Charlotte | |||||
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Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, Duchess of Nassau | |||||
The Grand Duchess in 1942
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Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | |||||
Reign | 14 January 1919 – 12 November 1964 | ||||
Predecessor | Marie-Adélaïde | ||||
Successor | Jean | ||||
Born |
Berg Castle, Luxembourg |
23 January 1896||||
Died | 9 July 1985 Fischbach Castle, Fischbach, Luxembourg |
(aged 89)||||
Burial | Notre-Dame Cathedral | ||||
Spouse | Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma | ||||
Issue |
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Princess Elisabeth, Duchess von Hohenberg Marie Adelaide, Countess Henckel von Donnesmarck Princess Marie Gabrielle, Dowager Countess af Holstein-Ledredborg Prince Charles Alix, Dowager Princess de Ligne |
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House | Nassau-Weilburg | ||||
Father | William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg | ||||
Mother | Infanta Marie Anne of Portugal | ||||
Religion | Catholicism |
Full name | |
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Charlotte Adelgonde Elisabeth Marie Wilhelmine |
Styles of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg |
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Reference style | Her Royal Highness |
Spoken style | Your Royal Highness |
Charlotte (Charlotte Adelgonde Élise/Elisabeth Marie Wilhelmine; 23 January 1896 – 9 July 1985) reigned as Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 1919 to 1964.
Born in Berg Castle, Charlotte of Nassau-Weilburg, Princess of Luxembourg, was the second daughter of Grand Duke William IV and his wife, Marie Anne of Portugal.
When her older sister, Marie-Adélaide, 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. Unlike her sister, she chose not to interfere in 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 of Luxembourg in World War II, Charlotte, exiled in London, became an important symbol of national unity.
On 6 November 1919 in Luxembourg, she married Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma, a first cousin on her mother's side. (Both Charlotte and Felix were grandchildren of King Miguel of Portugal through his daughters Maria Anna and Maria Antonia, respectively). With the marriage, their lineal descent was raised in style from Grand Ducal Highness to Royal Highness. The union produced six children, twenty-seven grandchildren, seventy-eight great-grandchildren and twenty-seven great-great-grandchildren: