Jean, Grand Duke of Luxembourg

Grand Duke of Luxembourg

5 January 1921 Berg Castle, Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg

23 April 2019(2019-04-23) (98) Luxembourg City, Luxembourg

NamesJean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano

Grand Duke of Luxembourg (1964–2000) Grand Duke of Luxembourg JeanJean during a September 1967 state visit to the NetherlandsGrand Duke of LuxembourgReign12 November 1964 – 7 October 2000PredecessorCharlotteSuccessorHenriPrime Ministers Pierre Werner Gaston Thorn Jacques Santer Jean-Claude JunckerBorn(1921-01-05 ) 5 January 1921 Berg Castle, Colmar-Berg, LuxembourgDied23 April 2019(2019-04-23) (aged 98) Luxembourg City, LuxembourgBurial4 May 2019 Notre-Dame Cathedral, Luxembourg City, LuxembourgSpouseJoséphine-Charlotte of Belgium ​ ​(m. 1953 ; died 2005 )​Issue Archduchess Marie Astrid of Austria Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg Prince Jean Princess Margaretha Prince Guillaume HouseNassau-Weilburg (official) Bourbon-Parma (agnatic) FatherPrince Felix of Bourbon-ParmaMotherCharlotte, Grand Duchess of LuxembourgReligionCatholicismSignature Jean (Jean Benoît Guillaume Robert Antoine Louis Marie Adolphe Marc d'Aviano; 5 January 1921 – 23 April 2019) was the Grand Duke of Luxembourg from 1964 until his abdication in 2000. He was the first Grand Duke of Luxembourg of French agnatic descent. Jean was the eldest son of Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix. Jean's primary education was initially in Luxembourg, before attending Ampleforth College in England. In 1938, he was officially named Hereditary Grand Duke as heir-apparent to the throne of Luxembourg. While Luxembourg was occupied by Germans during the Second World War, the grand ducal family was abroad in exile. Jean studied at the Université Laval in Quebec City. Jean later volunteered to join the British army's Irish Guards in 1942, and after graduating from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, received his commission in 1943. He participated in the Normandy landings and the Battle for Caen, and joined the Allied forces in the liberation of Luxembourg. From 1984 until 2000, he was colonel of the Irish Guards. On 9 April 1953, Jean married Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium with whom he had five children. On 12 November 1964, Grand Duchess Charlotte abdicated and Jean succeeded her as Grand Duke of Luxembourg. He then reigned for 36 years before he himself abdicated on 7 October 2000 and was succeeded by his son, Grand Duke Henri.