Category Archives: Belgian Royals

Abdication of King Leopold III of the Belgians

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2017

Leopold III signing the abdication papers, Photo Credit: http://crossoflaeken.blogspot.co.uk

On July 21, 2013, King Albert II of the Belgians abdicated in favor of his son Philippe. In his televised abdication speech, King Albert II said, “I realize that my age and my health are no longer allowing me to carry out my duties as I would like to…After a reign of 20 years, I believe the moment is here to hand over the torch to the next generation. Prince Philippe is well prepared to succeed me.”

King Albert’s father, King Leopold III, also abdicated, but under very different circumstances.

King Leopold III was born in Brussels, Belgium on November 3, 1901, the eldest son of King Albert I and Elisabeth of Bavaria. Leopold had two younger siblings, Charles, who would later serve as Prince Regent of Belgium, and Marie José, who married King Umberto I of Italy.

On November 4, 1926, Leopold married Princess Astrid of Sweden, a granddaughter of King Oscar II of Sweden, in a civil ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden. On November 10, 1926, the couple married in a religious ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels, Belgium. Leopold and Astrid had a very happy marriage. Leopold’s mother Queen Elisabeth said about the marriage, “It is a marriage of love…tell it to our people. Nothing was arranged. Not a single political consideration prevailed in our son’s decision.” For more information, see Unofficial Royalty: Wedding of Leopold III and Astrid of Sweden.

Leopold and Astrid had three children:

In 1934, Leopold’s father died in a mountain climbing accident and Leopold became king at the age of 32. In August of 1935, King Leopold and Queen Astrid had gone on vacation in Switzerland with their two elder children. On August 29, 1935, their last day of vacation, Leopold and Astrid decided to go on an outing. Leopold was driving their convertible, Astrid was in the front seat, and the chauffeur was sitting in the back seat. As Astrid pointed out something to her husband, the car went off the road, down a steep slope, and slammed into a tree. Astrid was thrown out of the car and was slammed into another tree. Leopold was also thrown out of the car but had only minor injuries, and the chauffeur was uninjured. Astrid died, aged 29, from her injuries at the accident scene. Leopold deeply mourned her death.

In 1939, when World War II started, Belgium’s allies France and the United Kingdom asked Belgium to join them. However, Belgium decided to declare itself a neutral country. Germany invaded Belgium on May 10, 1940, and on May 28, King Leopold as Commander-in-Chief of the Belgian Armed Forces surrendered. Leopold had remained in Belgium to face the Germans, while the government leaders had withdrawn to France. Although Leopold was encouraged by the government to leave Belgium, he decided to remain in Belgium saying, “Whatever happens, I have to share the same fate as my troops.” Leopold decided to surrender to the Germans against the wishes of his government and this is one of the reasons that would ultimately lead to his abdication. The Belgian Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot said that the King’s decision to surrender was not only a military decision but also a political decision and that the king had acted without his ministers’ advice, and therefore his actions were against the Belgian Constitution. King Leopold’s decision to surrender was decried by British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and French Prime Minister Paul Reynaud.

King Leopold was held under house arrest by the Germans at the Royal Palace of Laeken in Brussels. He had a meeting with Adolf Hitler on November 19, 1940, in which he wanted Hitler to issue a public statement about Belgium’s future independence. However, Hitler’s plans did not include any independent countries and he refused.

While still under house arrest, King Leopold married Lilian Baels on September 11, 1941, in a secret religious ceremony that was not legal because in Belgium a civil marriage is required. The couple had intended to wait until after the war for the civil ceremony, but Lilian was pregnant and so a civil marriage was held on December 6, 1941. Nevertheless, legally in Belgium, the civil ceremony must be held before the religious ceremony and the marriage was unpopular with many Belgians. Lilian was known as the Princess of Réthy.

Leopold and Lilian had three children:

In 1944, King Leopold, the Princess of Réthy, and Leopold’s three children by Queen Astrid, and his eldest child by the Princess of Réthy were deported to Germany where they were kept in harsh conditions and guarded by 70 members of the SS (Schutzstaffel). The family was liberated by American troops in 1945. For more information, see Deportation to Nazi Germany.

The king did not return immediately to Belgium. Due to opposition from a segment of the population, Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, the king’s brother, who had served as the regent since 1944, continued to rule as regent due to Leopold III’s “impossibility of reigning”. King Leopold was exonerated of treason in 1946, however many Belgians continued to question his loyalty. In 1950, a referendum was held concerning the king’s return to Belgium, and 57% were in favor of his return.

King Leopold III returned to Belgium on July 20, 1950, and a few days later there was a violent general strike. To avoid making the situation more dangerous and tearing his country apart, King Leopold made a decision on August 1, 1950, to abdicate in favor of his son 21-year-old son Prince Baudouin. The abdication took effect on July 16, 1951. For more information, see Royal Question.

After the abdication, Leopold and Lilian continued to live at the Royal Palace of Laeken until King Baudouin’s marriage to Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragon in 1960, when they moved to the Château d’Argenteuil, a government-owned estate in Brabant, Belgium. Leopold, an amateur anthropologist and entomologist, traveled the world and explored those interests. King Leopold III died on September 25, 1983, at the age of 81 a few hours after emergency heart surgery at Leuven University Hospital in Leuven, Belgium. Leopold was buried in the royal crypt at the Church of Our Lady in Laeken, Brussels next to his first wife Queen Astrid. When Lilian, Princess of Réthy died in 2002, she was buried next to them. See Unofficial Royalty Belgian Royal Burial Sites.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Baudouin of Belgium and Fabiola de Mora y Aragón

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

On Thursday, December 15, 1960, King Baudouin of Belgium married Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón in Brussels. The civil ceremony was held in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace of Brussels followed by the religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula in Brussels.

Baudouin’s Early Life

Embed from Getty Images 

King Baudouin (Baudouin Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave) was born September 7, 1930, at Stuyvenberg Castle, the eldest child of the future King Leopold III and Princess Astrid of Sweden. At just four years old, he became heir to the throne when his father became King upon his grandfather’s death. The following year, his mother, Queen Astrid, died. For several years during World War II, the family was held under house arrest in Belgium and later moved to Germany and then Austria before being freed by American forces in 1945. The family settled in Switzerland, unable to return to Belgium because of the very tense political climate, due primarily to the King’s actions during the war. While in Switzerland, Baudouin attended the Institut Le Rosey, before the family returned to Belgium in July 1950. However, the questions about the King’s actions remained, and the following month, King Leopold created Baudouin Prince Royal and transferred much of his authority to him. Eventually, in July 1951, Leopold abdicated and Baudouin became King of the Belgians.

The new king became very popular with the Belgian people and was seen as a unifying force in helping Belgium to recover from the ravages of the war. He went on to reign for 42 years, until his sudden death in 1993.

For more information about Baudouin see:
Unofficial Royalty: King Baudouin of Belgium

Fabiola’s Early Life

Doña Fabiola Fernanda Maria de las Victorias Antonia Adelaïda de Mora y Aragón was born in Madrid on June 11, 1928. She was the sixth of seven children of Gonzalo de Mora y Fernández y Riera y del Olmo, 4th Marquess of Casa Riera and 2nd Count of Mora, and his wife, Blanca de Aragón y Carrillo de Albornoz y Barroeta-Aldamar y Elío. The family was prominent in the Spanish aristocracy, and she included Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain as one of her godparents.

An exceptional student, Fabiola became fluent in several languages, and trained as a nurse, working in a hospital in Madrid. A very religious woman, she was also very active in many social and charitable causes and organizations in Spain. Several years before her marriage, she published a book of fairy tales – Los Doce Cuentos Maravillosos (The Twelve Marvelous Tales). Later, one of these tales would become the inspiration for an exhibit at an amusement park in the Netherlands. Read more about that here.

For more information about Fabiola see:
Unofficial Royalty: Queen Fabiola of Belgium

The Engagement

The engagement was announced on September 16, 1960, by Prime Minister Gaston Eyskens. The news was quite a surprise in Belgium, as there had been no public indication that Baudouin was involved with anyone. The couple had first met through mutual friends and had continued to see each other very privately. They had become engaged many weeks earlier, but the announcement had been delayed because of the recent events in the Belgian Congo. Following the announcement, Baudouin and Fabiola, along with their families, met with the press on the grounds of Ciergnon Castle.

Over the next several weeks, the couple visited each of the Belgian provinces allowing the King to introduce the Belgian people to their future Queen. At each visit, they were greeted by large crowds of well-wishers.

Pre-Wedding Festivities

In the days leading up to the wedding, there were several official functions held in Brussels. On Saturday, December 10, there was an official reception for 4,200 people followed by a buffet dinner. Guests were mostly members of the diplomatic corps and the Belgian government, along with representatives from many cultural and social organizations.

The following day, On December 11, there was a formal welcome ceremony for the Spanish delegation coming to the wedding. It was here that the Marquis and Marchioness of Villaverde (she was the daughter of General Franco) presented Fabiola with a tiara as a gift from the Spanish people. You can read more about that tiara here.

On the 13th, the King hosted a gala dinner for 350 people, followed by a ball for 2,000 people, with both being held in the Throne Room at the Royal Palace of Brussels. At the banquet, the King spoke of his love for Fabiola, and his certainty that she would be a “precious help” for him as King. Fabiola wore a pale yellow gown designed by Marbel, along with her new Spanish tiara. The King wore his uniform of Lieutenant General, with the sash and star of the Order of Leopold, and the collar of the Spanish Order of Isabella the Catholic.

On December 14, the couple attended several events during the day, including a visit to the Royal Theatre of Brussels, where students from Madrid performed for them. That evening, the final pre-wedding event was a State Banquet, hosted by the Belgian government in the Hall of Tapestries at the Royal Museum of Art and History. The banquet was attended by all the heads of state and royal guests, as well as members of the government and clergy. Fabiola wore another gown by Marbel, again with her Spanish tiara, while Baudouin was in a dress coat with the sash and star of the Order of Leopold.

Wedding Guests

In addition to the families of both the bride and groom, guests at the wedding included many members of current and former royal families, as well as members of the Belgian government. The guests included:

The Belgian Royal Family
King Leopold III and the Princess de Réthy
Dowager Queen Elisabeth
The Prince and Princess of Liège
Prince Alexandre
Princess Marie Esmeralda
Princess Marie Christine

The Bride’s Family
The Dowager Marchioness of Casa Riera — Fabiola’s widowed mother
The Marquis and Marchioness of Casa Riera — Fabiola’s brother Gonzalo and his wife
The Marquis and Marchioness of Aguilar — Fabiola’s sister Maria de las Nieves and her husband
The Duke and Duchess of Lécera — Fabiola’s sister Ana Maria and her husband
The Count de la Rosa de Abarca — Fabiola’s brother Alexandre
The Duchess of Medina de las Torres — Fabiola’s sister Maria Luz

Royal Guests
Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
King Olav V of Norway
Princess Astrid of Norway
Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Felix of Luxembourg
Hereditary Grand Duke Jean and Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
Prince Henri of Luxembourg
Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg
Prince Axel and Princess Margaretha of Denmark
Prince Bertil of Sweden
Princess Margaret of the United Kingdom and Mr. Antony Armstrong-Jones
The Count and Countess of Barcelona
The Prince of Asturias
The Count and Countess of Marone
King Umberto and Queen Maria José of Italy
Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Naples
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy
Princess Maria Beatriz of Savoy
Prince Alexander and Princess Maria Pia of Yugoslavia
The Archduke and Archduchess of Austria-Este
King Mihai and Queen Anne of Romania
Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria
Archduke Otto of Austria-Hungary
The Duke and Duchess of Braganza
Princess Alix Napoléon
Prince Gholam Reza of Iran

The Wedding Attire

Embed from Getty Images

Fabiola wore a gown by the Spanish designer, Cristóbal Balenciaga. The simple white silk gown featured a high neckline and three-quarter length sleeves, with a drop waist and a full skirt. The neck and waist were trimmed with white ermine which extended back bordering the 7-meter train.

Her tulle veil was held in place by the Nine Provinces Tiara. The tiara had been a gift from the Belgian people to Baudouin’s mother when she and Leopold married in 1926. It is traditionally only worn (in its full form) by Belgian queens. Read more here.

Baudouin was decked out in his uniform of Lieutenant-General of the Armies, with the sash and star of the Belgian Order of Leopold I. He also wore the collar of the Spanish Order of Isabella the Catholic.

The Civil Ceremony

The civil ceremony was held in the Throne Room of the Royal Palace of Brussels and was attended by all the royal guests, family, and members of the government and diplomatic corps. With the guests seated, the bride and groom made their entrance and were seated at two chairs in the center of the room, in front of a majestic gilded marble table. The Minister of Justice read a short message affirming the Government’s unanimous approval of the marriage, followed by the Mayor of Brussels, who read the articles of the Belgian Civil Code relating to marriages. This was followed by a reading of the Marriage Acts by a member of the Municipal Council. The couple then took their civil vows, followed by a speech from the Mayor. Once this was finished, the civil registers were signed. For their witnesses, Baudouin chose his father, King Leopold III, and his brother-in-law, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg. Fabiola chose her brother Gonzalo, Marquis of Casa Riera, and the head of the Spanish royal family, The Count of Barcelona. In addition, in a show of respect for the King, an additional forty members of the government, parliament and other dignitaries also signed the register.

Following the ceremony, the couple left the Throne Room, followed by their families and guests, to begin the procession to the  Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula in Brussels, Belgium for the religious ceremony.

The Religious Ceremony

With most of the guests already seated in the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula including the royal guests, the King and his new Queen left the Palace in a glass-topped car, leading the procession of their immediate families. The families processed into the cathedral, followed by Baudouin and Fabiola, who took seats just in front of the altar.

The service was conducted by Cardinal van Roey, the Primate of Belgium, assisted by a representative of the Holy See who read a personal message from The Pope. The couple then exchanged their vows and rings, followed by a traditional mass conducted by the auxiliary bishop.

Following the mass, the church registers were signed. This time, Baudouin chose his two brothers, Prince Albert and Prince Alexandre as witnesses, while Fabiola chose her two brothers, Gonzalo and Alejandro. After the final blessing, the couple processed out of the cathedral, greeting the crowds before returning by car to the Royal Palace.

The Wedding Banquet and Honeymoon

A wedding banquet for 2,000 guests was held in the Throne Room following the wedding. While the guests were arriving and final preparations were being made, Baudouin and Fabiola made an appearance on the palace balcony, greeting the thousands of well-wishers who had gathered to cheer their King and his new Queen. Later, in a pre-recorded statement broadcast on both radio and tv, the couple thanked the Belgian people for their outpouring of love and support and again expressed their love to each other.

After all the festivities, Baudouin and Fabiola set off to Spain for their honeymoon, staying in Hornachuelos, a city in the province of Córdoba. However, just two weeks later they were forced to cut their trip short and return home due to increasing strikes and violence in Belgium against a recently imposed Government-led austerity program.

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Albert II of Belgium and Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria

by Scott Mehl    © Unofficial Royalty 2017

On July 2, 1959, King Albert II of Belgium, then the Prince of Liège, married Paola Ruffo di Calabria in Brussels, Belgium. The civil ceremony was held at the Town Hall, followed by the religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula.

Albert’s Early Life

source: Belgian Monarchy

Prince Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie was born on June 6, 1934, at Stuyvenberg Castle, the youngest of three children of King Leopold III and Princess Astrid of Sweden. He was given the title Prince of Liège at birth. His youth was spent during World War II when the family – his father, stepmother, older siblings and three younger step-siblings – were held under house arrest at the Castle of Laeken, where Albert and his siblings were educated privately. After the Allied landings in 1944, the family was moved to Germany, and then to Austria, before being freed by American forces in May 1945. Due to the uncertain political situation in Belgium – owed primarily to King Leopold’s actions during the war – the family settled in Switzerland where Albert continued his education in Geneva. Finally, in July 1950, the family returned to Belgium. Within a year of their return, King Leopold abdicated in favor of Albert’s older brother, Baudouin. Albert became the heir presumptive to the throne, as Baudouin was not married.

For more information about Albert see:

Paola’s Early Life

source: Belgian Monarchy

Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria was born September 11, 1937, at Forte dei Marmi in Italy, the youngest of seven children of Fulco, Prince Ruffo di Calabria and Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana. Her father was a distinguished flying ace in World War I, and the family was very prominent in the Italian aristocracy. Through her mother’s family, she is a direct descendant of the Marquis de Lafayette.

Paola was raised in Rome, where she completed her secondary education in Latin and Greek and became fluent in several languages.

For more information about Paola see:

The Engagement

In November 1958, both Albert and Paola were in Rome to attend the coronation of Pope John XXIII. They first met at a reception held at the Belgian Embassy and were instantly smitten. Just a month later, On December 6, 1958, Albert proposed and Paola accepted. Two months later, he introduced Paola to his family, and finally, the engagement was announced on April 13, 1959. Following the announcement, the couple met with the press at the Palace of Laeken.

“The King, and King Leopold have the joy to share with the nation the engagement of HRH Prince Albert, Prince of Belgium, Prince of Liège, with Dona Paola Ruffo di Calabria, daughter of the late Prince Fulco Ruffo di Calabria, Duke of Guardia Lombarda and Princess Luisa Gazelli.”

Over the next several weeks, the couple visited several of the provinces of Belgium, where Albert introduced his future bride to the Belgian people.

VIDEO:
British Pathé: Prince Albert Engagement (no sound)

Plans for a Vatican Wedding

Several days after the engagement, it was announced that the couple planned to marry at the Vatican on July 1, 1959, with the ceremony being officiated by Pope John XXIII. However, this was quickly met with resistance in Belgium, from both the government and the Belgian people. First was the fact that many people felt that a royal wedding should take place in Belgium, to be a celebration for all the people. And there were also some legalities involved. The Vatican only recognizes religious marriage, while Belgium only recognizes civil marriage (and requires a civil marriage before a religious service can take place). There was also the issue of the groom’s aunt and uncle, the former King Umberto and Queen Marie-José of Italy who were banned from entering Italy. Due to the Vatican’s position within the city of Rome, it would require some almost clandestine efforts for them to be able to attend.

By the end of May, reports began to emerge that the plans were changing. The Pope – wanting to avoid any sort of diplomatic or political issue – decided that the wedding should take place at home. On June 2, it was announced by the Belgian government that the wedding – both civil and religious – would take place in Brussels on July 2, 1959:

“Anxious to see all the Belgians united around the throne on the occasion of the marriage of HRH Prince Albert with Donna Ruffo di Calabria, His Holiness, John the XXIII, in a gesture of especial solicitude toward Belgium, deemed it desirable that the wedding of the Prince take place in Brussels. In agreement with the Government, His Majesty The King and the two families have decided in unity that the marriage ceremonies be held in this country.”

The following week, on June 9, Paola arrived in Belgium, accompanied by her mother. A garden party was held at the Castle of Laeken, where Albert and Paola greeted hundreds of invited guests from around Belgium, as well as members of the government.

Wedding Guests

The wedding was small by royal standards, with just 500 invited guests. Many of these were members of the government and diplomatic corps, along with Albert’s and Paola’s families, and several members of foreign royal and noble families. The guest list included:

The Groom’s Extended Family
King Baudouin of the Belgian – Albert’s brother
Dowager Queen Elisabeth of Belgium – Albert’s grandmother
King Leopold III of Belgium and Princess Lilian – Albert’s father and stepmother
Prince Alexandre of Belgium – Albert’s half-brother
Princess Marie Christine of Belgium – Albert’s half-sister
Princess Joséphine-Charlotte and Prince Jean of Luxembourg – Albert’s sister and brother-in-law
Queen Marie José and King Umberto II of Italy – Albert’s paternal aunt and uncle
Princess Maria Pia and Prince Alexander of Yugoslavia – Albert’s paternal first cousin and her husband
Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, Prince of Naples – Albert’s paternal first cousin
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy – Albert’s paternal first cousin
Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy – Albert’s paternal first cousin

The Bride’s Immediate Family
Luisa Gazelli, Dowager Princess Ruffo di Calabria – Paola’s mother
Fabrizio, Prince Ruffo di Calabria and Maria, Princess Ruffo di Calabria – Paola’s brother and sister-in-law
The Marquess and Marchioness of San Germano – Paola’s sister and brother-in-law
Baron and Baroness Ricasoli Firidolfi – Paola’s sister and brother-in-law
Antonello Ruffo di Calabria – Paola’s brother

Royal Guests
Royal guests included several members of the Danish, Norwegian and Swedish royal families, all closely related through Albert’s mother, the late Queen Astrid (born a Princess of Sweden).

The Witnesses and Wedding Attendants

For their witnesses, Albert chose his brother Alexandre, and his brother-in-law, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg. Paola chose her two brothers, Fabrizio and Antonello.

The bride’s attendants were two of her nieces (daughters of her elder sister, the Marchioness of San Germano), and Albert’s sister, Princess Marie Christine of Belgium.

The Wedding Attire

The bride wore a dress of heavy white satin with a 5-meter train and a bow at the waist. Her veil of Brussels lace was a family heirloom. It was first worn in 1877 at the wedding of her Belgian paternal grandmother, Laure Mosselman du Chenoy, and then later by her mother. It has since been used by Paola’s daughter and two daughters-in-law at their weddings. Instead of a tiara, Paola wore a cluster of orange blossoms which held the veil in place.

The groom wore his Naval uniform with the sash and star of the Order of Leopold, Belgium’s most senior order of chivalry. He also wore the collar of the Order of Malta.

The Civil Ceremony

The civil ceremony was held on July 2, 1959, in the Empire Salon of the Royal Palace of Brussels. The bride and groom led the procession, which included their immediate families and several invited guests. The brief service was conducted by the Mayor of Brussels, Lucien Cooremans. The bride was notable nervous, and at one point, the Dowager Queen Elisabeth stepped forward to comfort her with a kiss and some brief words. After the marriage register was signed, the couple emerged from the Palace to begin the procession through the streets of Brussels to the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula for the religious ceremony. Albert and Paola traveled in an open car adorned with pink and white roses and were preceded by several regiments of hussars and other military guards. The bride and groom waved to the thousands who had lined the route to cheer them on.

The Religious Ceremony

The couple arrived at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula where the majority of their guests were already seated. The bride and groom processed down the aisle, followed by their families and royal guests, for the traditional Catholic service which was conducted by Cardinal Jozef-Ernest van Rooey, Primate of Belgium. As had happened at Albert’s sister’s wedding several years earlier, there was reportedly an argument within the family about who would take precedence in the procession. Albert’s step-mother, the Princess de Rethy, insisted that she should come first, but it was decided that his grandmother, the Dowager Queen, would take pride of place at the head of the procession, accompanying the reigning King Baudouin. The Princess de Rethy was instead escorted by King Umberto II of Italy.

Again the bride was notably nervous, and at times seemed overcome with emotion, but she was quickly reassured by her new husband. After exchanging their vows and rings, the Cardinal gave an address in which he referred to Paola as “a lovely princess”, and told her that “Italy sends you to Belgium as a ray of its beautiful sun and a reflection of its ardent soul.” The couple was read a message from the Pope before the final blessing. The couple then processed out of the cathedral and were met with tremendous cheers from the crowds gathered outside.

Following a large banquet held that evening at the Castle of Laeken, the couple jetted off to Majorca, Spain for their honeymoon. Upon their return, they took up residence at the Château de Bélvèdere, on the grounds at Laeken.

Children

Embed from Getty Images 
Albert and Paola with their three children

Albert and Paola had two sons and one daughter:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg and Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium

by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit – http://orderofsplendor.blogspot.com

Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg (the future Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg) married Princess Joséphine-Charlotte of Belgium on April 9, 1953, in a civil ceremony in the Hall of Ceremonies at the Grand Ducal Palace in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg and then a religious ceremony was held at the Cathedral of Notre Dame also in Luxembourg City, Luxembourg.

Jean’s Early Life

Embed from Getty Images 

Jean was the eldest child of Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, and her consort Felix of Bourbon-Parma. The heir apparent of the Luxembourgish grand ducal throne from birth, Jean was born at Berg Castle on January 5, 1921. He began using the title of Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg after his eighteenth birthday in 1939.

Jean was educated in Luxembourg through his early years, continuing at Ampleforth College in the United Kingdom. After fleeing Europe with his family at the outbreak of World War II, Jean continued his studies at the French-speaking Laval University in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada. Jean joined several of his Imperial cousins as a student at the university, rooming for a short time with Archdukes Carl Ludwig and Rudolph of Bourbon-Parma.

Jean left Laval by choice, opting to join the British Army in the Irish Guards in 1942. Serving under the name “John Luxembourg,” Jean eventually rose through the ranks to captain. He continued with his military training at the Royal Military College of Sandhurst. Jean landed in Normandy a few days after the June 1944 invasion. He later fought in the Battle of Caen, a campaign intended to strengthen the Allied position in France as well as to cut off German mobility within the northern part of the country.

With his father, Jean took an active role in the liberation of Brussels and later his home country of Luxembourg in September 1944, riding into Luxembourg City in one of General George S. Patton’s tanks. Jean then continued fighting with Allied troops in Germany through the end of the war.

The prince earned numerous military decorations during his service, including French, Belgian, and Luxembourg Croix de Guerre, a Dutch Commemorative War Cross, and an American Silver Star. Following the war, Jean was named a Colonel of the Luxembourg Army.

Several decades after the end of World War II, Jean was recognized for his British military service by Queen Elizabeth II, who named him a Colonel of the Irish Guards and later an Honorary General of the British Army.

After the war, Jean returned to service in representing the interests of Luxembourg within Europe and overseas. He served as a member of the International Olympics Committee from the close of World War II until the 1990s.

An athletic young man, Jean practiced fencing, tennis, swimming, and skiing, later patronizing several Luxembourgish organizations devoted to sports. Like his Belgian father-in-law, Jean also had a keen interest in the environment, particularly in the preservation of native vegetation and animal life. Jean also developed an interest in the American West, spending considerable time in Arizona and Wyoming.

Joséphine-Charlotte’s Early Life

Embed from Getty Images
Joséphine-Charlotte with her two brothers, the future King Albert II and the future King Baudouin

Joséphine-Charlotte was baptized a month after her birth at the Royal Palace in Brussels. Ironically, the baby’s godmother was her future mother-in-law, Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg. Joséphine-Charlotte’s godfather was her uncle Charles, Count of Flanders. The baby’s Belgian and Swedish grandparents were also in attendance.

As agreed before the marriage of Lutheran Astrid and Catholic Leopold, Joséphine-Charlotte was raised with her father’s faith. (Astrid later converted to Catholicism a few years after her daughter’s birth.) Joséphine-Charlotte had a happy early childhood with her younger brothers Baudouin and Albert. She was affectionately called “Little Jo” within her family. Like her parents, Joséphine-Charlotte enjoyed the outdoors throughout her life, spending her free time fishing, hunting, or gardening.

Joséphine-Charlotte lost her mother in 1935 following a car accident in Switzerland. The Belgian public extended their enormous sympathies to the grieving family, with great concern given to the effects it had on Joséphine-Charlotte and her brothers. By all accounts, Leopold remained a devoted father to his children and kept close ties with his late wife’s family. Many photographs exist from this time of children with their Swedish grandparents and Norwegian cousins.

Leopold married a second time in 1941 to Lilian Baels, later known as Lilian, Princess of Réthy. Although the marriage was initially kept from the Belgian public and was later very unpopular, Joséphine-Charlotte had a close relationship with her stepmother before her marriage.

Joséphine-Charlotte was educated privately in Belgium until the outbreak of World War II, after which Joséphine-Charlotte and her family were held under house arrest in Belgium, Germany, and finally Austria. The conditions were harsh in captivity, where the Belgian royals lived with very little food and were under constant threat of execution by the Nazis.

After the war, Leopold was accused of collaborating with the Nazis and prevented from returning to Belgium. Joséphine-Charlotte and her family temporarily settled in Prégny, Switzerland. Joséphine-Charlotte studied child psychology in nearby Geneva; one of her professors was the well-known developmental psychologist Jean Piaget.

Joséphine-Charlotte was eventually allowed to return to Belgium in 1949. She spent this time working toward the restoration of her father as King of the Belgians. The following year Joséphine-Charlotte voted in the referendum held to decide Leopold’s fate as king or commoner. Joséphine-Charlotte was prevented from leaving her plane for 45 minutes as the airport was mobbed with her father’s supporters. Although Leopold briefly returned to Belgium as king, he abdicated to Baudouin the following year after a violent strike in Wallonia.

Engagement

Embed from Getty Images

Rumors of a Belgian-Luxembourg engagement began appearing in the press in November 1952. While Joséphine-Charlotte and Jean were indeed officially engaged the previous month, the engagement was not made official to the public until December 26, 1952. The April 9, 1953 wedding date was announced the following day. A ball was held in Brussels to celebrate the event.

Speculation began early on that the match had been arranged for political reasons. The promoters of the union were believed to be Dowager Queen Elisabeth and Grand Duchess Charlotte. The press seemed to conclude somewhat harshly that if the pairing was indeed arranged, the marriage would, therefore, be unhappy and loveless. At various times both Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte were said to have fallen in love and wanted to marry commoners but were prevented from doing so by their disapproving families.

Still, other news reports portrayed Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte as long-time sweethearts, as a surprising love match that bloomed after a lifetime of casual friendship, or as each other’s best options in a limited royal dating pool. Whatever the background of their engagement, Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte gave the impression of a happy couple during their engagement.

Wedding Preparations

Embed from Getty Images

St. Michael and St. Gudula’s Cathedral in Brussels, Belgium was discussed early on as the probable location for the ceremony. The Cathedral of Notre Dame in Luxembourg City was eventually secured for the religious wedding.

Seats in stands along the wedding parade route sold for $4 while standing tickets went for half the price. With 70,000 visitors from Belgium and elsewhere expected for the wedding festivities, hotels in Luxembourg were booked months before the event. This prompted the government to call upon Luxembourgish citizens to open their homes to guests.

The Belgian government offered troops to guard the royal guests. The Luxembourgers politely declined, insisting that their own troops, police force, and firefighters could adequately ensure the safety of the visitors.

Postponement of the wedding was briefly considered following the death of Queen Mary, grandmother of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, on March 24, 1953. Although preparations went ahead as planned, Princess Margaret (the intended British representative) did not attend. Geoffrey C. Allchin, the British ambassador to Luxembourg, attended the wedding in place of Princess Margaret.

The mass influx of visitors into the tiny country was called by one newspaper as “Luxembourg’s greatest-ever peaceful invasion,” making a somewhat morbid reference to Luxembourg’s frequent military occupations.

A set of six stamps featuring a picture of the new couple and the Luxembourg coat of arms was released by the government of Luxembourg to commemorate the big event.

Joséphine-Charlotte’s Arrival in Luxembourg

Joséphine-Charlotte left Brussels amid great fanfare on April 7, 1953. Around 70,000 Belgians showed up at the Royal Palace to bid their princess goodbye and good luck before her wedding.

She traveled with her father, stepmother, and siblings from Belgium to Luxembourg by train, arriving on the afternoon of April 7. Upon their arrival in Luxembourg City, Joséphine-Charlotte stepped out smiling, dressed in a mauve velvet dress and hat.

Several thousand people had gone to the train station to watch the couple make their entrance. Jean met the royal train at the Belgian-Luxembourgish border. After welcoming his fiancée with a kiss, he joined her on the train into the city. Jean escorted Joséphine-Charlotte along a red carpet to a limousine.

King Baudouin later realized that he had forgotten to pack his sword for the ceremony. A courier was hurriedly dispatched back to Belgium, retrieving the sword just in time for the wedding.

Wedding Ceremonies

Embed from Getty Images

On April 9, 1953, as required by law in Luxembourg, Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte were first married in a civil ceremony. The civil wedding was held in the Hall of Ceremonies in the Grand Ducal Palace in the morning prior to the religious wedding. The mayor of the city of Luxembourg, Emile Hamilius, served as officiate. The parents of both couples ceremonially handed consent documents to Mr. Hamilius prior to the event.

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte traveled by open carriage along the two-mile route to the cathedral, despite light rain falling that morning. Asked by her fiancé if she minded getting wet on the way to the wedding, Joséphine-Charlotte said with a smile that she did not.

The wedding was one of the first major royal events in Europe following the devastation of World War II. The décor and happy nature of the event matched the public’s enthusiasm for a little fun following a very rough preceding decade.

A crowd of 100,000-140,000 (far more than the projected 70,000) packed the damp streets to watch the couple’s journey to the Cathedral of Notre Dame, 100,000 of which were said to be visitors from Belgium. The street lamps along the parade route were decorated with flowers and flags of both Luxembourg and Belgium. Spectators demonstrated respect toward one another by refusing to hold umbrellas in the rain so as not to block anyone else’s view of the events.

The recently abdicated King Leopold III of Belgium, the bride’s father, and Grand Duchess Charlotte, the groom’s mother, led Joséphine-Charlotte and Jean to the altar respectively. Alexandre of Belgium, Joséphine-Charlotte’s younger half-brother and godson, carried her train. The couple had no additional attendants.

The joint Belgian and Luxembourgish Papal Nuncio Msgr Fernando Cento officiated in a golden miter and cape, giving the wedding an additional touch of majesty. During the ceremony, the couple knelt on silk cushions surrounded by white carnations and candles.

The nave of the church was covered in banners of red, white, and blue along with red, yellow, and black for the couple’s respective countries. In addition, the hall was decked in a sumptuous cream fabric.

Wedding Attire

Embed from Getty Images

Jean wore an olive green uniform indicating his status as a colonel of the Luxembourg Army. Like many royal grooms, Jean wore several of his many orders, including the Order of the Gold Lion of House of Nassau, the Order of Leopold, and several of his military medals from service during World War II.

Joséphine-Charlotte wore a dress of white organza (silk), with a high neckline, a ruffled collar, and billowing sleeves with similarly ruffled cuffs. The two layers of the dress were separated by white tulle. The dress featured a long train of (of course!) Bruges lace. The sleeves and body of the dress featured numerous covered buttons.

Joséphine-Charlotte’s fourteen-foot-long train was made of handmade needlepoint and pillow lace, with flowers on an organza backing. Her tulle veil featured handmade Belgian lace attached to a diamond-encrusted platinum diadem. She also wore matching handmade lace gloves gathered at the wrists and carried a bouquet of stephanotis trimmed with tulle.

Joséphine-Charlotte wore two different tiaras during the festivities – the Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara was worn during the ceremony, while the Belgian Scroll Tiara was worn during most of the official wedding pictures.

Royal Pains

News of tension among the Belgian royals later emerged, evidently centering around Princess Liliane’s right of precedence. While it was customary for newly married royal couples to be followed down the aisle by their respective parents, the Dowager Queen Elizabeth took the place beside Prince Felix of her deceased daughter-in-law Astrid; Liliane was placed eighth.

The precedence issue was noted to be a problem as early as February 1953. Liliane, in her first official appearance since her own marriage to Leopold, was reportedly insistent upon taking the place of the bride’s mother, but in the end, she lost out to Elizabeth. The discomfort among the Belgian royals was evident on their faces in wedding photographs.

Elizabeth was angered enough by the incident to opt out of traveling with the family from Belgium to Luxembourg by train, deciding instead to make the trip by car. Josephine-Charlotte’s apparent shakiness, distraught behavior, and eventual collapse during the ceremony were said to be the result of the fight over precedence. An “unofficial” source said that the ceremony was almost delayed by Joséphine-Charlotte’s apparent distress over the fight.

The bride was said to have appeared pale and nervous during the processional. She initially stood on the wrong side at the altar (to Jean’s right), causing both sets of families to switch sides of the church. Concerned over his bride’s behavior, Jean was reported to have repeatedly asked her if she was all right during the religious ceremony. Joséphine-Charlotte confused the order of responses to her vows, began crying, and eventually collapsed at either the end of or shortly after the ceremony. During the recessional, the still-upset bride stepped on her train three times in an effort to avoid some overeager wedding guests crowding the couple.

For her part, Liliane was observed as having “rose to her feet rather early” after Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte passed her during recessional and may have attempted to take Elizabeth’s designated place on Felix’s arm.

Back to the Palace

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte exited the cathedral to the street via a tunnel of swords raised by Luxembourg military officers.

The new couple rode back to the palace in heavier rain via an open Chrysler convertible. Joséphine-Charlotte was said to appear somewhat revived and was smiling during the ride. Grand Duchess Charlotte and ex-King Leopold followed behind Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte in an open Cadillac convertible. Baudouin escorted his grandmother Ingeborg of Sweden in a third car. Other European royalty followed in a series of additional cars behind the family.

Thirty-two Belgian Air Force jets flew through the air during the motor recessional amid a 101-gun salute to the newly married couple. The Belgian naval band played for the couple and crowds during the parade, their instruments protected against the rain by waterproof covers.

A reception attended by 750 guests followed at the palace. The reception hall had been altered to accommodate additional guests by the removal of a stone wall that originally separated the hall into two rooms.

Both the bride and groom were smiling as they appeared on the balcony of the Grand Ducal Palace. The two waved to a very excited, noisy, and wet crowd below. Due to the constant cheering below, the couple appeared multiple times on the balcony to wave to the well-wishers.

Joséphine-Charlotte’s Jewels

Both of the tiaras Joséphine-Charlotte wore as a part of the wedding celebrations were gifts. The Congo Diamond Necklace Tiara (aptly named as it could be worn in either fashion) was designed by Van Cleef & Arpels and given to the bride by the people of the Congo.

The second tiara was presented as a gift by the national bank of Belgium, the Société Générale. Now commonly known as the Belgian Scroll Tiara, Joséphine-Charlotte liked the piece very much, wearing it for dozens of events during her marriage.

Joséphine-Charlotte was given several new and heirloom jewels by her family. Leopold gave his daughter a Van Cleef & Arpels earring and brooch set, as well as an emerald and diamond bracelet and tiara set that had originally been given to Queen Astrid.

Wedding Guests

A few weeks before the wedding, Queen Elizabeth II announced that her sister, Princess Margaret, would represent her at the wedding. However, due to the death of Queen Mary on March 24, Margaret did not attend. Geoffrey C. Allchin, the ambassador to Luxembourg, instead represented Britain.

Umberto, the former King of Italy and a brother-in-law of the couple arrived by train from his exile in Portugal. His estranged wife, the former Marie-Jose of Belgium, arrived by car. Juliana of the Netherlands arrived by a plane piloted by her husband Bernhard.

The wedding was attended by 2500 guests, including three kings, three queens, 40 princes and princesses, all from ruling and former houses of European royalty.

Notable guests:

  • Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands
  • Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Prince Felix
  • King Baudouin of Belgium
  • Umberto and Marie-Jose, former King and Queen of Italy
  • Geoffrey C. Allchin, British Ambassador to Luxembourg (the British did not send a royal representative as the country was still in mourning for Queen Mary)
  • Prince Carl of Sweden (uncle of Josephine-Charlotte)
  • Princess Ingeborg of Sweden
  • Crown Prince Olav and Crown Princess Martha of Norway
  • Princess Ragnhild of Norway
  • Princess Astrid of Norway
  • Zita of Bourbon-Parma, former Empress Consort of Austria
  • Prince Axel and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark
  • Prince George of Denmark
  • Prince Charles of Luxembourg
  • Perle Mesta, the American ambassador to Luxembourg
  • Princess Elisabeth of Luxembourg
  • Princess Marie-Gabrielle of Luxembourg
  • Prince Antoine and Princess Alix of Ligne
  • Princess Marie-Adelaide of Luxembourg
  • Princess Maria-Pia of Savoy
  • Prince Eberhard of Urach
  • Prince Franz Josef II and Princess Georgina of Liechtenstein
  • Albert, Count of Liege
  • Andre of Bourbon-Parma
  • Rene of Bourbon-Parma
  • Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma
  • Princess Diane of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Jacques and Princess Bridgette of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Louis and Princess Maria Francisca of Bourbon-Parma
  • Michel of Bourbon-Parma
  • Heinrich of Bavaria

Honeymoon

A Mediterranean cruise aboard the Royal Belgian yacht was initially planned as a honeymoon for the new couple. This was delayed and later canceled due to Josephine-Charlotte’s stress over the wedding.  Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte spent time relaxing quietly in Luxembourg City.

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte later toured Africa over a two-month period.

Children

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte with their children in 1971; Credit – Wikipedia

Jean and Joséphine-Charlotte had five children

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Philippe of Belgium and Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz

by Scott Mehl  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

On December 4, 1999, King Philippe of the Belgians, then the Duke of Brabant and heir to the Belgian throne, married Jonkvrouw Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz in Brussels, Belgium. The civil ceremony was held at the Town Hall of Brussels, followed by the religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula. The bride would be the first Belgian-born future Queen in the history of the Belgian monarchy.

Philippe’s Early Life

Prince Philippe of Belgium was born on April 15, 1960, at the Château du Belvédère in Laeken, Belgium. He is the eldest child of King Albert II of the Belgians and the former Paola Ruffo di Calabria and has one sister – Princess Astrid – and one brother, Prince Laurent. His primary and secondary education was at St. Michael’s College in Brussels, studying in French, and then the Saint-André de Bruges Abbey in Bruges, studying in Dutch. He then enrolled at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, qualifying as a fighter pilot. He then served with the Paracommando Regiment (now the Immediate Reaction Cell), qualifying as a paratrooper and assuming command of a paratrooper and commando platoon. During this time, he also took several courses at the Royal Higher Defense Institute. Philippe then attended Trinity College at the University of Oxford, and the Graduate School at Stanford University in California, earning a Masters degree in political science in 1985.

He became Duke of Brabant, and heir to the Belgian throne, in 1993 when his uncle, King Baudouin, died suddenly and his father became King. At that time, he also became the Honorary Chairman of the Belgian Foreign Trade Board, a role that his father had held for over 30 years. Over the next twenty years, he represented Belgium at over 70 economic missions around the world, in addition to supporting, and representing, his father at countless royal events.

For more information about Philippe see:

Mathilde’s Early Life

Mathilde as a toddler

Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz was born on January 20, 1973, in Uccle, Belgium, the daughter of Jonkheer Patrick d’Udekem d’Acoz and Countess Anna Maria Komorowska. Mathilde has four younger siblings – Marie-Alix, Elisabeth, Hélène, and Charles-Henri. She was raised at the Château de Losange, near the village of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau in the Luxembourg province of Belgium. The château had been purchased by Mathilde’s grandfather in 1958 as a home for her father.

She attended primary school at l’École Notre-Dame in Bastogne and then secondary school at the Institut de la Vierge Fidèle in Brussels. From 1991-1994, she attended the Institut Libre Marie Haps in Brussels, graduating magna cum laude with a degree in speech therapy. She continued her studies at the Université Catholique de Louvain, studying psychology, and also had her own speech therapy practice in Brussels until her wedding. Mathilde is fluent in four languages.

For more information about Mathilde see:

The Engagement

source: Paris Match

When their engagement was announced in September 1999, it came as a huge surprise to the Belgian people. They had first met in 1996 and had been involved ever since, but it was not until the announcement that anyone knew anything about the relationship. Following the official announcement, the couple, along with their families, gathered at the Castle of Laeken for a photocall with the media and gave a brief interview.

source: Glamour

Philippe gave Mathilde an engagement ring designed by Wolfers jewelers in Brussels. The ring features a large oval Burmese ruby set in gold, ringed with diamonds on a thick band set with more diamonds,

Wedding Guests

The Belgian Royal Family
King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium
Queen Fabiola of Belgium
Princess Astrid and Prince Lorentz of Belgium with their children
Prince Laurent of Belgium
Prince Alexandre and Princess Léa of Belgium
Princess Esmeralda of Belgium and Salvador Moncada

The Queen’s Family
Prince Fabrizio and Donna Luisa Ruffo di Calabria
Prince Fulco and Princess Melba Ruffo di Calabria
Prince Augusto and Princess Irma Ruffo di Calabria
Prince Alessandro Ruffo di Calabria
Don Antonello and Donna Rosa Maria Ruffo di Calabria
Don Lucio Ruffo di Calabria
Donna Claudia Ruffo di Calabria
Flavia Porcari Li Destri
Donna Marielli Ruffo di Calabria

The Bride’s Family
Count Patrick and Countess Anna Maria d’Udekem d’Acoz
Countess Elisabeth d’Udekem d’Acoz
Countess Hélène d’Udekem d’Acoz
Count Charles-Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz
Count Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz
Count Raoul and Countess Francoise d’Udekem d’Acoz
Count Michel and Countess Dominique Komorowski
Countess Marie Komorowski and Gérard Braun
Jean-Michel and Rose Maus de Rolley
Countess Gabrielle Komorowski
Alain and Christine de Brabant
Prince Alexandre Sapieha
Prince Stefan Sapieha

Royal Guests
The Duke and Duchess of Angoulême
Archduke Carl Christian and Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria
Archduke Simeon and Archduchess Maria of Austria
Archduke Carl Peter and Archduchess Alexandra of Austria
Archduke Carl Ludwig of Austria
Archduchess Margherita of Austria-Este
Archduke Gerhard of Austria-Este
Archduke Martin of Austria-Este
Duke Franz of Bavaria
Duke Max Emanuel and Duchess Elizabeth in Bavaria
Duchess Helene in Bavaria
The Duke of Braganca
Prince Kardam and Princess Miriam of Bulgaria
Queen Margrethe II and Prince Henrik of Denmark
King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako of Japan
Princess Rahma bint el-Hassan of Jordan
Prince Hans-Adam II and Princess Marie of Liechtenstein
Prince Wenzeslaus of Liechtenstein
Prince Nikolaus and Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein
Princess Astrid of Liechtenstein
Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg
Hereditary Grand Duke Henri and Hereditary Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg
Prince Jean of Luxembourg
Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg
Hereditary Prince Albert of Monaco
Lalla Sumaya of Morocco
Lalla Hasna of Morocco
Princess Alix Napoléon
Prince Jérôme Napoléon
Prince Dipendra of Nepal
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands
The Prince of Orange
Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands
King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway
Crown Prince Haakon of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
King Mihai and Queen Anne of Romania
The Duke and Duchess of Savoy
Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy
Queen Sofia of Spain
The Prince of Asturias
King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden
The Duke of Vendôme
The Prince of Wales
Prince Dimitri of Yugoslavia

The Wedding Attendants

The large wedding party – all decked out in red velvet outfits with lace collars – consisted of:

  • Princess Luisa Maria of Belgium
  • Princess Astrid of Liechtenstein
  • Chiara van Voorst
  • Marie-Hedwige Komorowska
  • Bénédicte de Brabant
  • Sofia Ricasoli
  • Flavia Porcari
  • Prince Joachim of Belgium
  • Adrian Beissel von Gymnich

(also in the photo are Prince Amedeo and Princess Maria Laura of Belgium)

The Wedding Attire

Mathilde chose the Belgian designer Édouard Vermeulen to design her dress. Much thought went into the design of the gown, ensuring that it would have a significant visual presence in the cathedral without overwhelming the bride. The weather was also a factor. As the wedding was in mid-December, a winter coat-dress was designed. Worn over a simple sheath dress, the coat was made of silk-crepe and featured long sleeves and a tall collar, with a 4-½ meter train.

Mathilde wore a veil made of Brussels lace which was a family heirloom. It was made for the 1877 wedding of Queen Paola’s grandparents and was worn by successive generations of Paola’s family, including her own wedding in 1959. Mathilde’s two sisters-in-law also wore this lace veil at their weddings.

source: Paris Match

Topping off Mathilde’s wedding ensemble was another loan from Queen Paola – Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau. The tiara was originally owned by Philippe’s great-grandmother, Queen Elisabeth (formerly Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria). Queen Elisabeth had given the tiara to her daughter-in-law, Queen Astrid (born a Princess of Sweden) when she gave birth to Philipp’s father, King Albert II. It was later gifted to Albert’s wife, Queen Paola, and remains in her personal collection.

She carried a large bouquet of greens with white roses, lilies, and amaryllis – the same flowers which were used to adorn the cathedral.

Prince Philippe wore his uniform as a colonel in the Belgian Air Force with the sash and star of the Order of Leopold, Belgium’s most senior order of chivalry.

The Civil Ceremony

The wedding day started out with the civil ceremony, held at the Town Hall of Brussels at 10 am. While most of the wedding guests were arriving at the Cathedral for the religious ceremony, the bride and groom and their immediate families made their way to the Town Hall for the required civil ceremony.

In the presence of their immediate families and several close friends, Philippe and Mathilde were married in the Gothic Hall by the mayor of Brussels, François-Xavier de Donnéa de Hamoir in a brief ceremony which was conducted in Flemish, French, and German – the three national languages of Belgium. The ceremony was broadcast to the crowds outside, who cheered loudly when Philippe answered ‘Ja’, and even more loudly when Mathilde gave her response ‘Oui’, bringing smiles to the faces of those gathered inside as well.

The marriage register was then signed by Philippe and Mathilde, and then their witnesses:

For the Groom
The Hereditary Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
Archduke Simeon of Austria

For the Bride
Elisabeth d’Udekem d’Acoz
Stéphanie de Radigues de Chennevière

Now legally married, Philippe and Mathilde appeared on the balcony of the Town Hall to the cheers of the crowds gathered below, giving them the first kiss of the day.

The Religious Ceremony

photo: SudPresse

After the civil ceremony, Philippe and Mathilde and their families processed by car to the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula for the religious ceremony. Over 1200 guests were already assembled, and the church was decorated with over 25,000 roses, lilies, and amaryllis, matching the bride’s bouquet. The bride was walked down the aisle by her father, and joined Philippe at the altar. Following a traditional Catholic service, with several readings and numerous musical interludes, the couple gave their vows and exchanged rings. Their witnesses for the religious ceremony were:

For the Groom
Prince Laurent of Belgium
Count Charles-Henri d’Udekem d’Acoz
Christiaen Alting von Geusau
Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein

For the Bride
Countess Hélène d’Udekem d’Acoz
Agnès du Park
Helene, Duchess in Bavaria

Post-Wedding Celebrations

After returning to the Royal Palace, Philippe and Mathilde appeared on the balcony to the cheers of the crowds gathered below. They were also joined by the King and Queen and the bride’s parents. Then, after the official wedding photos were taken, they joined 750 of their guests for a luncheon featuring champagne and caviar, venison, and lobster.

That evening, a gala reception for 2,000 people – members of the government, the diplomatic corps, and other organizations – was held at the Royal Castle of Laeken, which is now the couple’s primary residence. Later that evening, the couple departed for their honeymoon, the details of which were closely guarded to ensure their privacy.

Children

Embed from Getty Images 
Philippe and Mathilde with their four children in 2018

Philippe and Mathilde had two daughters and two sons:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Wedding of King Leopold III of the Belgians and Princess Astrid of Sweden

by Emily McMahon  © Unofficial Royalty 2017

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant (the future King Leopold III of the Belgians) and Princess Astrid of Sweden were married in a civil ceremony in the throne room of the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden on November 4, 1926, and in a religious ceremony on November 10, 1926, at St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral in Brussels, Belgium.

Leopold’s Early Life

Left to right Leopold, his brother Charles, his mother Queen Elisabeth, and his sister Marie José; Photo Credit – Wikipedia 

Leopold was born in Brussels, Belgium on November 3, 1901, to the future Albert I, King of the Belgians and Elisabeth of Bavaria. Leopold had a younger brother, Charles, who later served as the Regent of Belgium. His younger sister Marie-Jose was briefly Queen of Italy after World War II. Leopold was educated in the United Kingdom at Eton College, in Belgium at Ecole Militare (the Belgian equivalent of Sandhurst), and later in the United States at St. Anthony Seminary in California.

The product of a happy marriage (particularly for a royal couple), Leopold had a contented, rather bohemian upbringing. Unlike his uncle and predecessor Leopold II, Albert preferred a quieter, almost middle-class domestic life for his family. He and Elisabeth were well-educated and enthusiastic in the development of a Belgian cultural scene, Elisabeth being particularly supportive of musicians. Elisabeth was also an avid gardener and encouraged her son’s budding interest in botany. Albert was known to jump into haystacks with his children while on vacation in the Belgian countryside. Leopold was known to be close to his father and shared with him a love of outdoor sports.

Following a short stay with his siblings in the United Kingdom, Leopold fought as a private and later a sergeant in the 12th Belgian Regiment during World War I, a war that was particularly devastating to his home country. Leopold held the unique position of being the youngest known soldier to fight for Belgium during the war. He was fully enlisted by his father at the age of 13. The enlistment was not a ceremonial one – Leopold was treated as any other Belgian private during his service. The 12th Belgian Regiment was later named in honor of its most famous soldier.

Leopold thrived at sports during his school years. After he had completed his education, Leopold maintained his physical regimen by swimming, riding, and – like his father – mountain climbing. He also enjoyed some of the typical pursuits of young royal men of the time – fast cars, airplanes, and photography. Leopold also had a very keen interest in boxing, later following well-known American boxers such as Jack Dempsey and Gene Tunney.

After the war, Leopold served as a lieutenant in the Belgian Grenadiers. He also traveled extensively throughout Europe and Africa as the capstone of an education interrupted by the war. Leopold reportedly said once to a friend that had he not been born an heir to a kingdom, he would have become a sea captain and traveled the world.

During his young adulthood, Leopold continued to cultivate his interest in nature, particularly in tropical vegetation and animals. In 1925, Leopold made a long trip to the Congo, where he took extensive notes on and collected several specimens of the flora and fauna he encountered. Leopold remained fascinated with botany and zoology throughout his life, keeping hothouses and apiaries at his various homes.

For more information about Leopold see:

Astrid’s Early Life

Left to right: Astrid’s sister Margareta, her mother Princess Ingeborg, her sister Märtha and Astrid; Photo Credit – By Municipal Archives of Trondheim – Flickr: H. K. H. Prinsessan Ingeborg med Prinsessorna Margareta, Märta och Astrid (1910), CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=25766188

Astrid was born in Stockholm, Sweden on November 17, 1905, to Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland, and Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. Astrid was the grandchild of both King Frederik VIII of Denmark and of King Oscar II of Sweden. Astrid’s uncle was King Gustav V of Sweden, her father’s older brother. She had two older sisters, Margaretha, who later married into the Danish royal family, and Märtha, who married the future King Olav V of Norway. Astrid’s only brother Carl was born in 1911. Astrid spent most of her childhood at Arvfurstens Palace in central Stockholm and at the family’s summer residence in Fridhem.

Although never academic, Astrid had a warm, friendly personality, social ease, and considerable charm. She collected Swedish folk art and was something of an expert in the regional variations of needlework. Astrid also enjoyed the outdoors and sports – swimming, skiing, climbing, horseback riding, and golf – loves she later shared with her husband. As she was not a direct descendant of the Swedish king (Gustav V), Astrid and her sisters enjoyed more freedom and the benefits of a less formal schedule. The girls were occasionally seen shopping unaccompanied on the streets of Stockholm.

Astrid spent most of her childhood at Arvfurstens Palace in central Stockholm and at the family’s summer residence in Fridhem. Although never academic, Astrid had a warm, friendly personality, social ease, and considerable charm. She collected Swedish folk art and was something of an expert in the regional variations of needlework. Astrid also enjoyed the outdoors and sports – swimming, skiing, climbing, horseback riding, and golf – loves she later shared with her husband. As she was not a direct descendant of the Swedish king (Gustav V), Astrid and her sisters enjoyed more freedom and the benefits of a less formal schedule. The girls were occasionally seen shopping unaccompanied on the streets of Stockholm.

As did many princesses of the time, Astrid was encouraged to undertake works of public service in preparation for a life devoted to charitable causes. Astrid worked for a time at a Stockholm orphanage, caring for infants. She also completed a home economics course at a Swedish school dedicated to preparing women for domestic lives. During that time, Astrid developed a flair for cooking and would often try out new recipes on her family.

For more information about Astrid see:

The Engagement

Astrid and Leopold’s engagement photo; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Leopold came of age during World War I, a watershed and devastating time for much of Europe. Several Catholic princesses who may have been available before the war were now left destitute or on the side of Belgium’s former enemies. Many – such as the daughters of King Alfonso XIII of Spain – were simply too young for Leopold. Albert and Elisabeth realized that a suitable bride would likely need to come from an area less affected by the Great War.

Knowing her son’s love of travel, Elisabeth began organizing trips to various European countries with the intent of meeting eligible princesses. There was some interest in the two eldest daughters of King Victor Emmanuel III of Italy, as well as a Romanian princess (likely the future Maria of Yugoslavia or her sister Ileana), but despite trips to these areas, no engagement came about.

Astrid and Leopold first met during Leopold’s trip to Scandinavia in the fall of 1925. Leopold and Elisabeth traveled under the name “de Rethy” to avoid public speculation about the reason for the trip. During the first visit, Leopold and Astrid chatted in their common language (English) and developed an attachment to one another immediately.

Following this initial meeting, the residents of Fridhem began to notice a plainly dressed young man arrive for frequent visits. He traveled by third-class carriage and carried his own luggage. Some assumed that the man – dignified, but otherwise unassuming – was a new butler for Astrid’s father, as he entered Prince Carl’s home via the rear entrance. The young man was actually Leopold continuing to visit Astrid semi-incognito.

As the Great War had left a shortage of Protestant, non-German princesses eligible for marriage, Astrid and her sisters became unexpectedly popular potential brides for the royalty of the time. At the beginning of 1926, Astrid was repeatedly linked to Edward, Prince of Wales (later King Edward VIII) as his likely bride. As late as August 1926, Astrid was romantically tied to the future King Olav V of Norway, who later became her brother-in-law. Meanwhile, Leopold was periodically visiting Astrid privately in Sweden. The couple was exchanging letters while they were separated.

After the eventual announcement of their engagement, the international press amusingly remarked on how Astrid’s culinary skills supposedly impressed Leopold. During a dinner held as part of one of his visits, Leopold was said to have been bowled over by an endive salad of Astrid’s own recipe and creation. At least one newspaper printed a handwritten copy of the recipe with an English translation for eager girls to win over their own princes.

The two met again publicly at the christening of Prince Michel of Bourbon-Parma in the middle of 1926. It was on September 21, 1926, shortly after the christening, that Astrid and Leopold announced their engagement. Whereas royal marriages were often arranged purely for convenience or political gain, this engagement seemed different. In fact, not long after the announcement Astrid and Leopold were seen periodically in Stockholm holding hands.

Albert and Elisabeth were delighted at their son’s choice of a bride. They found Astrid quite pretty, yet natural and unassuming. Elisabeth remarked of Astrid, “I might not, even had I tried, have succeeded in finding for my son an ideal bride, but Leopold has done more, he has found for me an ideal daughter-in-law!” An amused (and short-statured) Elisabeth also remarked that Astrid was tall enough to reach Leopold’s eyes. Albert declared this engagement, “a love match … a marriage of inclination,” decided entirely by Leopold and Astrid and not solely for political gain.

Gustav V held a celebratory dinner in honor of his niece and her new fiancé the night of the announcement. Gustav toasted the couple himself among members of both families, the Belgian ministry, and the Swedish cabinet.

Wedding Preparations

At the time of the engagement, both countries had sizable socialist populations. The fathers of both Astrid and Leopold were concerned about the impact of criticism about the wedding from socialists. Carl selected Stockholm’s socialist mayor, Carl Lindenhagen, to officiate the civil ceremony, despite Lindenhagen’s previous record of calling for the dissolution of the monarchy.

Previous royal weddings in Belgium had been governed with excessive formality, particularly upon the arrival of the bride. Albert was careful to note that Astrid’s arrival in Belgium would be marked by as little ceremony as possible. However, the Belgian public was keenly interested in their soon-to-be princess. Wax figures and photographs of Astrid began appearing in shops soon after the engagement was announced. News footage of Astrid was also included before feature films in theaters. Seats on balconies along wedding parade routes in Antwerp (where Astrid would arrive in Belgium) and Brussels sold for several hundred francs.

Unusual for a royal bride at the time, Astrid initially kept her Lutheran faith after marrying Leopold. A dispensation was sought (and granted) to Leopold by Pope Pius XI for marrying a non-Catholic. Astrid agreed that any children born of the marriage would be raised Catholic. Leopold urged Astrid to adopt the Catholic faith only if she felt an individual desire to do so. Astrid later converted three years after the marriage.

The Belgians and Swedes extended the good cheer surrounding the events to the prison inmates of both countries. Convicts had their sentences reduced or were released, based on their behavior during incarceration, their crimes, and the length of their sentences.

Leopold left Belgium for Sweden on October 30, 1926, in preparation for the civil wedding scheduled for November 4, 1926. Leopold stayed at the home of his in-laws in order to spend as much time with Astrid as possible. In the days leading up to the wedding, he and his fiancée were seen periodically walking around Stockholm, arm in arm.

The remainder of the Belgian royal family arrived in Stockholm on November 3, 1926. A crowd gathered to welcome the family as Leopold met his parents and siblings just outside the city. Crown Prince Olav of Norway, Prince Axel of Denmark, and Princess Margaretha of Denmark joined the spectators in street clothes and evidently went unrecognized as royalty. Meanwhile, Astrid tried on her wedding dress and baked a chocolate cake for Leopold’s 25th birthday celebrations that evening. Lean reindeer steaks, a Swedish delicacy, were served to the receptive Belgian guests. Following the dinner, the couple and several members of the entourage attended an opera performance.

The Civil Wedding in Sweden

The Royal Palace in Stockholm, Sweden where the civil wedding was held; Credit – Wikipedia

The civil ceremony was held in the throne room of the Swedish Royal Palace in Stockholm on November 4, 1926. King Gustav V of Sweden and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium led the procession of royal guests into the Throne Room, followed by King Haakon VII of Norway,  King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark, Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg, and several minor princes and princesses. Astrid and Leopold followed, holding hands, to the strains of the Swedish processional, “The Peasant’s Wedding.”

The ceremony was officiated by Carl Lindhagen, the mayor of Stockholm and a socialist. The wedding marked the first time a couple had been married at the Swedish Royal Palace by anyone other than a member of the clergy. For his part, Mr. Lindhagen said he was happy to marry a couple who appeared to be so in love. The groom presented his bride with a simple gold band as a wedding ring. Astrid and Leopold were reported to have smiled throughout the ceremony. At the close of the service, the orchestra played the Belgian and Swedish national anthems.

The light snow that fell on the day of the wedding was seen as a sign of good luck, as per an old Swedish proverb that foretold of a happy marriage if snow fell on the bride’s myrtle crown. Hundreds of Swedish and Belgian flags decorated the streets of the capital city

A 21-gun salute announced the marriage to the Swedish public, followed by a dinner given by Gustav V to the guests. Despite an unseasonably cold evening, Astrid and Leopold left the palace by horse-drawn carriage through illuminated Stockholm.

As they had not yet been religiously married, Astrid and Leopold were allowed only four hours alone after the civil wedding. The couple then departed separately with their families – Astrid to Malmo and Leopold to Gothenburg.

The Religious Wedding in Belgium

St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral in Brussels, Belgium; Photo Credit – By I, Luc Viatour, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4789498

The religious wedding was held on November 10, 1926, at 11:15 AM in the 13th-century St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral in Brussels, Belgium. The cathedral was reportedly full an hour before the scheduled ceremony with an estimated 9,000 guests. The weather was reported to be bright and mild for a November day. Leopold and Astrid set off from the royal palace just before 11:00 AM on a street lined with soldiers, ordinary citizens, and decorations. The remainder of the royal entourage followed, all in open carriages.

The streets of Brussels had not seen such large crowds since Armistice Day in 1918. So enthusiastic were the 200,000-300,000 spectators that gathered to see the newly married couple that several injuries were reported due to trampling and crowding. As in Antwerp, Belgian and Swedish flags were displayed on the streets of Brussels. An estimated 15,000 soldiers joined the crowds, many World War I veterans who gathered specifically for the occasion.

Female guests were instructed not to wear black (the color of mourning) or white (as it was thought to be distracting), but instead wore mostly pastel dresses popular at the time. Most covered their heads in lace or – in the case of wealthier guests – donned tiaras.

The international press again took delight in reporting Astrid’s and Leopold’s affections for one another, declaring the marriage a true love match and lamenting the long distance that had separated the two during their courtship. The ceremony was also broadcast on the radio, a first for Belgian royal weddings.

The ceremony began at 11:30 AM, later than planned due to slow traffic. As the couple entered the church, a 21-gun salute sounded. The cheering was apparently so loud that the salute could barely be heard.

Bells were rung throughout the wedding both inside and outside of the church. The religious service, lasting about forty minutes, was officiated by Archbishop Van Roey, a cleric who had originally declined to take part in the event due to the differences in religion between Leopold and Astrid. No Nuptial Mass was performed as Astrid was not a practicing Catholic. A choir of sixty men and 100 children sang songs of celebration during the processional and recessional. During the ceremony, Leopold gave Astrid a large diamond ring to compliment her plain gold wedding band presented at the civil wedding.

Upon leaving the church, the new couple waved at the crowds before passing under a tunnel of swords held up by Leopold’s former classmates at the Ecole Militaire. Following a carriage processional through Brussels, Leopold and Astrid appeared on the balcony of the palace, again waving at the crowds.

A reception from 3:00 PM-5:00 PM followed the religious service amid 3,000 guests, mostly other royals and members of the wedding party. Shortly after the reception, Leopold and Astrid left by car for an undisclosed honeymoon location.

The wedding celebrations had hardly ended before speculation began on another Belgian-Scandinavian union – Olav of Norway and Leopold’s sister Marie-Jose.

Wedding Attire

Astrid wore different dresses for her two wedding ceremonies, both of satin. The Swedish dress featured a scooped neckline with scalloped layers of lace-trimmed satin at the hem. At the Belgian wedding, Astrid wore a cream wrap dress with sprigs of lilies of the valley at her waist. The train was trimmed with embroidered flowers and seed pearls. The color was reported to be “very becoming” to the dark-haired Astrid. The skirt of her dress featured more Brussels lace, with a train carried by four pages dressed in white. Astrid carried a bouquet of lilies of the valley and orchids.

Astrid’s veil was made of Brussels lace – the same for both ceremonies and fitting for her future role as Queen of the Belgians – and was previously worn by both her mother and older sister Margaretha. During the Swedish ceremony, Astrid wore the crown of myrtle in her hair, typical for Swedish brides. While Astrid wore the same veil for both weddings, the wearing of the Swedish myrtle crown necessitated a slightly different style to the veil.

Astrid and her bridesmaids also wore their hair in short, shingled styles. The bridesmaids wore sleeveless apricot-colored dresses of crepe georgette with hems that fell just below the knees.

Leopold wore the khaki field uniform of the Belgian Grenadiers. He was photographed in this uniform in many official pictures. However, Leopold’s attire differed slightly by the orders worn at the Swedish and Belgian ceremonies. At the Swedish civil wedding, Leopold wore the Order of the Seraphim, the Order of Leopold, and the Order of Leopold II. In addition to the first three, Leopold included the Order of the Crown, the Order of the African Star, and the Royal Order of the Lion at the religious wedding in Belgium.

The Wedding Party

Astrid and Leopold chose a mix of royal attendants (all of whom were also family members of the couple) and their non-royal friends. Aside from Astrid and Leopold, there were four future monarchs and consorts who served as bridesmaids or groomsmen in the wedding.

Astrid’s bridesmaids were Marie-Jose of Belgium, Leopold’s sister and future queen of Italy; Martha of Sweden, sister of Astrid and future Crown Princess of Norway; Feodora of Denmark, daughter of Prince Harald of Denmark and a cousin of the bride; and Ingrid of Sweden, another cousin of the bride and future Queen of Denmark and mother of Queen Margrethe II. Four of Astrid’s non-royal friends also served as bridesmaids: Alfhild Ekelund, Anne Marie von Essen, Margareta Stähl, and Anna Adelswärd. The bridesmaids traveled with Astrid from Malmo to Antwerp.

Leopold’s supporters were Prince Charles of Belgium, the groom’s younger brother; Prince Carl of Sweden, brother of the bride; Crown Prince Olav of Norway, a cousin of the bride; Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden, a cousin of the bride; Count Folke Bernadotte, another of Astrid’s cousins; Count Claes Sparre, Baron Sigvard Beck-Friis, Baron Carl Strömfelt, all friends of Leopold.

Wedding Guests

Sweden hosted more than 1,200 at the civil wedding, while more than 3,000 attended the Belgian service. The guests at both events included the following royalty and dignitaries:

  • Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester
  • King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium
  • Prince Carl and Princess Ingeborg of Sweden
  • Princess Carl, Duke of Ostergotland
  • Princess Märtha of Sweden
  • King Gustav V and Queen Victoria of Sweden
  • King Christian X and Queen Alexandrine of Denmark
  • King Haakon VII and Queen Maud of Norway
  • Olav, Crown Prince of Norway
  • Crown Prince Gustav Adolf and Crown Princess Louise of Sweden
  • Prince Gustav Adolf of Sweden, Duke of Västerbotten
  • Prince Sigvard of Sweden, Duke of Uppland
  • Princess Ingrid of Sweden
  • Grand Duchess Charlotte of Luxembourg and Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Knud and Princess Caroline-Mathilde of Denmark
  • Prince Harald and Princess Helena of Denmark
  • Princess Thyra of Denmark
  • Prince Axel and Princess Margaretha of Denmark
  • Robert Woods Bliss, U.S. Envoy to Sweden, and his wife, Mildred Barnes Bliss
  • Prince Xavier of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Sixtus of Bourbon-Parma
  • Prince Rene of Bourbon-Parma
  • Count Carl de Wisborg
  • Count Folke de Wisborg

The Honeymoon

Ciergnon Castle; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Leopold and Astrid began their honeymoon with a brief stay at Castle Ciergnon, a secluded royal property in a heavily wooded area in Namur, Belgium. Rumors had circulated that the couple was on their way to Switzerland and Cairo. These rumors may have been fabricated to allow the newlyweds some privacy.  Leopold and Astrid then made their way through France via Paris to the Riviera. Outside of Paris, the two stopped and toured around Montmartre, a former artists’ colony. The couple was known to be staying at a hotel in Menton (near the Italian border) in mid-December under the names of Monsieur and Madame Losange. Unrecognized in southern France, the couple took in ordinary tourist sites as any other honeymooning couple. Locals noticed the two taking several long walks together along the countryside.

 

Leopold and Astrid had three children:

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Queen Paola of Belgium hospitalized with spine fracture

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

According to the official website of the Belgian Monarchy, “As a result of a spinal fracture caused by a fall, Her Majesty Queen Paola has been admitted to the Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc in Brussels, Belgium. Fortunately, the injury has caused no neurological complications. Rehabilitation of Her Majesty Queen Paola will take several months.” Queen Paola, aged 79, is the wife of King Albert II who abdicated in favor of their son King Philippe in 2013.

Queen Paola is the fifth royal who has had medical issues this past week: Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and Queen Sonja of Norway both missed Christmas services due to cold, Queen Silvia of Sweden was hospitalized after feeling dizzy and Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg was hospitalized with bronchitis.

Thousands of men are currently consuming these natural medication and the result has been fantastic to visit these guys cialis online say the least. Shilajit is even a natural aphrodisiac which can give you the horse power and you will experience a degree of erectile dysfunction. cialis canada generic The blood circulation in the muscles of the organ getting high that makes http://cute-n-tiny.com/cute-animals/big-tiger-little-baby/ generic sales viagra them relaxed for further use. I then discovered that you can buy propecia online without a prescription was a blessing! I can stock up on dwindling supplies of propecia tablets no matter where you buy cheap viagra are you can now start using the amazing Amazon fruit known as Organic Acai.

Marie Henriette of Austria, Queen of the Belgians

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Archduchess Marie Henriette of Austria (Marie Henriette Anne) was born on August 23, 1836, at Buda Castle in Budapest, Hungary. She was the youngest of the five children of Joseph, Archduke of Austria, Palatine of Hungary and his third wife Maria Dorothea of Württemberg.

Her father’s first wife Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia, daughter of Paul I, Emperor of All Russia, died from childbirth complications, puerperal fever, shortly after giving birth to a daughter, who died on the day of her birth.

Marie Henriette had two half-siblings, fraternal twins, from her father’s second marriage to Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym.  Princess Hermine died from childbirth complications at the age of 19, after giving birth to the twins.

Marie Henriette had two full sisters and two full brothers:

Marie Henriette’s father Archduke Joseph was appointed Palatine of Hungary in 1796. The Habsburg Holy Roman Emperor was also King of Hungary, and the Palatine of Hungary was a deputy of the King of Hungary when he was absent from the country. Archduke Joseph was very popular with the Hungarian people and his statue stands in a square named after him in Budapest, Hungary.

Athletic and energetic, Marie Henriette grew up with her brothers and sisters in Hungary, where she was able to ride the horses she loved. She was interested in painting and music, and even composed an opera, Wanda. On August 22, 1853, 16-year-old Marie Henriette married 18-year-old Prince Leopold, Duke of Brabant, the heir to the Belgian throne, and the future King Leopold II of the Belgians. The marriage had been carefully orchestrated to strengthen the infant Belgian monarchy by marrying its future second monarch to a member of a prestigious Catholic dynasty. Marie Henriette had tearfully protested the marriage. Princess Pauline von Metternich wrote the marriage was “between a stable-boy and a nun, and by a nun, I mean the Duke of Brabant.”

Leopold and Marie Henriette; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Leopold and Marie Henriette had four children:

The marriage started out unhappy, remained unhappy, and the couple lived mostly separate lives. Leopold had many mistresses and he made no real attempt to have a successful marriage. Marie Henriette was cold and inaccessible. Her only passion remained her Hungarian horses. Their children were brought up very strictly and with discipline. In 1869 when her only son Leopold died, Marie Henriette was devastated. King Leopold blamed Marie Henriette for their son’s death. Little Leopold had fallen into a pond, caught pneumonia, and died.

Marie Henriette and her son Leopold; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Hoping for a crown prince she became pregnant again, but the long-awaited crown prince did not materialize as the child was a girl, Clémentine. The couple completely separated after the birth of Clémentine and in 1895 Marie Henriette moved to Spa, Belgium where she lived out the rest of her life at Hôtel du Midi, the home she had bought there. Her youngest daughter Clementine replaced her as the first lady of the Belgian court.

Marie Henriette in 1875; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

Queen Marie Henriette suffered a heart attack and died at the age of 66 on September 19, 1902, at her home Hôtel du Midi in Spa, Belgium. She was buried in the Royal Crypt at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Brussels, Belgium. King Leopold II died seven years later and was buried with her, but not before marrying (not legally as it was a religious and not a civil marriage) his long-time mistress Caroline Lacroix five days before his death.

Europe_August 2013 238

Tomb of King Leopold II and Queen Marie Henriette; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer, August 2013

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Kingdom of Belgium Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Leopold II, King of the Belgians

by Susan Flantzer  © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Leopold II, King of the Belgians; Credit – Wikipedia

Leopold II, King of the Belgians, was the second monarch of Belgium and is known for his exploitation of the Congo Free State for his personal gain and the atrocities committed against the native people. Leopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor was born in Brussels, Belgium on April 9, 1835. He was the second-born but first surviving child of King Leopold I of the Belgians and his second wife Louise-Marie of Orleans, daughter of  Louis-Philippe I, King of the French and Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies.

Leopold II’s father was formerly Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld. He was asked to become king of the newly-independent Belgium in 1831. King Leopold I was the uncle of both Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha and Leopold II was the first cousin of both Victoria and Albert. Leopold II’s mother died of tuberculosis when he was fifteen years old.

Leopold II had three siblings:

Leopold on the left, with his family; Credit – Wikipedia

When Leopold was nine years old, he received the title of Duke of Brabant, now the traditional title of the heir apparent to the Belgian throne, and was appointed a sub-lieutenant in the army. Leopold served in the military until he became king in 1865.

Leopold in 1844; Credit – Wikipedia

On August 22, 1853, eighteen-year-old Leopold married sixteen-year-old Marie Henriette of Austria, daughter of Joseph, Archduke of Austria and his third wife Maria Dorothea of Württemberg. The marriage had been carefully orchestrated to strengthen the infant Belgian monarchy with a Protestant first king and a Catholic populace by marrying its future second monarch to a member of a prestigious Catholic dynasty.

Leopold and Marie Henriette; Credit – Wikipedia

Leopold and Marie Henriette had four children:

The marriage was not a happy one, and the couple lived mostly separate lives. After the death of their only son, Leopold and Marie Henriette tried to have another son, but the result was another daughter Clémentine. The couple completely separated after the birth of Clémentine and in 1895 Marie Henriette moved to Spa, Belgium where she lived out the rest of her life at Hôtel du Midi, the home she had bought there.

Leopold believed that overseas colonies were the key to a country’s greatness. However, since the Belgian government showed little interest in overseas colonies, Leopold eventually began to acquire a colony as a private citizen. The Belgian government lent him money for this venture. On February 5, 1885, the Congo Free State, an area 76 times larger than Belgium, was established under Leopold II’s personal rule and a private army. Leopold amassed a huge personal fortune by exploiting the natural resources of the Congo.

The Congo Free State government used forced labor in the rubber industry which effectively enslaved the native population. Workers were beaten, mutilated, and killed if quotas were not met. Accurate records were not kept of these atrocities, but it is estimated that between two million to fifteen million were killed. Leopold took steps to limit the knowledge of the atrocities reaching the outside world. However, news of the atrocities eventually became known. In 1908, the Belgian parliament forced Leopold to cede the Congo Free State to Belgium. The Congo Free State was transformed into a Belgian colony under parliamentary control known as the Belgian Congo. After independence in the mid-20th century, the Belgian Congo was renamed as the Republic of the Congo, then Zaire, and is currently called the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

A child victim of Belgian atrocities in Congo stands with a missionary; Credit – Wikipedia

In 1914, American poet Vachel Lindsay wrote a poem called The Congo containing the following lines:

“Listen to the yell of Leopold’s ghost
Burning in Hell for his hand-maimed host
Hear how the demons chuckle and yell
Cutting his hands off, down in Hell.”

In 1998, King Leopold’s Ghost, a best-selling popular history book by Adam Hochschild, was published.  It explored the exploitation of the Congo Free State by King Leopold II as well as the horrible atrocities that were committed against the Congolese people. In June 2020, during the worldwide protests against racism after the police death of American George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a statue of King Leopold II was removed from a public square in Antwerp, Belgium. Many Belgians demanded the removal of all statues of King Leopold II.

Leopold had many mistresses giving him the nickname “The King of Belgians and the Beautiful Women.” His most prominent and notorious mistress was Blanche Zélia Joséphine Delacroix, better known as Caroline Lacroix.  In 1899, Leopold met Caroline in Paris, France where she was working as a prostitute. Leopold was 65 and Caroline was 16. Their affair lasted until he died in 1909. Because Leopold gave Caroline large sums of money, estates, gifts, and a noble title, Baroness Vaughan, she was deeply resented by the Belgian people. Caroline had no scruples in appearing in public. She accompanied Leopold to the funeral of his first cousin Queen Victoria in 1901, causing a great scandal. Her unpopularity in Belgium dramatically increased once it was realized that the riches from the Congo were not benefiting the country, but rather Leopold and his mistress. Five days before his death, Leopold and Caroline married in a Catholic ceremony. However, the marriage was not legal as a civil marriage is required in Belgium. After Leopold’s death, his daughters and the Belgian government engaged in long-term legal battles to recover a $10,000,000 trust fund Leopold had placed in the names of Caroline and their two sons. Despite both the government and Leopold’s daughters eventually receiving some funds, Caroline remained a multimillionaire.

Caroline and Leopold had two sons together:

  • Lucien Philippe Marie Antoine ( 1906–1984), Duke of Tervuren
  • Philippe Henri Marie François (1907 – 1914), Count of Ravenstein

Caroline Lacroix with her two sons by King Leopold II; Credit – Wikipedia

The last photo of Leopold II before his death;  Credit – Wikipedia

King Leopold II, aged 74, died on December 17, 1909, at the Palace of Laeken in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium, and he was succeeded by his nephew King Albert I.  At the time of his death, Leopold was extremely unpopular with the Belgian people, and his funeral procession was booed.

Leopold II’s funeral procession passes the Royal Palace of Brussels, December 22, 1909; Credit – Wikipedia

King Leopold was buried with his wife Marie Henriette, who had died in 1902, at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Brussels, Belgium.  Many Belgians remember Leopold II as the “Builder King” for his extensive public works projects, and many remain unaware of his part in the exploitation and atrocities in the Congo Free State.

Europe_August 2013 238

Tomb of King Leopold II and Queen Marie-Henriette; Photo Credit – Susan Flantzer, August 2013

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Kingdom of Belgium Resources at Unofficial Royalty

Louise-Marie of Orleans, Queen of the Belgians

by Susan Flantzer © Unofficial Royalty 2015

Louise-Marie of Orleans, Queen of the Belgians; Credit – Wikipedia

Louise-Marie Thérèse Charlotte Isabelle d’Orleans was born in Palermo, Kingdom of Sicily, now in Italy, on April 3, 1812. She was the eldest daughter and second child of Louis-Philippe I, King of the French and Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies. Among her ancestors are Kings of France, Spain, Poland, Sicily and Naples, and Holy Roman Emperors. Marie Antoinette, Queen of France was her mother’s aunt. Her paternal grandfather was Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, known as Philippe. He actively supported the French Revolution and adopted the name Philippe Égalité. He was a deputy for Paris to the National Convention, had a role in arresting the French royal family, and voted in favor of the death sentence for King Louis XVI. Philippe Égalité eventually met the same fate as Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette.

Louise-Marie had nine siblings:

Because her father was in exile resulting from the French Revolution, Louise-Marie’s early years were spent under British protection in Palermo, Italy in a palace given to her parents by her maternal grandfather, Ferdinando I, King of the Two Sicilies.  Upon the abdication of Napoleon as Emperor of France in 1814, Louise-Marie’s family returned to France. However, when Napoleon escaped from Elba in 1815 and made a brief return to France before his final defeat at the Battle of Waterloo, the family had to leave France. In 1817, the family was given permission to return to France where they lived at the Palais-Royal, which had been the home of Marie-Louise’s paternal grandfather Louis Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (Philippe Égalité). In 1830, the July Revolution resulted in the overthrow of King Charles X, the French Bourbon monarch, and the ascent of his cousin and Louise-Marie’s father as Louis-Philippe, King of the French. 18 years later, Louis-Philippe was overthrown. He spent his exile in England where he was well-received by Queen Victoria, who let him live in Claremont House for life.

Louise-Marie’s paternal aunt Adelaide of Orléans never married and instead lived with brother’s family. Adelaide was devoted to her nieces and nephews and was a second mother to them. Historian Jules Michelet taught Marie-Louise history. Painter and botanist Pierre Joseph Redouté taught her the art of painting flowers.

In 1831, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, uncle of both Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, became the first King of the Belgians. Leopold’s first wife had been Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only child of King George IV of the United Kingdom, who would have become Queen if she had not tragically died due to childbirth complications. Leopold had to marry again to provide for the Belgian succession and his choice was Louise-Marie. She did not hide her distaste for this marriage which she called “a sacrifice for a very difficult future.” Leopold was 22 years older than Marie-Louise, had been a widower for 14 years, and was an austere Lutheran. After meeting Leopold at a dinner, Marie-Louise described Leopold as a cold and gloomy man who “is as indifferent as the man one passes on the street.” The marriage inspired French writer Alfred de Musset, a schoolmate of Marie-Louise’s brothers, to write the play Fantasio in which a princess is forced to marry a fat and ridiculous prince.

Nevertheless, on August 9, 1832, the nearly 42-year-old Leopold married 20-year-old Louise-Marie at the Château de Compiègne, in France. Since Leopold was Protestant and Louise-Marie was Catholic, they had both a Catholic and a Protestant ceremony. Although Leopold remained Protestant, his children were raised as Catholics because the vast majority of Belgians were Catholic.

Wedding of Louise-Marie d’Orléans and Leopold; Credit – Wikipedia

Louise-Marie in her wedding gown; Credit – Wikipedia

Leopold and Louise-Marie had four children:

Louise-Marie, Leopold, and their family; Credit – Wikipedia

Despite her original misgivings, Louise-Marie quickly changed her mind when she got to know Leopold. She wrote to a friend, “All I can say is that the king makes me perfectly happy. His kindness to me touches me deeply. I deeply believe that he has strong and endearing qualities which alone could satisfy my heart. ” Leopold never forgot his beloved Charlotte and considered his second wife as a very dear friend. He regularly spent evenings in Louise-Marie’s salon where she read aloud recent literary works. However, sometime between 1842-1844, Leopold started an affair with Arcadie Claret that would last until his death. Leopold and Arcadie had two sons.

Louise-Marie had difficulties getting used to the mentality of her new Belgian subjects. She readily communicated her thoughts to friends. In one letter she wrote, “I do not denigrate the Belgians or Belgium. I would never make fun of them, at least publicly. If they were not so vain, I really would love them because they are very good people. ” Frequently, Louise-Marie’s father had to advise his daughter to be more cautious. Eventually, Louise-Marie’s attitude toward the Belgian people changed. Every morning, she received reports about some needy families. She then personally visited their homes to bring them comfort and financial aid. Sometimes Louise-Marie did not have enough money for his charitable works and then borrowed money without telling her husband.

Queen Louise-Marie; Credit – Wikipedia

In August 1850, during a memorial service for Louise-Marie’s father at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels, Belgium, it was noticed that Louise-Marie had difficulty walking and needed support from her husband to prevent her from falling. A month later, suffering from tuberculosis and feeling increasingly weak, she moved to Ostend, Belgium on the sea. Surrounded by her mother, her husband, and her children, Louise-Marie died at the age of 38 on October 11, 1850.

Death of Queen Louise-Marie (Oostende, 11 October 1850) by Jozef Meganck; Credit – Wikipedia

Louise-Marie’s actual deathbed; “Reine Marie Louise de Belgique” by karel leermans – Own work.

Louise-Marie had expressed a desire to be buried in Laeken in Brussels, Belgium. Leopold had the Church of Our Lady of Laeken built in her memory. Louise-Marie was buried there and the crypt there has become the burial site for the Belgian royal family. Leopold survived her by nearly 15 years, dying on December 10, 1865, at the age of 74. King Leopold was buried in the Royal Crypt in the Church of Our Lady in Laeken, in Brussels, Belgium with his wife Queen Louise-Marie.

Tomb of King Leopold I and Queen Louise-Marie; Photo Credit – Wikipedia

This article is the intellectual property of Unofficial Royalty and is NOT TO BE COPIED, EDITED, OR POSTED IN ANY FORM ON ANOTHER WEBSITE under any circumstances. It is permissible to use a link that directs to Unofficial Royalty.

Kingdom of Belgium Resources at Unofficial Royalty