Crown Prince Guillaume, Luxembourg's first in line to the throne, is getting married this weekend.
Limited edition champagne, chocolates and china fill the shop windows around the city centre. Red, white and blue flags fly outside the cathedral and the town hall.
Posters, postcards and pins show the same smiling engagement photo of Crown Prince Guillaume, 30, and his Belgian fiancee, Countess Stephanie de Lannoy, 28.
Luxembourgers have a reputation for being calm and reserved, but there is a strong undercurrent of excitement sweeping through the cobbled streets."A wedding is always something special," says Fernand Klee, a businessman and professional wine-taster taking a walk in the autumn sunshine.
"I hope that this royal celebration will show everyone that Luxembourg is more than just a country full of banks. I think it is one of the most beautiful places, with old buildings, good food and of course the vineyards."
His friend Mario Caneschi, originally from Italy, is less optimistic about the international impact of the wedding.
"Even in southern Europe I think very few people know where Luxembourg is located, let alone about the ceremony," he laughs.
"But I will tell my friends about what is going on. The royal family is very popular here. They interact with normal people and they don't appear like they live on another planet."
Royal connectionsMore than 120 international media organisations have requested accreditation for the event, including TV channels and newspapers from China, Morocco, Russia and the US.There is a surprising amount of global interest in the upcoming festivities for a couple that most people around the world have probably never heard of.
Luxembourg City Tourist Office is organising a three-day wedding-themed tour for royalty fans, although it would not be drawn on how many trips had actually been sold.
The official guest list for the ceremony includes the king and queen of Norway, the crown prince of Japan, and Prince Hassan and Princess Sarvath of Jordan. Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex will be representing the UK.
Pierre Dillenburg is providing commentary for local television channel RTL. He used to be the secretary general of the parliament and says he is the country's top expert on nobility as well as a close friend of the royal family.
"I met the couple just a few days ago and they are excited like all young couples are before their wedding," he announces from beneath an expensive-looking brown bowler hat.
"Crown Prince Guillaume told me that during the ceremony he will try to forget all the cameras around him and they will just look into each other's eyes as they make their vows."
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