Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Royal engagement: Belgium-Luxembourg

November 7, 1952

Princess Josephine Charlotte of Belgium is to marry Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, according to an official announcement made earlier today in Brussels.

The marriage will link members of two reigning royal houses.

Princess Josephine-Charlotte, 25, is the older sister of King Baudouin of Belgium.  She is the eldest child of King Leopold III of the Belgians and his late wife, Queen Astrid.

Marlene A. Eilers Koenig Collection
Hereditary Grand Duke Jean is the eldest child of Grand Duchess Charlotte and her husband, Prince Felix.

Princess Josephine Charlotte is very popular in Belgium, reports the New York Times. She was "hailed by large crowds" when she and her family returned to live in Belgium in 1949.  The royal family had been living in Switzerland after King Leopold was "voted off the throne" by the Belgian Parliament.

Jean, 31, serves with Britain's Irish Guards.  He took party in the invasion of Normandy, and took part in the liberation.

No date has been set for the wedding.

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