Princess Alix of Luxembourg

Alix, Princess de Ligne (Alix Marie Anne Antoinette Charlotte Gabrielle; 24 August 1929 – 11 February 2019) was the fourth daughter and youngest child of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, and Felix of Bourbon-Parma.[1] She was, by birth, Princess of Luxembourg, Princess of Nassau and Princess of Bourbon-Parma.[1] She was a sister of Grand Duke Jean and aunt of Grand Duke Henri.

Princess Alix
Princess de Ligne
Wedding of Princess Alix
Born(1929-08-24)24 August 1929
Berg Castle, Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg
Died11 February 2019(2019-02-11) (aged 89)
Château de Belœil, Belgium
Spouse
(m. 1950; died 2005)
Issue
  • Michel, 14th Prince of Ligne
  • Prince Wauthier
  • Princess Anne-Marie
  • Princess Christine of Orléans-Braganza
  • Princess Sophie, Comtesse de Nicolay
  • Prince Antoine
  • Princess Yolande
Names
Alix Marie Anne Antoinette Charlotte Gabrielle
HouseNassau-Weilburg (official)
Bourbon-Parma (agnatic)
FatherPrince Felix of Bourbon-Parma
MotherCharlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg

World War II

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Facing the German invasion in 10 May 1940 during World War II, the Grand Ducal Family of Luxembourg left the country to find refuge in Portugal, after receiving transit visas from the Portuguese consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes, in June 1940. They arrived at Vilar Formoso on 23 June 1940. After travelling through Coimbra and Lisbon, the family first stayed in Cascais, in Casa de Santa Maria, owned by Manuel Espírito Santo, who was then the honorary consul for Luxembourg in Portugal. By July they had moved to Monte Estoril, staying at the Chalet Posser de Andrade. On 10 July 1940, Princess Alix, together with her father Prince Félix, her siblings, Heir Prince Jean, Princess Elisabeth, Princess Marie Adelaide, Princess Marie Gabriele and Prince Charles, the nanny Justine Reinard and the chauffeur Eugène Niclou, along with his wife Joséphine, boarded the S.S. Trenton headed for New York City.[2] With her sisters, she studied at the Collège Jésus-Marie de Sillery, near Quebec City.[3]

Marriage and issue

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On 17 August 1950 in Luxembourg Princess Alix married Antoine, 13th Prince de Ligne,[1] (8 March 1925 – 21 August 2005). They have issue:

  • Michel, 14th Prince de Ligne (born 26 May 1951) married Princess Eleonora of Orléans-Braganza on 10 March 1981. They have two children and two grandchildren.[1]
  • Prince Wauthier de Ligne (10 July 1952 – 15 August 2022) – In 1976 he married Countess Regine de Renesse. They have three children and seven grandchildren.
  • Princess Anne de Ligne (born 3 April 1954) – 1981 married Olivier Mortgat on 30 May 1981. They have two daughters.[1]
  • Princess Christine de Ligne (born 11 August 1955) – 1981 married Prince Antonio of Orléans-Braganza on 25 September 1981. They have four children and two grandchildren.[1]
  • Princess Sophie de Ligne (born 23 April 1957) married Count Philippe de Nicolay, son of Marie-Hélène de Rothschild on 26 June 1982. They have two sons.[1]
  • Prince Antoine Lamoral de Ligne (born 28 December 1959) married Countess Jacqueline de Lannoy on 16 June 2001. They have three children.[1]
  • Princess Yolande de Ligne (born 16 June 1964) married Hugo Townsend (born 1945), son of Group Captain Peter Townsend in 1994. They have four children.[1]

Death

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Princess Alix died on 11 February 2019 at Beloeil Castle. She was buried at Beloeil Castle in Belgium and a service was held at the Mëchelskierch church in Luxembourg City.[4]

A statement from Grand Ducal Court said at the time: “It is with great sadness that Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Jean, the Grand Duke and the Grand Duchess announce the death, today, of Her Royal Highness the Princess Alix, Princess of Ligne, Princess of Luxembourg.”[4]

Ancestry

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[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i de Badts de Cugnac, Chantal. Coutant de Saisseval, Guy. Le Petit Gotha. Nouvelle Imprimerie Laballery, Paris 2002, pp. 678-680. (French) ISBN 2-9507974-3-1
  2. ^ A fuga da família grã-ducal”, by Margarida de Magalhães Ramalho (2019).
  3. ^ Bernier Arcand, Philippe, « Les Bourbon-Parme dans les institutions d’enseignement du Québec », Histoire Québec, 202, p. 24-28 (lire en ligne [archive])
  4. ^ a b "Princess Alix dead: Princess Alix family tree - Luxembourg Royal Family REVEALED". Daily Express. 15 February 2019. Retrieved 11 August 2024.