Congratulating The Hereditary Grand Duke Couple on the Birth of Prince Francois

 

Writing for the 1st time?
If you are writing to the Royals for the 1st time (or want a refresher on the basics) check out our "How To" tab. This post will only cover the specifics for writing to the Hereditary Grand Duke Couple for the birth of their baby.

And remember, International Mail requires extra postage! Check with your local post office for the correct amount.

Where to write? 

Palais Grand-Ducal

B.P. 331

L-2013 LUXEMBOURG

The media notes released by the Palace direct well-wishers to write to the main palace address. What is listed above is the correct address. While the family does list at Château de Fischbach, their mail is processed through the Grand Ducal Palace. 

(The Palace did direct people to write to Château de Fischbach after Prince Charles's birth, but I believe that was just a temporary pandemic thing.)

When to write?
Don't feel like you have to get your letter/card out today. I usually try to write within 2 weeks of the event. 

What to Write?
I very often get asked this question. The answer is, write whatever you feel like writing about. There is no one right answer. As long as you are being respectful and thoughtful, it is hard to go wrong.

 You can send a letter or a card, either is perfectly fine. 

You don't need to write something long and elaborate. You can keep it simple and just give your congratulations. Or, if you want you can write something longer. Keep your letter to 1-page max. 

How to Style the Couple
How you refer to the couple depends on how formal you wish to be,

Envelope:

• TRH The Hereditary Grand Duke Couple
• Hereditary Grand Duke Couple
• TRH The Hereditary Grand Duke & Hereditary Grand Duchess
• Hereditary Grand Duke & Hereditary Grand Duchess
• TRH Prince Guillaume & Princess Stephanie
• Prince Guillaume & Princess Stephanie
• Etc. 

(The Palace will also refer to the couple in English as Crown Prince & Princess.)

Dear: 

• Your Royal Highnesses
• Guillaume & Stephanie

Sending a Gift?
The Royals prefer well-wishers to make a donation to charity instead of sending a gift. The couple suggested well-wishers donate to Fondation Lëtzebuerger Kannerduerf (SOS Children's Village Luxembourg). 

But feel free to make a donation to a local children's charity if you prefer. I usually find that easier to do. 

What to Expect in Reply?

I would expect something similar to the reply for old brother Prince Charles's Birth. 

Variations of Spain Royal's Christmas Cards

Message from Queen Letizia

Each year the Spain Royals have multiple versions of their Christmas Cards. The cards are identical, except for the handwritten message. Below is a chart that shows who wrote each handwritten message. 

I have linked to the replies I have received. 

Note: For ease, the year list is the year printed on the card. It reflects the date of the new year. (I.e. If you write for Christmas 2022, the card says New Year's 2023. We have listed it under 2023.)

Year  on  Card	King Felipe	Queen Letizia	Princess Leonor	Princess Sofia
2024	"Así lo deseamos con todo nuestro afecto" (Translation: We wish this with all our affection)	"With our deep gratitude and sincere affection." Link	"Con todo afecto y muy agradecidos por la felicitación" (Translation: With all affection and very grateful for the greetings)	?
2023	"Muy afectuosamente y con nuestros mejores deseos" (Translation: With love and our best wishes)	"With our sincere gratitude and affection"	?	"Muy agradecidos. Con afecto" (Translation: Very Thankful. With Love) Link
2022	"Con todo afecto y nuestros mejores deseos" (Translation: With all our affection and best wishes)	"We thank you for your Xmas Wishes."	"Muy agradecidos por la felicitación" (Translation: Very Thankful for the greetings)	?
2021	"Con nuestros mejores deseos" (Translation: With our best wishes)	"Thank you so much for your Xmas wishes."	"Muchas gracias por la felicitaciones" (Translation: Very grateful for the greetings) Link	?
2020	"Con gran afecto y nuestros mejores deseos" (Translation: With great affection and our best wishes)	"Thank you very much for your Xmas Wishes,  We also wish you the best with great affection," Link
2019	"Con gran afecto y nuestros mejores deseos" (Translation: With great affection and our best wishes)	"Thank you very much for your good wishes, With great affection" Link
2018	?	"Thank you so much for your Christmas Card. We also send you our best wishes with our warmest regards." Link
2017	?	"We thank you very much for your Christmas card and also wish you the best with great affection."
2016	"Cada día hay un motivo para la esperanza y la armonía en nuestros corazones. Que los ideales de la Navidad iluminen siempre ese camino" (Translation: "Every day there is a reason for hope and harmony in our hearts. May the ideals of Christmas always illuminate that path")	"Thank you very much for your Xmas Wishes. We also wish you the best, with great affection."
2015	"Que la ilusión, la esperanza y los buenos deseos de la Navidad permanezcan más allá de estos días de celebración" (Translation: That the excitement, the hope, and the goodwill of Christmas remain beyond these days of celebration.)	?

Note: The Palace released an image of the Christmas Card in December each year. Usually, they use the version with King Felipe's handwritten message. For Christmas 2016 & 2017 (Which would have 2017 & 2018 printed on the card), the image of the Christmas card released to the media did not contain any handwritten message. 

King Felipe & Queen Letizia of Spain's Christmas Reply (2022)

This lovely reply arrived a bit ago. I had written to King Felipe & Queen Letizia to wish them & their family a Merry Christmas. 

This reply is especially exciting as I know the couple don't send out replies to everyone who writes for Christmas. I've done an annual poll and have founded consistently over the years about 50% say they have received a Christmas Reply from them. I have had similar luck with replies 5 out of 8 years. 

We know the cards they send out are the same one used for their personal christmas card to family, friends, people related to their work, etc. My theory is that they take whatever left over cards and send those to well-wishers. But, when they run out, they don't print more. (We know other Monarchies will do this as well.) 

The front of the envelope is the usual from the couple.  The blue circle with "Household of HM the King - Protocol" is printed on, not stamped. 

The back of the envelope features the King's Coat of Arms in Red. 

Inside is a folded card. This card is pretty identical to past years' replies, except for the change in photo & message. The front of the card features the King's Coat of Arms. 

The back of the card features King Felipe & Queen Letizia's joint monogram in red. 

Inside on the left side is a photo of Princess Leonor & Princess Sofia.

The right side inside the card has a bi-lingual typed message. Along with a copy of a handwritten note and signatures that are printed onto the card.  

Each year they are at least two versions of this card. One with the handwritten note in English and one with the note in Spanish, which they send out according to the language of the recipient. But I have seen at least 4 versions this year, and I've noticed they have different handwriting. So, my theory is each of the royals wrote on of the messages. https://gertsroyalreplies.blogspot.com/2023/03/variations-of-spain-royals-christmas.html

When they run out of one version, they will start sending out the other to everyone, which is why I received the card with the Spanish handwritten message. 

The card translated, says:

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2023

Very Thankful, with Affection,

Felipe R      Letizia R

Leonor, Princess of Asturias   Sofia, Infanta of Spain

The other versions of the card are the same except for the handwritten message. As each handwritten message is in a different handwriting, I assume each was written by a member of the Royal Family. You can find the text of the 4 versions below. I looked through various writing samples to identify which belongs to each royal.

Spanish (#1, Photo released for Press) (King Felipe)

Photo from Casa de S.M. el Rey

• Muy afectuosamente y con nuestros mejores deseos 
• Translation: With love and our best wishes

Spanish (#2) (Princess Leonor)

• Muy agradecido por la felicitación
• Translation: Very grateful for the congratulations

Spanish (#3 which I received) (Princess Sofia)

• Muy agradecidos. Con afecto
• Translation: Very Thankful. With Love

English (#1) (Queen Letizia)

• With our sincere gratitude and affection,

Back when there was just two versions, I believe Felipe did the Spanish and Queen Letizia did the English.

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Princess Caroline of Monaco Christmas (2022) & Birthday (2023)

Three lovely replies arrived earlier this year from Monaco. I received two on the same day, and one a while later, all from Princess Caroline of Monaco and all pretty much identical. 

I have only gotten one reply from Princess Caroline previously, for her 60th Birthday in 2017. (I did also get one letter returned to sender.) 

I have only written to her on two occasions recently for Christmas (2022) & her birthday in January. The cards inside do not specify what event the reply was for. But I assume this is for those two events, and that her office just accidently sent a extra reply. 

The envelopes were the same as Princess Caroline's past reply, featuring a real stamp and the Postmark stamped on all letters during that week. 

Inside each envelope was the same flat card from Princess Caroline. This card is identical to the reply I received from Princess Caroline previously. 

The card says: 

Palais de Monaco

H.R.H. The Princess of Hanover would like to thank you for your kind wishes which were much appreciated. 

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King Constantine of Greece Condolence Reply from Queen Margrethe of Denmark (2023)

This lovely reply arrived recently from Denmark. I had written to Queen Margrethe to express my condolence to her and her family on the death of her brother-in-law King Constantine of Greece. I had also written to Constantine's wife Queen Anne Marie of Greece, and sister Queen Sofia of Greece to express my condolences to their family. I have not received a reply yet from them. 

The envelope is the usual from the Denmark Royals. The front of the envelope says "Amalienborg," the name of the palace complex in Copenhagen where the Royals live and have their offices. All of the outgoing mail is stamped with this Postmark. 

The back of the envelope features the Royal Crown. 

Inside is a form letter. It is the same style as other form letters from Queen Margrethe. The Denmark Royals don't do anything extra special for condolence replies. The reply for Prince Henrik's death in 2018 was similar. 

The letter says: 

Dear Miss Daly, 

Her Majesty the Queen has asked me to pass on her sincere thanks for your king message of condolence on the death of His Majesty King Constantine. 

Sincerely, 

[Signature]

Aide-de-Camp

You will noticed the Aide-de-Camp's name is not printed on the letter. This is done so the form letter can be used which ever Aide-de-camp is on duty. With just a signature it is usually hard to tell which Aide-de-camp signed this letter. 

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