In spite of their circumstances, the daughters of Princess Adélaïde and Miguel made royal marriages, some to reigning monarchs and deposed heads of Roman Catholic European dynasties.

During World War II the grand ducal family left Luxembourg shortly before the arrival of Nazi troops, settling in France until their capitulation, in June 1940.

Subsequently, the family and Grand Duchess Charlotte's ministers received transit visas to Portugal from the Portuguese consul Aristides de Sousa Mendes, in June 1940.

After travelling through Coimbra and Lisbon, the family first stayed in Cascais, in Casa de Santa Maria, owned by Manuel Espírito Santo, who was then the honorary consul for Luxembourg in Portugal.

With them travelled Prince Félix's aide de camp Guillaume Konsbruck, his wife Nelly and their sons, Guy and Carlo.