Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Luxembourg, Countess of Holstein-Ledreborg

Sad news this week! Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Luxembourg, Countess of Holstein-Ledreborg has passed away at the age of 97, the last surviving child of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma!

The third daughter and fourth child of Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma, she was the younger sister of Grand Duke Jean. After growing up in Luxembourg, in 1940, during the Second World War, the Grand Ducal Family fled into exile, first to Belgium, then France, Spain, Portugal, and the United States, finally settling in Canada, where she attended the College Jesus-Marie de Sillery in Quebec City with the daughters of her aunt, Empress Zita of Austria. Two years later, the Grand Ducal Family were in Britain, where Princess Marie-Gabrielle was involved with the the British Red Cross until returning to Luxembourg soon after its liberation in 1945. 

During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Princess Marie-Gabrielle was a student of sculptor Auguste Tremont, exhibiting under the name of ‘Mademoiselle de Clervaux’. After meeting Count Knud of Holstein-Ledreborg at the wedding of his sister to her cousin in 1947, the two got married in 1951, settling at the magnificent family seat of Ledreborg Castle in Denmark. The Count and Countess had seven daughters, and several grandchildren, including Prince Henri of Bourbon-Parma, from whom Ledreborg in now managed by the fourth daughter, Countess Silvia, and remained married until his passing in 2001.  Princess Marie-Gabrielle continued to attend some official and family events over the years, especially as a godmother of Grand Duke Henri, and she continued to reside at Ledreborg until her passing.

We offer our condolences to the family at this tragic time! 

Luxarazzi | EuroHistoryJournal | Royalement Blog

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