Luxembourg readies for a royal wedding

Royals from across Europe are getting ready to converge on Luxembourg later this month for the marriage of the grand duchy's heir, Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume, and Stephanie de Lannoy.

Included on the just-released guest list for the Oct. 19-20 nuptials are King Harald, Queen Sonia, Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette Marit of Norway; Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden; Queen Beatrix, Crown Prince Willem Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima of Holland; and Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan.

The 30-year-old prince, eldest child of Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg, and his fiancee were spotted this week at a wedding rehearsal at Our Lady of Luxembourg cathedral. The religious ceremony at the cathedral on Oct. 20 is the centerpiece of a gala two-day event that includes fireworks and a rock concert.

Festivities get underway on Oct. 19 in the capital and largest city, also called Luxembourg, with a civil ceremony at the palace, followed by a champagne reception at Luxembourg's Grand Theatre for those born on the same days as the bride and groom and a palace dinner for visiting royals. The Oct. 20 religious ceremony will be shown on giant screens erected in the center of the capital city, where crowds are expected to gather. It is also to be broadcast throughout the duchy, one of the smallest countries in Europe.

There will be another dinner at the Palace that night while fireworks go off in Luxembourg's city center, where a concert will feature Belgian pop star Selah Sue and Luxembourg soul group Funky P. The bride and groom reportedly chose the music themselves.

The Belgian-born bride is expected to be granted citizenship by Parliament on Oct. 9.