Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of
Luxembourg’s younger brother has died; it was announced on Wednesday in an
official statement that was released by the Maison du Grand Duc.
It read: “It is with
great sadness that Their Royal Highnesses the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess
announce the death of Mr. Luis Mestre, the younger brother of Her Royal
Highness the Grand Duchess, which occurred today, in Geneva, at the age of
64.”
No cause of death or further
information was provided. The Grand Duchess, 66, has been married to Grand Duke
Henri, who acceded to the throne in 2000, for 41 years.
Her family is originally from
Cuba and settled in New York when she and her siblings were children.
Her older brother José
tragically died in 2015 in Miami, aged 62, after suffering from health problems
that previously saw him admitted to intensive care. She also has a sister
called Catalina.
 |
The royal couple released a statement on Wednesday
Sadly, the Grand Duchess
lost her uncle Victor Batista Falla to COVID-19 in 2020, paying him
tribute in a heartfelt statement at the time.
It read: “It is with
great sadness that their Royal Highnesses, the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess,
report the passing of Mr. Victor Batista Falla, the Duchess’ uncle and last
living brother of her mother.
“Mr. Victor Batista
Falla, who lived in Madrid, had gone to visit his native country, Cuba, where
he had not returned for 60 years. He died there on Easter Sunday at the age of
87 from COVID-19.
 |
The Grand Duke acceded to the throne in 2000
“Victor Batista Falla was
a recognized publisher and one of the greatest patrons of Cuban literature in
exile. His death is a great loss for the whole family of HRH the Grand
Duchess.”
Maria Teresa is a doting
mother-of-five, sharing four sons and a daughter with her husband: Guillaume,
Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Prince Félix of Luxembourg, Prince
Louis of Luxembourg, Princess Alexandra of Luxembourg and Prince Sébastien of
Luxembourg.
