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| Charlotte | |
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| Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | |
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| Reign | 14 January 1919 - 12 November 1964 |
| Predecessor | Marie-Adélaïde |
| Successor | Jean |
| Spouse | Felix of Bourbon-Parma |
| Issue | |
| Prince Jean Elizabeth, Duchess of Hohenberg Adélaide, Countess of Donnersmarck Gabriele, Countess of Holstein-Ledreborg Prince Charles Alix, Princess of Ligne |
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| Royal house | House of Nassau-Weilburg |
| Father | William IV |
| Mother | Marie Anne of Portugal |
| Born | 23 January 1896 Berg Castle, Luxembourg |
| Died | 9 July 1985 (aged 89) |
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. 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.
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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
- Princess Elizabeth of Luxembourg (born 1922), who married HSH Franz, Duke of Hohenberg (1927–1977) and as issue
- Princess Marie Adelaide Louise Therese Wilhelmine French: Marie-Adélaide Louise Thérèse Wilhelmine (Berg Castle, 21 May 1924 - Wolfsberg, Carinthia, 28 February 2007), who married in Luxembourg on 10 April 1958 Karl Josef Graf Henckel von Donnersmarck (Romolkwitz, 7 November 1928),1 and 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, the former wife of James Brady Moseley. Had issue.
- Princess Alix of Luxembourg (born 1929), who married Antoine, 13th Prince of Ligne (1925–2005)
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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.
References
- ^ http://pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/henckel.html Princely and Countly House of Henckel von Donnersmarck
External links
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Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
Born: 23 January 1896 Died: 6 July 1985 |
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| Regnal titles | ||
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| Preceded by Marie-Adélaïde |
Grand Duchess of Luxembourg 1919–1964 |
Succeeded by Jean |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by Marie-Adélaïde |
— TITULAR — Duke of Nassau 1919–1964 Reason for succession failure: Duchy annexed by Prussia in 1866 |
Succeeded by Jean |
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