Princess branded ‘gold digger’ as she takes divorce to UK court
Judge tells Luxembourg royal couple to behave after prince angrily denies dragging out their case
SHE rose from humble origins to marry into one of Europe’s wealthiest and most distinguished royal families.
For 11 years Princess Tessy of Luxembourg lived happily with her husband, Prince Louis, raising two children and pursuing a charity career in London working on behalf of young women and teenage girls.
But following reports earlier this year that the couple were seeking a divorce, the princess is now being forced to fight off accusations in Luxembourg of being a “gold digger”.
The reports intensified yesterday after it emerged she had begun proceedings in the London courts over the estranged couple’s divorce settlement.
An article in a Belgian gossip magazine accused Princess Tessy of having only married into the Luxembourg royal family for her own aggrandisement and financial benefit.
In an article described as a “disgusting character assassination” by her legal team, the magazine, Privat, concluded that “she’ll always remain the daughter of a roofer”.
But her enemies should have realised the 31-year-old princess would be no pushover. She joined her country’s armed forces at the age of 18, rising to the rank of corporal, and in 2004 served in Nato’s peacekeeping force in Kosovo.
Princess Tessy yesterday arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice, determined to obtain a fair settlement in her divorce from Prince Louis, the third son of Henri,
Grand Duke of Luxembourg.
The Daily Telegraph cannot reveal details of the disputed settlement, or the amount in maintenance
‘My client has no wish to litigate ... She is not a gold digger. She is simply seeking a fair and proper settlement’
payments she is seeking, after a High Court judge imposed interim reporting restrictions, preventing the media disclosing any of the financial details discussed in court.
But the princess’s counsel, Deborah Bangay QC, told the court: “My client has no wish to litigate and she made a very reasonable and sensible proposal. Unfortunately that proposal was rejected and my client had no option but to pursue this in litigation.”
Following the hearing Ms Bangay said: “She is not a gold digger. Far from it. She is simply seeking a fair and proper settlement.” Princess Tessy met her future husband when they were serving in the army in Kosovo. They married six months after their first baby boy was born before moving to London and sending both sons to boarding school.
A decree nisi was granted in February after Princess Tessy had complained of the prince’s “unreasonable behaviour”.
The princess’s name was quickly scrubbed from the website of the Luxembourg royal family and she lost her diplomatic status. She will lose the title of royal highness and cease to be called princess once the divorce becomes final.
She also stands to lose the home in Kensington, west London, where she lived with Prince Louis and raised their sons.
The rancour behind the couple’s separation emerged in court yesterday, when the prince’s aides were accused of having threatened to drag the case out “for years” if Princess Tessy did not settle.
At this point Prince Louis, 31, leant across the court towards his wife and angrily denied the charge, prompting Mr Justice Macdonald to intervene, saying: “You are adults and I expect you to act like adults in my court room.”
The prince’s counsel, James Ewins QC, also denied royal aides had briefed against his wife in the Luxembourg media. Referring to the article in Privat, Mr Ewins stated: “My client is appalled at this. He has no idea how it came about. We share their disgust and will do anything we can to stop this happening.”