Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma, Prince of Luxembourg

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

photo: Wikipedia

Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma, Prince of Luxembourg

Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma was the husband of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg. He was born Prince Félix Marie Vincent of Bourbon-Parma on September 28, 1893, at Schwarzau Castle, in Schwarzau am Steinfeld, Austria. His parents were Robert I, Duke of Parma and his second wife, Infanta Maria Antonia of Portugal.

Felix had had eleven siblings:

  • Maria della Neve Adelaide (1885 – 1959), Benedictine nun at the Monastery of Solesmes, France
  • Sixtus (1886 – 1934), married Hedwige de La Rochefoucauld, had issue
  • Xavier, Duke of Parma (1889 – 1977), married Madeleine de Bourbon-Busset, had issue, the Carlist claimants to the Spanish throne descend through this line
  • Francesca (1890 – 1978), Benedictine nun at the Monastery of Solesmes, France
  • Zita, Empress of Austria (1892 – 1989), married Karl I, Emperor of Austria, had issue
  • René (1894 – 1962), married Princess Margrethe of Denmark, had issue including Anne who married King Michael I of Romania
  • Maria Antonia (1895 – 1937), Benedictine nun at the Monastery of Solesmes, France
  • Isabella (1898 – 1984), nun
  • Luigi (1899 – 1967), married Princess Maria Francesca of Savoy, had issue
  • Henrietta Anna (1903 – 1987), unmarried, was deaf
  • Gaetano (1905 – 1958), married and divorced Princess Margarete of Thurn and Taxis, had issue

From his father’s first marriage to Maria Pia of the Two Sicilies, Felix had twelve half-siblings. Six of the siblings were mentally disabled and two died in infancy. The twelfth child was stillborn and Maria Pia died in childbirth at the age of 33.

  • Marie Louise (1870 – 1899), married Tsar Ferdinand I of Bulgaria, had issue including Tsar Boris I of Bulgaria
  • Ferdinando (born and died 1871) died in infancy
  • Luisa Maria (1872 – 1943), unmarried, mentally disabled
  • Enrico, Duke of Parma (1873 – 1939), unmarried, mentally disabled, Titular Duke of Parma 1907-1939, his brother Elias took up the role as regent and head of the family
  • Maria Immacolata (1874 – 1914), unmarried, mentally disabled
  • Giuseppe, Duke of Parma (1875 – 1950), unmarried, mentally disabled, Titular Duke of Parma 1939-1950, his brother Elias continued the role as regent and head of the family
  • Maria Teresa (1876 – 1959), unmarried, mentally disabled
  • Maria Pia (1877 – 1915), unmarried, mentally disabled
  • Beatrice (1879 – 1946), married Pietro Lucchesi-Palli, had issue
  • Elias, Duke of Parma (1880- 1959), married Archduchess Maria Anna of Austria, had issue; Head of the Ducal Family of Parma (1950–1959)
  • Maria Anastasia (born and died 1881), died in infancy
  • Stillborn child (September 22, 1882), Maria Pia died in childbirth

Felix served in the Austrian Army while his elder brothers fought with the Belgians, but resigned in November 1918 after the war had ended. Following his marriage, he served as President of the Luxembourg Red Cross from 1923-1932, and later again from 1947-1969. Felix served as Colonel of the Luxembourg Volunteers Company from 1920, and during World War II, served as Inspector-General of the Luxembourg Army.

 

On November 6, 1919, Prince Félix married his first cousin, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg, first in a private civil ceremony held at the Grand Ducal Palace, followed by a religious ceremony held at the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Felix retained his title as Prince of Bourbon-Parma and was also created a Prince of Luxembourg in his own right. The couple settled at Berg Castle in Berg, Luxembourg, and had six children:

 

When the Germans invaded Luxembourg in 1940, Félix and his family fled the country, traveling to France, and Portugal before he sailed with his children to the United States. They settled temporarily at the Long Island, New York estate of Marjorie Merriweather Post, who had become a family friend during the time her husband served as US Ambassador to Luxembourg and Belgium. After several months, they were reunited with the Grand Duchess in Montreal, Canada. The Prince spent much of the war with his children, while his wife traveled to London where her government-in-exile had been established. They were all reunited in 1945 upon the family’s return to Luxembourg.

Félix spent the remainder of his life supporting his wife, and helping to bring more prominence to the small Grand Duchy. In 1964, Charlotte decided to abdicate, and their son Jean became the new Grand Duke. Félix and Charlotte spent their remaining years at Fischbach Castle, devoted to their grandchildren and extended family.

 

Prince Félix of Bourbon-Parma, Prince of Luxembourg, passed away at Fischbach Castle in Fischbach, Luxembourg on April 8, 1970. He was buried in the Royal Crypt at the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

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