTRRHH the Grand Duchess MT and the Princesses Alexandra, Stephanie and Claire anymore . Thanks

 

[Prisma]

Cour's statement on the divorce and Tessy's name

Communiqué du Maréchalat de la Cour - Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg - Avril 2019

Luxarazzi's post and complains about the GDF's inconsistency

Luxarazzi - Official Divorce Announcement or the Never-Ending Story of Tessy's Name...

... "for the sake of the children, Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess granted to Mrs Antony the favour of adding the name "de Nassau" to her name. She will be called Mrs Tessy Antony-de Nassau from September 2019. As the result of the divorce Mrs Antony-de Nassau loses her predicate Royal Highness and the title "Princess of Luxembourg". She will not represent the Grand Ducal Family any longer." To which I ask: How are we supposed to call her in the meantime? She's not a princess any longer but she will only start using her new name in September?! Is she not technically a princess anymore but we are still supposed to call her a princess? But why don't you call it a princess in your announcement then? And, finally, why have a House Law regulating names, styles and titles in the first place when play it by ear at any chance you get?! ...

 

[An Ard Ri]

Hopefully we'll see and hear less and less of Ms Tessy Antony from now on,she had become ever so tiresome.

 

[ladongas]

I haven’t followed this too closely, but was a reason for the divorce ever revealed?

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

Agree about those who think it's strange she'll continue to be a princess until the beginning of September. But I'm glad the ordeal is over as it seems it has been a rough ride for them both (certainly seems to have taken its toll on Tessy ). I hope this will put an end to her "poor little me" sympathy posts on Instagram...

 

[iceflower]

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Tessy has used the current interest in her divorce and has given an interview to British Hello magazine, a glamourous photosession included...



** hellomagazine: Exclusive: Princess Tessy opens up about life after separation **

 

[Marengo]

I am not sure she understands the paradox in her statements.

She tried to keep the title, arguing in the article that 'there are those who have made sure it is taken away'. She keeps the prestigious name 'De Nassau'.

But at the same time she claims that: "A title doesn't make you who you are. A woman has her own merits and it’s not who you marry or what name you carry, it is what you have achieved in your own right"

 

[tommy100]

Tessy just says what she thinks makes her sound clever and a campaigner and feminist. She doesn't realise she is none of those things at all. Hopefully she will begin to fade away now

 

[An Ard Ri]

Titles clearly matter to Tessy seeing as she keeps bringing it up in interviews in a years time hopefully we'll be saying 'Tessy who? '

 

[Tatiana Maria]

The statement that "there are those who have made sure [the title] is taken away" is difficult to interpret, as any other decision would have been exceptional (indeed, the extension until September is exceptional). The statute regarding the loss of a wife's titles upon a divorce had been laid down by 1995 and was never revoked. It was applied in 2004 to Prince Jean's divorce (which was up until this month the sole divorce from a titled member of the grand-ducal family), and was added into the house law in 2012.

 

[Zonk]

As she is no longer married to a Prince of Luxembourg , how could she think she would remain a Princess? Especially since there were other divorces (though not many) before hers to show her how it was going to end up.

As this divorce saga continued on, it has not shown Tessy in the best light IMO.

I must admit, I liked her better when I didn't hear her speak (i.e social media). Sometimes she comes across more royal than the royals. She says a lot of stuff but her actions show otherwise. She might want to work on that.

 

[Al_bina]

As part of the settlement, she will retain her title until September, to give her time to get her affairs in order. After then, she will be known as Tessy Antony-de Nassau – de Nassau being the royal family’s surname. "But that is fine. A title doesn't make you who you are. A woman has her own merits and it’s not who you marry or what name you carry, it is what you have achieved in your own right."

Tessy's complaint is eternal. She still can not accept the fact that the Grand Ducal family will not change the rules about titles to accommodate her.

 

[Somebody]

I am not sure she understands the paradox in her statements.

She tried to keep the title, arguing in the article that 'there are those who have made sure it is taken away'. She keeps the prestigious name 'De Nassau'.

But at the same time she claims that: "A title doesn't make you who you are. A woman has her own merits and it’s not who you marry or what name you carry, it is what you have achieved in your own right"

Well, it's not much that she achieved 'in her own right' given that she is worried about loosing her footing when loosing her title:

When she loses her royal title, she hopes it will not have a negative impact on her philanthropic work. "It gave me a platform – people are more charmed to listen. It is nice, but having a title was never my identity. And as far as I am concerned, every woman is royal at heart – a heroine."

 

[Stefan]

As she is no longer married to a Prince of Luxembourg , how could she think she would remain a Princess? Especially since there were other divorces (though not many) before hers to show her how it was going to end up.

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Actually she was treated better then the other who married Princes of Luxemborug who had renounced their rights as they where never created Princess of Luxembourg. And she is also allowed to put de-Nassau to her name which was not the case for Hélène Vestur.

 

[An Ard Ri]

One can only imagine what the grand Dukes late mother would have made of the Instagram obsessed former Princess.

 

[Kataryn]

Actually she was treated better then the other who married Princes of Luxemborug who had renounced their rights as they where never created Princess of Luxembourg. And she is also allowed to put de-Nassau to her name which was not the case for Hélène Vestur.

Still, I found it more honourable how the Danish queen treated Alexandra on creating her a grevinde in her own right. Yes, Louis gave up the right to the throne in Luxembourg, so Tessy is not the mother of two boys in-line of the succession, but she was created a HRH and a princess, so should at least have been left with a comital title and a style like Alexandra, who is "Her Excellency" (due to holding the Order of the Elephant).


It smells so much of disgust against the commoner Tessy and while I believe it's not that but has rather to do with things which happened behind the Royal curtain, it still seems not honorable to me. For if Tessy had been a countess born, they surely would have given her a new title. because leaving a divorced noblewoman with her maiden name is so against noble traditions. IMHO, of course.

 

[Stefan]

Still, I found it more honourable how the Danish queen treated Alexandra on creating her a grevinde in her own right. Yes, Louis gave up the right to the throne in Luxembourg, so Tessy is not the mother of two boys in-line of the succession, but she was created a HRH and a princess, so should at least have been left with a comital title and a style like Alexandra, who is "Her Excellency" (due to holding the Order of the Elephant).

The situation which Alexandra is entrie different as she married the Queens younger son and was actually the second Lady in trhe country for several years so had a much more prominent role.

That's what i found not right. Why treat Tessy better then the other woman who married Princes who renounced their successionj rights. In my opinion she should have been treated the same. Or was she treated better because she married the son of the actual Grand Duke.
As for the loss of the Titles that is reguilated in the House Laws.

 

[Kataryn]

The situation which Alexandra is entrie different as she married the Queens younger son and was actually the second Lady in trhe country for several years so had a much more prominent role.

That's what i found not right. Why treat Tessy better then the other woman who married Princes who renounced their successionj rights. In my opinion she should have been treated the same. Or was she treated better because she married the son of the actual Grand Duke.
As for the loss of the Titles that is reguilated in the House Laws.

Can you point me to the House Laws? For IMHO it is a difference if someone marries a prince, shares his names and titles, then gets divorced and looses that and someone who marries a prince, does not get to share his titles, but is later elevated to the rank of HRH and princess in a special decree and divorces then. IMHO there should have been a repeal of the decree and a replacement of the titles, not just a - look up the House Laws. But that's just me.

 

[Stefan]

Can you point me to the House Laws? For IMHO it is a difference if someone marries a prince, shares his names and titles, then gets divorced and looses that and someone who marries a prince, does not get to share his titles, but is later elevated to the rank of HRH and princess in a special decree and divorces then. IMHO there should have been a repeal of the decree and a replacement of the titles, not just a - look up the House Laws. But that's just me.

Here is a trnslation of the House Law: Family Bylaws Concerning the House Law of the House of Luxembourg-Nassau


Actually Hélène Vestur was also created Coutness of Nassau in 1995 and the Title then removed with her divorce.

 

[maria-olivia]

Instagram lost Tessy before and after her Divorce !
She lost her tittle and is not the owner of their House in London .

I don't think Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte should be happy with this Wedding, such as Grand Duchess Charlotte for Henri's Wedding.