On This Day: Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg

[Blog Real]

On this day, on January 23, 1896, the Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg was born.

[Countessmeout]

February 25 1912 death of William IV GD of Luxembourg. His death saw his eldest daughter Marie Adelaide become the first reigning grand duchess. She would abdicate seven years later and die in 1924 without ever marrying. She was succeeded by her sister charlotte who was the grandmother of the current grand Duke Henri.

[An Ard Ri]

William IV was also the last Protestant monarch of Luxembourg,having married a Roman Catholic and was head of state of a majority RC population his heirs have since been Roman Catholic.

[Blog Real]

On this day, 93 years ago, 11th October 1927, Princess Joséphine-Charlotte Stéphanie Ingeborg Elisabeth Marie-José Marguerite Astrid of Belgium, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg was born at the Royal Palace of Brussels.

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, November 17, 1905 ~ Demise of Grand Duke Adolphe of Luxembourg at his summer home Schloss Hohenburg in Lenggries, Bavaria

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, December 25, 1833 ~ Birth of Adelheid Marie of Anhalt-Dessau, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

[Countessmeout]

January 5, 1921- birth of Grand Duke Jean. Today would have been his 100th birthday.

Prince Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano was born in Berg Castle. His mother was Grand Duchess Charlotte. His father Prince Felix was a Prince of Bourbon-Parma by birth. Son of Robert I, Duke of Parma, Felix was the brother of Xavier (grandfather of the current Duke of Parma), Empress Zita and Rene (father of Queen Anne of Romania) among others. He was the oldest of six children with three sisters and one brother Charles. His third sister Marie-Gabrielle is the only surviving sibling at this point, at the age of 95. His youngest sister Alix died a few months before him.

Pope Benedict XV served as one of his godparents.


He finished his secondary studies at Ampleforth college in the UK. Felix took his children to the US where they would continue their education in Quebec, during WWII. His wife would set up in London. Jean would study law at the University in Laval. In 1942 he enrolled at Sandhurst after joining the Irish guards as a volunteer.


tribute of the Irish guards at his funeral

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avZUwxOZrHc

He was promoted to a captain in 1944. He participated in the liberation of Brussels. In September 1944 he participated in the liberation of Luxembourg. He would relinquish his commision in 1947 but from 1984 until his abdication he served as colonel of the regiment. He would ride behind the queen during the trooping of the colors.


His mother abdicated November 12, 1964. He became grand duke as well as the commander of the Luxembourg armies on that day.

Under his reign the country enjoyed its most prosperous years. He helped transform the country into an industrial center. Both he and his wife were seen to have a positive influence over the duchy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVZEQ3QulCU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrnR7XlFb00

He reigned as Grand Duke from 1964 until 2000 when he abdicated.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3tphmZjuQg

He and his wife retired to Fischbach castle where they both lived till their death, his wife in 2005. Jean died April 23, 2019 at the age of 98 from a pulmonary infection. He was the oldest living monarch by the time of his death.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WP76b4NEKGI

Jean was married April 9, 1953 to Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium (the sister of Albert II and Baudouin). Though it was speculated to be an arranged marriage, it was clear that love blossomed between the two of them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWGiNYQZhyI

As of this year the couple have 5 children, 22 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren and counting.


Their kids:

-Marie Astrid: married Archduke Carl Christian of Austria. They have five children and currently 9 grandchildren (though two sons are expecting another this year)

-Henri: succeeded his father as GD in 2000. He is married to María Teresa Mestre y Batista with whom he has five children. They currently have 5 grandchildren.

-Jean: he married twice morgantically. He has four children with his first wife Helene Vestur. They have 3 grandchildren. He has no children with his second wife Dianne de Guerre.

-Margaretha: a rare example in modern times of a marriage between two sovereign royal houses, she married Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein. Her husband is the younger brother of Hans Adam II. They have four children.

-Guillaume: married Sibilla Weiller y Torlonia. Sibilla is a granddaughter of Infanta Beatriz of Spain (aunt of Juan Carlos) through her daughter Olimpia. The couple have four children.

[Countessmeout]

January 10, 2005 death of Josephine Charlotte of Belgium, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vglax1EH7Gs

Princess Joséphine-Charlotte Stéphanie Ingeborg Elisabeth Marie-José Marguerite Astrid of Belgium was born October 11, 1927 at the royal palace in Brussels. She was the oldest child and only daughter of the future Leopold III and his first wife Queen Astrid. Her maternal grandparents were Prince Carl of Sweden and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. She was the maternal cousin of King Harald of Norway. At the time of her birth her grandfather Albert I was on the throne. She had two younger brothers Baudouin and Albert II.

Her godparents were her uncle Prince Charles of Belgium and her future mother in law Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg.

Josephine's names were chosen to honor her family and godmother. Josephine was a nod to Albert I's sister Josephine-Caroline but also as Astrid was reading a biography on Empress Josephine. Charlotte was for her godmother. Ingeborg and Elisabeth were for her grandmothers. Marie-Jose and Marguerite were for aunts on both sides (Margaretha of Sweden and Marie-Josie of Belgium). Astrid of course for her mother. Stephanie is an old family name for the Belgians.

She was known as Jo in the family.

A photo of her with her mother's family as an infant

https://twitter.com/RoyalArjan/statu...367424/photo/1

Her mother sadly died in a car accident in 1935 at the age of 29. Josephine had been quite close to her mother. Josephine Charlotte is said to have done her best to be there for her brothers. Leopold remained a doting father to his children. He made a conscious effort to maintain a relationship with Astrid's family so her children would know their Swedish side.


Some photos of her with her Swedish relatives growing up

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrsfuj...7611000942652/

https://thefirstwaltz.tumblr.com/pos...rince-baudouin


Her father would marry Lilian Baels in 1941 and have three more children, a brother and two sisters for Josephine. Josephine served as godmother for her half brother Alexandre.


In 1944 the family was sent to Germany but were released in 1945 and relocated to Switzerland. She would take the child pyscology lectures at the University of Geneva during her time there. They returned to Belgium in 1940 where she took up royal duties with a keen interest in the arts.


In 1953 she married the eldest son of her godmother Grand Duchess Charlotte, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean, on April 9. They would be married for 52 years and share 5 children, 22 grandchildren and now 17 great-grandchildren.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWGiNYQZhyI

Many of the Luxembourg jewels are linked to Josephine-Charlotte. Many were wedding gifts to her.

The Belgian scroll tiara was a wedding gift.

The Belgian Scroll Tiara | The Court Jeweller

As was the Congo diamond necklace tiara.

The Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara | The Court Jeweller

She served as the president of the Luxembourg Red Cross, Luxembourg Philharmonic, and was involved with many other humanitarian and cultural activities. She over saw the restoration of the Grand Ducal palace.

Her and her husband retired to Fischbach castle after her husband abdicated in 2000. She died there from lung cancer in 2005 at the age of 77.

https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/ne...?adppopup=true

https://www.gettyimages.ca/detail/ne...?adppopup=true

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, January 24, 1924 ~ Demise of Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide of Luxembourg at Hohenburg Castle in Bavaria

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

On this day, January 24, 1924 ~ Demise of Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide of Luxembourg at Hohenburg Castle in Bavaria

Marie-Adélaïde was also the 1st Female and also the 1st Roman Catholic Monarch of Luxembourg .Her reign was short unlike her successor and sister Charlotte's reign of over 45 years.

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, February 25, 1912 ~ Demise of Grand Duke Guillaume IV of Luxembourg at Berg Castle, Luxembourg

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, April 8, 1970 ~ Demise of Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma, Prince of Luxembourg, husband of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, April 22, 1852 ~ Birth of Grand Duke Guillaume IV of Luxembourg in Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

On this day, April 22, 1852 ~ Birth of Grand Duke Guillaume IV of Luxembourg in Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau

William IV was also both the last Protestant Monarch of Luxembourg and also currently the last reigning Grand Duke of Luxembourg to die whilst on the throne.

Marie-Adélaïde, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg abdicated 1919
Charlotte Grand Duchess of Luxembourg abdicated 1964
Jean Grand Duke of Luxembourg abdicated in 2000

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, June 14, 1894 ~ Birth of Grand Duchess Marie Adelaide of Luxembourg in Berg Castle in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, July 9, 1985 ~ Demise of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg

On this day, July 13, 1861 ~ Birth of Maria Ana of Portugal, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, wife of Guillaume IV of Luxembourg

On this day, July 24, 1817 ~ Birth of Grand Duke Adolphe of Luxembourg in Wiesbaden, Duchy of Nassau

On this day, July 31, 1942 ~ Demise of Maria Ana of Portugal, Grand Duchess and the spouse of Grand Duke Guillaume IV of Luxembourg

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by CyrilVladisla

On this day, July 31, 1942 ~ Demise of Maria Ana of Portugal, Grand Duchess and the spouse of Grand Duke Guillaume IV of Luxembourg

The Dowager Grand Duchess Marie Anne died in exile in New York and her remains were taken back to Luxembourg after WWII for burial at Notre Dame de Luxembourg.

[maria-olivia]

First time I saw the arrival of the so many Royals with a Member of their House. The Royal Ladies knew how to enter a car with a big hat. King Juan Carlos , King Albert II and Queen Paola had to walk a long way . Who was the Lady next to Princess Anne ?
The family arrived and the only Royal Lady without a hat was the Grand Duchess !
Great Funerals for a Great Grand Duke. Thanks for sharing.

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, September 28, 1893 ~ Birth of Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma, husband of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, at Schwarzau Castle, in Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Austria

[CyrilVladisla]

On this day, October 11, 1927 ~ Birth of Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, wife of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium