| Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium | |
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| Tenure | 12 November 1964 – 7 October 2000 |
| Spouse | Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg |
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| Marie Astrid, Archduchess of Austria Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Prince Jean Margaretha, Princess of Liechtenstein Prince Guillaume |
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| House | House of Bourbon-Parma (by marriage)House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha |
| Father | Leopold III of Belgium |
| Mother | Astrid of Sweden |
| Born | 11 October 1927 Brussels, Belgium |
| Died | 10 January 2005 (aged 77) Fischbach Castle |
Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium (Joséphine Charlotte Ingeborg Elisabeth Maria Josepha/Marie-José Margarethe/Marguerite Astrid; 11 October 1927 – 10 January 2005) was Grand Duchess of Luxembourg as spouse of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg. She is the first cousin of King Harald V of Norway, Princess Astrid of Norway, and Princess Ragnhild of Norway.
Joséphine-Charlotte metro station in Brussels is named after her.
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She was born at the Royal Palace of Brussels as the oldest child and only daughter of Leopold III of Belgium and Astrid of Sweden.
The young Princess spent her childhood at the Stuyvenberg Palace just outside of Brussels with her parents, Prince Léopold and Princess Astrid.[1] Her mother, who was born a Princess of Sweden and a direct descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife Joséphine, was killed in an automobile accident in 1935 at age 29. Her father was a direct descendant of Stéphanie de Beauharnais, cousin of Joséphine's first husband and adopted daughter of Joséphine's second husband. She was the sister of Belgian monarchs Baudouin and Albert II.[2]
Princess Joséphine Charlotte first attended school at the Royal Palace, where a small class had been organized for her. At the end of 1940, she entered a boarding school and then continued her education with her own private teachers. On 7 June 1944, the day after the Allied Forces landed in Normandy, France, she and her father were sent to Germany and kept there under house-arrest. The Royal Family, which included her brothers Baudouin and Albert and their stepmother, Mary Lilian Baels, Princess de Réthy, was freed on 7 May 1945 and settled in Prégny, Switzerland.[1]
Princess Joséphine Charlotte continued her studies at the "Ecole Supérieure de Jeunes Filles" in Geneva, Switzerland. Afterwards, she took Jean Piaget's lectures on child psychology at the University of Geneva. When she returned to Belgium the princess took up her official duties. At the same time, she also devoted herself to social problems and developed her interest in the arts.[1]
Despite her own personal misgivings, Joséphine Charlotte was joined in marriage on 9 April 1953 in Luxembourg to Prince Jean, who at the time was The Hereditary Grand Duke and heir-apparent to the throne of Luxembourg.[2] During their 52-year marriage, the royal couple had five children:[1]
As a princess in the royal house of Belgium, Joséphine Charlotte brought a wealth of elegance, taste and refinement to her new homeland. She carried out many social, cultural and humanitarian duties. She focused on several initiatives that she would ardently support, particularly matters pertaining to children and families. She was also president of the Luxembourg Youth Section of the Red Cross.[2]
Her favorite hobbies included gardening and horticulture. She also enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing and other watersports.[1]
The Grand Duchess, who suffered from lung cancer for a great deal of time, died quietly at her home, Fischbach Castle, at the age of 77, surrounded by her family.
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Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium
Cadet branch of the House of Wettin
Born: 11 October 1927 Died: 10 January 2005 |
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| Luxembourgish royalty | ||
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| Preceded by Felix of Bourbon-Parma |
Grand Duchess consort of Luxembourg 1964–2000 |
Succeeded by Maria Teresa Mestre y Batista-Falla |
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