Charlotte | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() The Grand Duchess in 1942 | |||||
Grand Duchess of Luxembourg | |||||
Reign | 14 January 1919 – 12 November 1964 | ||||
Predecessor | Marie-Adélaïde | ||||
Successor | Jean | ||||
Prime ministers | |||||
Born | Berg Castle, Luxembourg | 23 January 1896||||
Died | 9 July 1985 Fischbach Castle, Fischbach, Luxembourg | (aged 89)||||
Burial | |||||
Spouse | Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma (m. 1919; died 1970) | ||||
Issue | |||||
| |||||
House | Nassau-Weilburg | ||||
Father | William IV, Grand Duke of Luxembourg | ||||
Mother | Infanta Marie Anne of Portugal | ||||
Religion | Catholicism |
Charlotte (Charlotte Adelgonde Elisabeth Marie Wilhelmine; 23 January 1896 – 9 July 1985) was Grand Duchess of Luxembourg from 14 January 1919 until her abdication on 12 November 1964.
She acceded to the throne on 14 January 1919 following the abdication of her sister, Marie-Adélaïde, due to political pressure over Marie-Adélaïde's role during the German occupation of Luxembourg during World War I. A referendum retained the monarchy with Charlotte as grand duchess.
She married Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma on 6 November 1919. They had six children. Following the 1940 German invasion of Luxembourg during World War II, Charlotte went into exile: first in France, then Portugal, Great Britain, and North America. While in Britain, she made broadcasts to the people of Luxembourg. She returned to Luxembourg in April 1945.
She abdicated in 1964, and was succeeded by her son Jean. Charlotte died from cancer on 9 July 1985. She was the last agnatic member of the House of Nassau. She was the last personal recipient of the Golden Rose and since her death there are no living personal recipients of that honour, which in modern times has been awarded only to churches and shrines. She is to date the most recent Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.