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Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (born 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.

Joséphine-Charlotte metro station in Brussels is named after her.

Childhood

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. 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.

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 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.

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.

Marriage

On 9 April 1953 in Luxembourg, the Princess married Prince Jean, then Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg. They had five children:

• Princess Marie-Astrid, who was born on 17 February 1954;
• Grand Duke Henri, who was born on 16 April 1955;
• Prince Jean, who was born on 15 May 1957;
• Princess Margaretha, who was born on 15 May 1957;
• Prince Guillaume, who was born on 1 May 1963.

As Hereditary Grand Duchess first, then, from Jean's accession to the throne on 12 November 1964 until his abdication in 2001, as Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, she carried out the many and varied duties (particularly of a social and cultural nature) as The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg.

The Grand Duchess was interested in childhood problems, family and health problems. From 1959 to 1970 she was President of the Luxembourgish Youth Red Cross.

Her favourite hobbies included gardening and horticulture. She also enjoyed hunting, fishing, skiing and watersports.

Joséphine-Charlotte, who had suffered from lung cancer for some time, died at Fischbach Castle at the age of 77, survived by her husband, children and grandchildren.

Titles

• Her Royal Highness Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium (1927 – 1953)
• Her Royal Highness The Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1953 – 1964)
• Her Royal Highness The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1964 – 2000)
• Her Royal Highness Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg (2000 – 2005)

Ancestry

External links

• Royal House of Belgium
• Grand-Ducal House of Luxemburg