Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium
Encyclopedia
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.
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. 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 Baudouin of Belgium and Albert II of Belgium.
, 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
.
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.
to Prince Jean
, who at the time was The Hereditary Grand Duke and heir to the throne of Luxembourg. During their 50-year marriage, the royal couple had five children:
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.
Her favorite hobbies included gardening
and horticulture
. She also enjoyed hunting
, fishing
, skiing
and other watersports.
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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Luxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
as spouse of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg ruled Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. He is the father of the current ruler, Grand Duke Henri, and the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma...
. She is the first cousin of King Harald V of Norway, Princess Astrid of Norway
Princess Astrid of Norway
Princess Astrid of Norway, Mrs. Ferner, is the second daughter of King Olav V of Norway and his wife, Princess Märtha of Sweden...
, and Princess Ragnhild of Norway
Princess Ragnhild of Norway
Princess Ragnhild of Norway, Mrs. Lorentzen, is the eldest daughter of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Märtha of Sweden. She is the older sister of His Majesty King Harald V of Norway and of Princess Astrid of Norway.Princess Ragnhild married Erling S...
.
Joséphine-Charlotte metro station
Joséphine-Charlotte metro station
Joséphine-Charlotte metro station is an Brussels metro station on line 1 . It opened on 20 January 1976....
in Brussels
Brussels Metro
The Brussels Metro is a rapid transit system serving a large part of the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. It consists of a network with four metro line services with some shared sections. The metro has 49.9 km of network and 59 stations...
is named after her.
Childhood
She was born at the Royal Palace of BrusselsBrussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
as the oldest child and only daughter of Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III of Belgium
Leopold III reigned as King of the Belgians from 1934 until 1951, when he abdicated in favour of the Heir Apparent,...
and Astrid of Sweden
Astrid of Sweden
Astrid of Sweden was Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Leopold III.-Early life:Princess Astrid of Sweden was born in Stockholm on 17 November 1905...
.
The young Princess spent her childhood at the Stuyvenberg Palace just outside of Brussels with her parents, Prince Léopold and Princess Astrid. Her mother, who was born a Princess of Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
and a direct descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife Joséphine
Joséphine de Beauharnais
Joséphine de Beauharnais was the first wife of Napoléon Bonaparte, and thus the first Empress of the French. Her first husband Alexandre de Beauharnais had been guillotined during the Reign of Terror, and she had been imprisoned in the Carmes prison until her release five days after Alexandre's...
, was killed in an automobile accident in 1935 at age 29. Her father was a direct descendant of Stéphanie de Beauharnais
Stéphanie de Beauharnais
Stéphanie, Grand Duchess of Baden was the consort of Karl, Grand Duke of Baden.-Biography:...
, cousin of Joséphine's first husband and adopted daughter of Joséphine's second husband. She was the sister of Baudouin of Belgium and Albert II of Belgium.
Education
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 NormandyNormandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, she and her father were sent to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and kept there under house-arrest. The Royal Family, which included her brothers Baudouin and Albert
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
and their stepmother, Mary Lilian Baels, Princess de Réthy, was freed on 7 May 1945 and settled in Prégny, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Princess Joséphine Charlotte continued her studies at the "Ecole Supérieure de Jeunes Filles" in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. Afterwards, she took Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget
Jean Piaget was a French-speaking Swiss developmental psychologist and philosopher known for his epistemological studies with children. His theory of cognitive development and epistemological view are together called "genetic epistemology"....
's lectures on child psychology at the University of Geneva
University of Geneva
The University of Geneva is a public research university located in Geneva, Switzerland.It was founded in 1559 by John Calvin, as a theological seminary and law school. It remained focused on theology until the 17th century, when it became a center for Enlightenment scholarship. In 1873, it...
. When she returned to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
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.
Marriage
Despite her own personal misgivings, Joséphine Charlotte was joined in marriage on 9 April 1953 in LuxembourgLuxembourg
Luxembourg , officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg , is a landlocked country in western Europe, bordered by Belgium, France, and Germany. It has two principal regions: the Oesling in the North as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland in the south...
to Prince Jean
Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg
Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg ruled Luxembourg from 1964 to 2000. He is the father of the current ruler, Grand Duke Henri, and the son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma...
, who at the time was The Hereditary Grand Duke and heir to the throne of Luxembourg. During their 50-year marriage, the royal couple had five children:
- Princess Marie AstridArchduchess Marie Astrid of AustriaArchduchess Marie Astrid of Austria , is the oldest daughter and the first child of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, and the wife of Archduke Carl Christian of Austria...
, who was born on 17 February 1954; - Grand Duke Henri, who was born on 16 April 1955;
- Prince JeanPrince Jean of LuxembourgPrince Jean of Luxembourg was born on 15 May 1957 at Betzdorf Castle, the second son of Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium. He is the twin brother of Princess Margaretha. His godparents are Prince Felix of Luxembourg and Princess Margrethe of Denmark...
, who was born on 15 May 1957; - Princess MargarethaPrincess Margaretha of LiechtensteinPrincess Margaretha of Liechtenstein is the fourth child and second daughter of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg...
, who was born on 15 May 1957; - Prince GuillaumePrince Guillaume of LuxembourgPrince Guillaume of Luxembourg born 1 May 1963 in Betzdorf Castle, is the third son and youngest child of Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Josephine-Charlotte of Luxembourg.-Life:...
, who was born on 1 May 1963.
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.
Her favorite hobbies included gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
and horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
. She also enjoyed hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
, fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, skiing
Skiing
Skiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
and other watersports.
The Grand Duchess, who suffered from lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
for a great deal of time, died quietly at her home, Fischbach Castle
Fischbach Castle
Fischbach Castle is a castle in Luxembourg. It is situated near the town of Fischbach, in central Luxembourg.-History:...
, at the age of 77, surrounded by her family.
Titles
| {infobox hrhstyles|royal name=Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg|image=|dipstyle=Her Royal Highness|offstyle=Your Royal Highness|altstyle=Ma'am}} |
- 11 October 1927 9 April 1953: Her Royal Highness Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium
- 9 April 1953 12 November 1964: Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
- 12 November 1964 7 October 2000: Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
- 7 October 2000 10 January 2005: Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
Ancestry
External links
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