Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
| Charlotte | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | |
| Reign | 14 January 1919 – 12 November 1964 (45 years) |
| Predecessor | Marie-Adélaïde |
| Successor | Jean |
| Spouse | Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma |
| Issue | Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Elizabeth, Duchess of Hohenberg Adélaide, Countess of Donnersmarck Gabriele, Countess of Holstein-Ledreborg Prince Charles Alix, Princess of Ligne |
| House | House of Nassau-Weilburg House of Bourbon-Parma |
| Father | William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg |
| Mother | Infanta Marie Anne of Portugal |
Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish: Charlotte Adelgonde Élise/Elisabeth Marie Wilhelmine vu Lëtzebuerg; Schloss Berg, 23 January 1896 – Schloss Fischbach, 9 July 1985) was the second daughter of William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his wife Marie Anne of Portugal. Her maternal grandparents were Miguel of Portugal and Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg.
When her older sister Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, who had succeeded their father, was forced to abdicate on 14 January 1919, Charlotte became the one who had to deal with the revolutionary tendencies in the country. She was Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964. Unlike her sister, she chose not to meddle with its politics.
In a referendum about the new constitution on 28 September 1919, 77.8% of the Luxembourgish people voted for the continuation of a Grand Ducal monarchy with Charlotte as head of state. In this constitution, the power of the monarch was severely restricted.
During the German occupation in World War II, Charlotte, exiled in London, became an important symbol of national unity.
She was the 366th Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword.
After her death, she was interred in the Ducal Crypt of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in the city of Luxembourg.
Marriage and children
On 6 November 1919 in Luxembourg, she married Felix of Bourbon, Prince of Parma, her cousin on their mothers' side (both were grandchildren of king Miguel of Portugal). They had six children:
- Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (born 1921), who married HRH Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (1927 – 2005). Has issue.
- Princess Elizabeth of Luxembourg (born 1922), who married HSH Franz, Duke of Hohenberg (1927 – 1977). Has issue.
- Princess Marie Adelaide of Luxembourg (1924 – 2007), who married Karl Josef Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck (1928 – 2008). Had issue.
- Princess Marie Gabriele of Luxembourg (born 1925), who married Knud, Count of Holstein-Ledreborg (1919 – 2001). Has issue.
- Prince Charles of Luxembourg (1927 – 1977), who married Joan Douglas Dillon (born 1935), the former wife of James Brady Moseley. Had issue.
- Princess Alix of Luxembourg (born 1929), who married Antoine, 13th Prince of Ligne (1925 – 2005). Has issue.
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Abdication and death
On 12 November 1964, she abdicated in favour of her son, Prince Jean, who then reigned until 2000.
Charlotte died on 9 July 1985, from cancer. She was interred in the Ducal Crypt of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in the city of Luxembourg.
Ancestry
References
External links
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- House of Nassau-Weilburg
- Grand Dukes of Luxembourg
- Roman Catholic monarchs
- Luxembourgian people of World War II
- Governments in exile during World War II
- Luxembourgian Roman Catholics
- 1896 births
- 1985 deaths
- People from Colmar-Berg
- House of Bourbon-Parma
- Burials at Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg
- Princesses of Bourbon-Parma
- Recipients of the Golden Rose