by Scott Mehl © Unofficial Royalty 2014
Princess Marie-Astrid Liliane Charlotte Léopoldine Wilhelmine Ingeborg Antoinette Élisabeth Anne Alberte of Luxembourg was born on February 17, 1954, at Betzdorf Castle in Luxembourg, the eldest child of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium.
Marie-Astrid has four younger siblings:
- Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg (born 1955) married María Teresa Mestre y Batista, had five children
- Prince Jean (born 1957) married (1) Hélène Vestur, had four children (divorced) (2) Diane De Guerre, no children
- Princess Margaretha (born 1957) married Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein, had four children
- Prince Guillaume (born 1963) married Sibilla Weiller, had four children
Marie-Astrid was educated in Luxembourg and Belgium, and earned her certification as a registered nurse in 1974, with a specialized certificate in tropical medicine in 1977. Since 1970, she has been President of the Red Cross for Luxembourg Youth. In the late 1970s, she was rumored to be a prospective bride for Prince Charles, Prince of Wales. However, these rumors proved to be unfounded, and quite unlikely. Marie-Astrid is a devout Catholic and a marriage between the two would not have been permitted under the British Royal Marriages Act.
Marie-Astrid was married on February 6, 1982, in Luxembourg, to her second cousin, Archduke Carl Christian of Austria. A civil ceremony was held at the Grand Ducal Palace followed by a religious ceremony at the Cathédrale Notre Dame, both in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Upon marriage, her full title became Her Imperial and Royal Highness Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria, Princess Imperial of Austria, Princess Royal of Hungary, Croatia and Bohemia, Princess of Luxembourg, Princess of Nassau, Princess of Bourbon-Parma. The couple had five children:
- Archduchess Marie-Christine of Austria (born 1983), married Count Rodolphe de Limburg-Stirum, had three children
- Archduke Imre of Austria (born 1985), married Kathleen Elizabeth Walker, had five children
- Archduke Christoph of Austria (born 1988), married Adélaïde Marie Béatrice Drapé-Frisch, had four children
- Archduke Alexander of Austria (born 1990), married married Natacha Roumiantzeff-Pachkevitch
- Archduchess Gabriella of Austria (born 1994), married Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma, had two children
photo: ©2013 Cour grand-ducale/Vic Fischbach
Marie-Astrid is typically in attendance at family functions in Luxembourg, as well as the occasional official events. Amongst several patronages and involvements, she serves on the Board of Directors of l’Arche International, an organization that works with people with intellectual disabilities. In the photo above, she is seen, along with her father, Grand Duke Jean, and the Hereditary Grand Duke and Grand Duchess in October 2013, at a concert of the Luxembourg Philharmonic held in memory of her late mother, Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte.
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