View source for Biography:Princess Claire of Luxembourg

{{Short description|Member of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg}}
{{Infobox royalty
| image        = 
| image_size   = 
| caption      = 
| alt          = 
| birth_name   = Claire Margareta Lademacher
| birth_date   = {{Birth date and age|1985|3|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place  = Filderstadt, Baden-Württemberg, West Germany
| spouse       = {{marriage|Prince Félix of Luxembourg| 17 September 2013}}
| issue        = Princess Amalia of Nassau<br>Prince Liam of Nassau<br>Prince Balthasar of Nassau
| father       = Hartmut Lademacher
| mother       = Gabriele Schneider
| occupation   = [[Philosophy:Bioethics|Bioethics]] researcher
}}

'''Princess Claire of Luxembourg''' (born '''Claire Margareta Lademacher''', 21 March 1985) is a member of the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg. She is the wife of Prince Felix, who is fourth in the line of succession to the throne of Luxembourg. Claire is also a [[Philosophy:Bioethics|bioethics]] researcher.

== Early life and academic career ==
Claire was born on 21 March 1985 in Filderstadt, West Germany (in present-day Germany). She is the second child of Gabriele Lademacher (née Schneider) and Hartmut Lademacher.<ref name="wort"/><ref name="monarchie"/> Her father, founder of LHS Telekommunikation and owner of castles in Croatia and Saint-Tropez, began his career at [[Company:IBM|IBM]] and amassed an estimated €600 million by investing in the software industry.<ref name="hello">{{cite web|title=Prince Felix of Luxembourg announces his engagement|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2012121310466/felix-luxemburg-engaged-claire-lademacher/|work=Hello|date=13 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109160627/https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2012121310466/felix-luxemburg-engaged-claire-lademacher/|archive-date=9 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> Claire and her older brother, Felix, spent their childhood in Usingen.<ref name="luxtimes22">{{cite news|title=Claire Lademacher – Luxembourg's next princess|url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembourg/claire-lademacher-luxembourg-s-next-princess-602d46d5de135b923652f034|accessdate=2 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109162022/https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembourg/claire-lademacher-luxembourg-s-next-princess-602d46d5de135b923652f034|website=Luxembourg Times|archive-date=9 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> At the age of 11, Lademacher moved with her family to Atlanta, and was enrolled in Atlanta International School. The family returned to Germany in 1999 and from then on, Lademacher attended Frankfurt International School, before enrolling in Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil in {{wipe|Switzerland}}. She obtained the English A-Levels diploma with honours (Prize of Excellency).<ref name="lux2022">{{cite news|title=Princess Claire|url=https://monarchie.lu/en/grand-ducal-family/ttrrhh-prince-felix-and-princess-claire/hrh-princess-claire|publisher=Luxembourg Monarchy|accessdate=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109154631/https://monarchie.lu/en/grand-ducal-family/ttrrhh-prince-felix-and-princess-claire/hrh-princess-claire|archive-date=9 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2003, she began studying [[Social:International communication|international communication]] at the American University of Paris<ref name="wort">{{cite news|title=Prince Félix to tie the knot!|url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembourg/prince-felix-to-tie-the-knot-602d4f7cde135b92366b8963|accessdate=13 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109160514/https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembourg/prince-felix-to-tie-the-knot-602d4f7cde135b92366b8963|website=Luxembourg Times|archive-date=9 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="monarchie">{{cite web|title=Biographie de Mademoiselle Claire Lademacher|url=http://www.monarchie.lu/fr/actualites/evenements/2012/12/prince-felix-fiancailles/CV-Claire-Lademacher_dec2012_FR.pdf|publisher=monarchie.lu|accessdate=14 December 2012}}</ref> and graduated in 2007.<ref name="lux2022"/>

Having obtained her undergraduate degree, Lademacher worked in publishing for Condé Nast Publications in {{wipe|New York City}} and [[Place:Munich|Munich]].<ref name="wort"/> She also worked as a project manager for IMG World in [[Place:Berlin|Berlin]].<ref name="wort"/><ref name="lux2022"/> While an employee of Condé Nast Publications, she made the decision to pursue a career in academic [[Philosophy:Bioethics|bioethics]].<ref name="Kennedy">{{cite web|title=Claire Lademacher, Ph.D. Candidate|url=http://kennedyinstitute.georgetown.edu/programs/visitingresearchers-lademacher.cfm|publisher=Kennedy Institute of Ethics|accessdate=21 February 2013}}</ref> She proceeded to obtain a master's degree in [[Philosophy:Bioethics|bioethics]] at the Pontifical Athenaeum Regina Apostolorum, receiving it with the distinction ''summa cum laude''.<ref name="luxtimes22"/> At the same time, she was working for the [[Organization:UNESCO|UNESCO]] Chair of Bioethics and Human Rights, concerning herself primarily with research, event coordination and communications.<ref name="lux2022"/> In 2012, Lademacher was in [[Place:Rome|Rome]], preparing a doctorate in the field of organ donation ethics at Regina Apostolorum.<ref name="monarchie"/> The subject of her dissertation is the bioethical evaluation of consent for [[Medicine:Organ donation|organ donation]]. The dissertation focuses on the situations in Germany, Austria, and the United States.<ref name="Kennedy"/> For several months in the fall of 2012, she was a [[Visiting scholar|visiting scholar]] at the Kennedy Institute of Ethics at Georgetown University.<ref name="wort"/><ref name="lux2022"/> In February 2018, Princess Claire became a visiting professor at the Faculty of Bioethics at the Ateneo Pontificio Regina Apostolorum University in [[Place:Rome|Rome]].<ref name="lux2022"/>

In addition to her native [[Social:German language|German]], Lademacher speaks [[Social:English language|English]], [[Social:French language|French]], and [[Social:Italian language|Italian]].<ref name="wort"/><ref name="lux2022"/>

== Personal life ==
Lademacher met Prince Félix of Luxembourg while studying at Collège Alpin International Beau Soleil.<ref name="wort"/> The couple attended the wedding of Prince Félix's cousin, Archduke Imre of Austria, in [[Place:Washington, D.C.|Washington, D.C.]], in September 2012. In October, they attended the wedding of his older brother Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Countess Stéphanie de Lannoy, but were not allowed to sit together at the ceremony.<ref name="wort"/>

On 13 December, the grand ducal household confirmed that Lademacher was engaged to marry Prince Felix.<ref name="wort"/> Lademacher was presented to the press at the Château de Berg on 27 December.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembourg/prince-felix-claire-not-to-marry-in-luxembourg-602d4f29de135b92366a6e62#:~:text=The%20court%20should%20respect%20the,to%20the%20throne%20of%20Luxembourg.|title=Prince Félix & Claire not to marry in Luxembourg |date=27 December 2012 |work=Luxembourg Times|access-date=21 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109170324/https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembourg/prince-felix-claire-not-to-marry-in-luxembourg-602d4f29de135b92366a6e62|archive-date=9 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> The civil wedding took place on 17 September 2013 in Königstein im Taunus, Germany, it being customary that weddings take place in the bride's place of residence. A religious ceremony followed on 21 September at the Sainte Marie-Madeleine Basilica in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume, France.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://monarchie.lu/en/prince-felix-and-claire-lademachers-wedding-civil-ceremony |title=Prince Félix and Claire Lademacher's wedding: the civil ceremony|date=17 September 2013 |work=Luxembourg Monarchy|access-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109170901/https://monarchie.lu/en/prince-felix-and-claire-lademachers-wedding-civil-ceremony|archive-date=9 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://monarchie.lu/en/mariage-princier-ceremonie-religieuse-saint-maximin-la-sainte-baume |title=Wedding of Prince Félix: religious ceremony in Saint-Maximin-la-Sainte-Baume|date=21 September 2013 |work=Luxembourg Monarchy|access-date=9 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109171157/https://monarchie.lu/en/wedding-prince-felix-religious-ceremony-saint-maximin-la-sainte-baume|archive-date=9 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

Upon her marriage, Claire became a princess of Luxembourg with the style of ''Royal Highness''.{{refn|as stipulated by the 18 June 2012 House Law revisions by Prince Félix's father, Grand Duke Henri.<ref>Décret grand-ducal du 18 juin 2012 portant coordination du Statut de famille du 5 mai 1907. Mémorial B n° 51 de 2012. [http://data.legilux.public.lu/eli/etat/adm/dec/2012/06/18/n1/jo legilux.public.lu]</ref>}} Since their wedding, they live in the south of France at the ''Château Les Crostes'', a winery in Lorgues that has been owned by the Lademacher family for many years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Prince Félix presents his wines in Luxembourg|url=https://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/prince-felix-presents-his-wines-in-luxembourg-534500bce4b012fe7ff664b6|accessdate=15 June 2017|work=Wort.lu|date=9 April 2014|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920200916/http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/prince-felix-presents-his-wines-in-luxembourg-534500bce4b012fe7ff664b6|archive-date=20 September 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref> She is co-founder of the Young Empire company, a children’s clothing and decorating brand.<ref name="lux2022"/> 
The couple have three children:<ref name="lux2022"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Félix and Claire welcome little princess|url=https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembourg/felix-and-claire-welcome-little-princess-602d3b9cde135b923635f283|accessdate=15 June 2017|work=Luxembourg Times|date=15 June 2014|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109164319/https://www.luxtimes.lu/en/luxembourg/felix-and-claire-welcome-little-princess-602d3b9cde135b923635f283|archive-date=9 January 2022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Royal birth: Luxembourg's Grand Ducal family welcomes new prince|url=https://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/royal-birth-luxembourg-s-grand-ducal-family-welcomes-new-prince-583be3175061e01abe83cdae|accessdate=15 June 2017|work=Wort.lu|date=28 November 2016|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161201005753/http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/royal-birth-luxembourg-s-grand-ducal-family-welcomes-new-prince-583be3175061e01abe83cdae|archive-date=1 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Grand Duke's 3rd grand-son: Luxembourg's newest little prince has a name|url=https://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/grand-duke-s-3rd-grand-son-luxembourg-s-newest-little-prince-has-a-name-58467b355061e01abe83d4bc|accessdate=15 June 2017|work=Wort.lu|date=6 December 2016|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116161826/http://www.wort.lu/en/panorama/grand-duke-s-3rd-grand-son-luxembourg-s-newest-little-prince-has-a-name-58467b355061e01abe83d4bc|archive-date=16 January 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://people.com/prince-felix-princess-claire-luxembourg-welcome-third-child-baby-boy-prince-balthasar-8423744|title=The First Royal Arrival of 2024! Prince Felix and Princess Claire of Luxembourg Welcome Third Child|date=8 January 2024|access-date=9 January 2024|last1=Petit|last2=Mikelbank|first1=Stephanie|first2=Peter|publisher=People}}</ref>

* Princess ''Amalia'' Gabriela Maria Teresa of Nassau (born on 15 June 2014 at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in [[Place:Luxembourg City|Luxembourg City]], Luxembourg).
* Prince ''Liam'' Henri Hartmut of Nassau (born on 28 November 2016 at the Clinique Générale-Beaulieu in [[Place:Geneva|Geneva]], Switzerland).
* Prince ''Balthasar '' Félix Karl of Nassau (born on 7 January 2024 at the Grand Duchess Charlotte Maternity Hospital in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg).

== Activities ==
Princess Claire has an interest in social and cultural themes. She has made many trips while being involved in humanitarian projects, such as visiting Tiruppur, {{wipe|India}}.<ref name="lux2022"/> In March 2018, she attended the Ethics in Action ('Modern Slavery, Human Trafficking, and Access to Justice for the Poor and Vulnerable’) conference at the Pontificia Academia Scientiarum of the Vatican.<ref name="lux2022"/>

Princess Claire is the patron of ''Luxembourg Transplant ASBL'' association.<ref name="lux2022"/> She regularly attends the World Organ Donation Day in Luxembourg.<ref name="lux2022"/> In addition, she supports the ''Le Sourire de Lucie Foundation''. In March 2019, Claire became a speaker in the panel discussion on the inclusion of children born of rape at the Stand Speak Rise Up! initiative.<ref name="lux2022"/> Princess Claire and her husband participate in the 72nd Bazaar of the Luxembourg Red Cross.<ref name="lux2022"/>

==Titles, honours and awards==

Her title since her marriage on 17 September 2013 is: "Her Royal Highness Princess Claire of Luxembourg".


* {{flag|Luxembourg}}:
**[[File:LUX Ordre de Mérite civil et militaire d'Adolphe de Nassau - Grand-croix BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of Order of Adolphe of Nassau<ref>[https://blobsvc.wort.lu/picture/1e87e1bf018329bce486ca4953284cf5/577/356/wortv3/f74e73a921e6e174834dda99e8c61a1904631361 Photo]</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=50em}}

==External links==
*[https://monarchie.lu/en/grand-ducal-family/ttrrhh-prince-felix-and-princess-claire/hrh-princess-claire Biography]. Official website of the Grand Ducal Court.


{{DEFAULTSORT:Claire of Luxembourg, Princess}}
[[Category:Bioethicists]]

{{Sourceattribution|Princess Claire of Luxembourg}}