Princess Tessy of Luxembourg represented herself in a divorce hearing at London’s High Court this week, fighting her estranged husband, Prince Louis, over how the royal couple’s assets will be divided up following the split.
According to theTimes, the 32-year-old former soldier, who has received no help from lawyers during this legal battle, addressed the judge, Mr Justice MacDonald, in a closing speech which lasted almost an hour, and was delivered in English (her second language, her first being Luxembourgish). The Prince, whose full title is His Royal Highness Prince Louis of Luxembourg, Nassau and Bourbon-Parma, was represented by a legal team headed up by barrister James Ewins QC.
Speaking outside the court, the Princess would not reveal why she had chosen to represent herself in the case. A decision is expected to be reached ‘in the near future,’ though the judge has already placed limits on how the settlement can be reported on: though both Princess Tessy and Prince Louis can be named in coverage, financial and personal details cannot be shared in the press.
Tessy, née Antony, and her estranged husband’s relationship has proved controversial in their home country. Prince Louis, who is the third son of the Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg, began a relationship with Tessy, a ‘commoner,’ in 2004, when they were both teenagers. She became pregnant with their first son, Gabriel, shortly after.
NOW READ: A Definitive Ranking Of The Most Stylish Princesses In The World
A Definitive Ranking Of The Most Stylish Princesses In The World
1 of 99. Princess Elizabeth von Thurn und Taxis
As style editor-at-large of US Vogue, it's unsurprising that German journalist Princess Elizabeth von Thurn und Taxis made it onto this list. Although she has frequently courted controversy – not least for a few tasteless Instagram posts – there's no denying her innate sense of style, something which has seen her befriending some of the world's best designers and sitting on their front rows. Just one look at her Instagram is enough to make you want to go shopping – albeit on a tighter budget…
2 of 98. Princess Tatiana of Greece
If there's any royal family whose wardrobe we'd like to raid, it would definitely be the Greeks: after all, three of their number feature on this list. When Princess Tatiana married into the family she brought with her an enviably stylish pedigree: born in Venezuela but raised in Europe, she attended boarding school in Switzerland and lived in London, working at Diane von Furstenberg before her marriage, all of which contributed to her taste for exotic, refined things. Case in point is her wedding, which saw guests asked to wear kaftans and sandals rather than black tie. More comfortable in jeans and sneakers than she is in a ballgown, she's famously self-effacing about her title – but that doesn't stop her doing it with style.
3 of 97. Princess Charlene of Monaco
Before she joined one of the most famously stylish royal families in the world, Princess Charlene of Monaco was an Olympic swimmer for her native South Africa, with a body to match. With such an athletic build, she was obviously always going to look great in clothes, but her penchant for chic monochrome ensembles and her perennially elegant short hairstyle ensure she fits right in with the fashionable dynasty.
4 of 96. Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece
With her own childrenswear brand and a position on a board at luxury conglomerate LVMH (the owners of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Givenchy) it's safe to say that Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece has a keen interest in all things sartorial. The British-born royal was working for Andy Warhol when she was set up on a blind date with the Crown Prince of Greece, with her wedding being one of the most glamorous of the '90s thanks to her exquisite high-neck Valentino gown. Indeed, she's good friends with the designer, whose clothes she often wears, while also being a regular on the front row at Dior.
5 of 95. Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden
Often compared to our own Duchess of Cambridge, the elegant, tall, brunette heir to the Swedish throne has a similar approach when it comes to fashion: wear local, recycle, and have a polished 'off-duty' wardrobe. This sartorial trifecta was seen in action on the monarch-to-be's recent trip to Japan: she wore Swedish designers Camilla Thulin, Stylein and Tiger of Sweden, as well as high street giant H&M, she sported Adidas Stan Smiths, and she rewore a favourite Elie Saab dress as well as a gown first worn by her mother in 1978. Talk about a hand-me-down.
6 of 94. Charlotte Casiraghi
When Grace Kelly is your grandmother, you're pretty much certain to inherit not just a great wardrobe but also an interest in fashion: chicness is in the genes. Eighth-in-line to the throne, Charlotte Casiraghi might not style herself as a princess, but she's certainly royal. A muse of Karl Lagerfeld, friend of Stella McCartney and collaborator with Gucci, she's definitely got the credentials – plus the wardroe - and we're really jealous of her holiday wardrobe.
7 of 93. Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece
She just celebrated her 21st birthday with a very risqué thigh-high split dress accessorised with Gucci trainers, so it's safe to say that despite her age Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece is already known for her daring style (the party theme? 'revolutionise your black tie') The daughter of another princess on our list, Princess Marie-Chantal, she has cleared inherited her mother's interest in clothes (she interned with the couture department aged 17), not to mention her enviable clothes-horse-esque body (she's modelled for the likes of Town & Country and Teen Vogue and walked for Dolce & Gabbana).
8 of 92. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark
Frequently voted the most stylish royal in the world, the Australian-born Crown Princess Mary of Denmark certainly has a knack for dressing the part. In an age when some factions of the royal family are keen to emphasise their relatability, with reduced spending on designer wardrobes, Princess Mary's is unapologetically regal and glamorous. Known for championing young designers – wearing a floral Erdem gown for Norway's national celebrations last year – as well as patronising the old guard – with Valentino rockstuds and MaxMara wrap coats – you can tell she enjoys getting dressed in the morning, and we salute her for it.
9 of 91. Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand
If there were a prize for most enthusiastic fashionista on this list, the Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana of Thailand would undoubtedly get the title. As it is, she's been crowned Most Stylish Princess In The World instead. A regular on the front row at couture, a designer in her own right (she showed in Paris a few seasons ago) and with a wardrobe that boasts pieces by Chanel, Balmain and Hermes, shrinking violet and modest style maven she is not. Unafraid to experiment with more out there, non-princessy looks – including exaggerated shoulders, leather and tuxedos - she's definitely changing the face of modern royal fashion.
The pair were eventually married in a small church ceremony in Gilsdorf, Luxembourg in 2006; conscious of the fact that their child would not have succession rights, as they were not married at the time of his birth, the Prince renounced any claims to the throne. The couple welcomed another son, Noah, in 2008, and lived together in the United States and in London. In 2016, however, they were granted a ‘quickie divorce,’ with Tessy citing her husband’s ‘unreasonable behaviour’ as grounds for separation.
Whatever the outcome of the hearing, it’s thought that the Princess will be able to keep her royal title. The styling of Princess was granted to her by royal decree in 2009, three years before a change in Luxembourg’s law stated that a royal spouse would lose their title in the event of divorce.