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Guillaume of Luxembourg

b. 1963

Born
1 May 1963, Betzdorf Castle
Country of birth
Luxembourg

Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.

facts
5
sources
1
images and files
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Facts and their sources

Tap a fact to see where it comes from.

A life in time

  1. Born · Betzdorf Castle

    Birth, Betzdorf Castle

What was it like?

The world around Betzdorf Castle, 1963: who ruled, who else was alive, how people lived. This is general history, not a record about the family, and every item shows where it comes from.

Guillaume was born around the same time as Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, and Jodie Foster.

Born around the same time

  • Jim Carrey

    1962 · Canadian-American actor and comedian (born 1962)

  • Tom Cruise

    1962 · American actor and film producer (born 1962)

  • Jodie Foster

    1962 · American actress and filmmaker (born 1962)

  • Gary Lineker

    1960 · English football pundit and former player

  • Naruhito

    1960 · Emperor of Japan (born 1960)

  • Keir Starmer

    1962 · Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2024 to 2026

Fashion

Carnival customs and tie cutting

During carnival celebrations in Luxembourg, revelers frequently donned fancy dress and masks to participate in masked balls and parades. Women also engaged in a tradition where they would unceremoniously cut off the ties of men, symbolically divesting them of their role in society.

Around 1950–1959

Fashion and the 1950s economic boom

During the 1950s, as Luxembourg transitioned into a consumer society, clothing became one of the everyday items showcased in exhibitions to represent the era's economic prosperity and modernization. Working-class families, particularly those in the steel industry, saw their living standards rise alongside those of the middle class, allowing for greater investment in consumer goods after basic needs like clothing were met.

Music

Rise of youth rock 'n' roll bands

Young people danced in cafés and tea dances to the sound of bands playing rock 'n' roll, often using rudimentary instruments. These local bands, with members as young as 15, frequently modeled themselves after American rock idols seen in cinema or heard on the radio.

The Hämmelsmarsch fair parade tradition

The Hämmelsmarsch, a folk song by Michel Lentz, was traditionally played by local music associations during street parades to invite residents to the village fair. Formerly, a shepherd accompanied these musicians with his best sheep, though this livestock tradition was largely restricted to the Schueberfouer in Luxembourg City.

Getting around
Around 1946–1962

Kirchberg bus travel times

Between 1946 and 1962, a private bus line connected Kirchberg to the city station with a 30-minute travel time, operating twice daily on weekdays.

Around 1954–1954

Final journey of Charly train

The narrow-gauge train nicknamed Charly, which traveled to Echternach, made its final journey under steam power on June 12, 1954.

Daily life

Schooling and child health services

Children typically entered the school system at age six, often facing difficulties adjusting to discipline and the curriculum. Primary schools were subject to medical oversight, with visiting nurses conducting regular health exams.

Improvements in running water and sanitation

In 1947, running water was installed in 90% of homes, reaching nearly all households by 1974. Indoor toilets increased from 51% in 1947 to 94% by 1970.

Food

Food expenditure trends

By 1956, an average Luxembourgish household spent 38% of its budget on food, a figure that gradually decreased as the country prospered, dropping to 30% by 1974.

Around 1950–1958

Changing dietary habits in the 1950s

During the 1950s, Luxembourgers significantly increased their consumption of red meat, fruits, and vegetables while reducing their reliance on bread and potatoes, which were associated with past hardship.

Prices and wages
Around 1960–1962

Prices of fuel and coffee in the 1960s

In 1960, the price of a liter of diesel was 2.6 Luxembourg francs. By 1962, a half-pound of coffee cost about 27 Luxembourg francs.

Around 1950–1960

Average worker wages in 1950 and 1960

The average annual nominal wage for a worker in Luxembourg was 53,000 Luxembourg francs in 1950, rising to 83,000 francs by 1960.

Work

Industrial jobs dominated the workforce

In 1950, the steel and mining sectors were the largest employers, and by 1970, nearly half of the workforce worked in industry.

Around 1950–1955

Long working hours in early fifties

Workers in continuous fire industries frequently worked 56 hours per week until the 48-hour workweek was finally implemented on January 1, 1955.

News and letters

Automation of telephone network

The national telephone network was fully automated by 1963, removing the need for manual operator intervention.

Around 1950–1953

Airmail postage rates based on weight

Between 1950 and 1953, airmail fees were determined by weight, costing 3.00 F for every 5 grams of weight for letters sent to the United States.

During their lifetime

  1. 1967

    Abolition of compulsory military service

    A law was passed in 1967 that officially abolished compulsory military service in Luxembourg.

  2. 1974

    Steel industry structural crisis begins

    Luxembourg's economy suffered a major structural crisis starting in 1974, leading to a 50% drop in steel production by 1992.

  3. 1991

    First daily news in Luxembourgish

    In 1991, RTL broadcast the first ever daily news programme in the Luxembourgish language.

  4. 1997

    Closure of final blast furnace

    The last remaining blast furnace in Luxembourg was definitively shut down in 1997, ending a major era of industrial production.

Family

Parents

Spouses

Ancestors and children

Open the full tree

Four generations back to the right, the children to the left. The number beside a child counts the generations of descendants known after them.