LUXEMBOURG: Kings and queens gathered with ordinary citizens on Saturday to celebrate Luxembourg’s biggest royal event in decades, when heir-to-the-throne Prince Guillaume wed Belgian countess Stephanie de Lannoy.

Following a sombre religious ceremony, thousands crammed the centre of Luxembourg city to demand the newlyweds exchange their first public kiss as a married couple, belying the tiny country’s reputation for a lack of exuberance.

“A kiss! A kiss!” flag-waving onlookers yelled as the couple appeared on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace.

The cream of Europe’s royalty had attended the Catholic wedding mass at Notre Dame cathedral blending tradition with modernity, the day after the pair tied the knot in an intimate civil ceremony.

Luxembourg’s openly gay mayor, Bettel Xavier, was accompanied by his partner to the festivities, along with some 270 ordinary residents of the Grand Duchy.

In another modern touch, the rings the couple exchanged were made from fair-trade gold.

Luxembourg Archbishop Jean-Claude Hollerich celebrated the multilingual mass, which began shortly after 11am as the blonde countess, wearing an ivory lace gown embroidered with silver filigree, entered the cathedral on the arm of her brother Jehan.

The gown, designed by Elie Saab of Lebanon, featured three-quarter length sleeves and a silk tulle veil, also adorned with the silver floral motif, that trailed some four metres behind her.

The 28-year-old bride is a member of one of Belgium’s oldest aristocratic families and the youngest of eight children.

Her efforts to learn Luxembourgish paid off as she pronounced her vows in the language, raising cheers of praise from a crowd watching the ceremony on a giant screen in a central square.—AFP