Belgian Royal Family General chat

[TLLK]

@Macrobug67 - IMO he's at least 6'2" as I believe that Phillipe and Mathilde are under 6' in height.

[TLLK]

Highs and lows: a look back at the year for Belgian royals ? Royal Central

The Belgian royals faced COVID among their own family members and devastating floods that impacted the nation's province of Liege in July 2021. The Duchess of Brabant continued with her military training and started university to study History and Politics at the University of Oxford.  Her brother Prince Gabriel also left Belgium for the UK to study at The National Mathematics and Science College in Warwickshire, England.

Among the King's siblings and in-laws there were some health issues for Princess Astrid. Also Princess Claire continued to be affected by a undisclosed chronic health concern. The King's half-sister Princess Delphine participated in the National Day celebrations for the first time as a recognized member of the Belgian Royal Family.

[Macrobug67]

@Macrobug67 - IMO he's at least 6'2" as I believe that Phillipe and Mathilde are under 6' in height.

I think he is taller.  Filipe of Spain is 6?5.  Compare the photos of Phillipe with Filipe and with his son.  And Gabriel isn?t standing up completely straight. 

[Blue Clover]

Nice family! The children have really grown up.

[TLLK]

Prince Lorenz has lost his mother who was  a member of the Italian Royal Family by birth and the Austria-Est Imperial Family by marriage.

Belgium mourns the death of close royal family member ? Royal Central

The Belgian royal family is in mourning. A close royal family member of the Belgian royal family passed away on Monday. Her Imperial & Royal Highness, Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta, Archduchess of Austria-Este, died on Monday, aged 91. She is best known as the mother of Prince Lorenz of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este, making her the mother-in-law of Princess Astrid of Belgium.

Prince Lorenz of Belgium was born in France as the second child of Robert, Archduke of Austria-Este and his wife, Princess Margaret of Savoy-Aosta. He is the grandson of Charles I of Austria, the last Emperor of Austria.

Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta was born in Naples on 4 April 1930, as the eldest of the two daughters of Prince Amedeo of Savoy, Duke of Aosta and Princess Anne of Orl?ans. Her father was the viceroy of Ethiopia and commanded the Italian troops against the British in East Africa. He died as a prisoner of war in 1942. On 28 December 1953, Princess Margherita married Archduke Robert of Austria-Este, the second oldest son of the last Austrian ruler, Emperor Charles I. The couple had five children, of whom the eldest son, Lorenz, married Princess Astrid of Belgium in 1984, and he was created a Prince of Belgium in 1995.

[TLLK]

Princess Delphine departs Dancing With the Stars.

Princess Delphine danced on behalf of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in honour of 12-year-old Adam, who is recovering from leukaemia.

Princess?s time as twinkle toes comes to an end ? Royal Central

Princess Delphine of Belgium?s time on Dancing with the Stars has come to an end.

The Princess was voted off the show on Saturday evening, finishing in sixth place on the Flemish dancing show.

Belgian journalist Wim Dehandschutter first reported the news and spoke to Delphine after the results.

Delphine, who was interviewed in English, said she thought each week she would get voted off as her competitors were so good and she was so much older than them. She called herself a ?complete beginner? in comparison to her competitors, adding that she hadn?t danced before the show.

[TLLK]

Princess Delphine's "legal" father   Jacques Bo?l  has passed away.

Industrieel Jacques Bo?l overleden | Het Nieuwsblad

[TLLK]

According to the Spanish press, the King, Queen and their four children have been spotted walking part of the Santiago de Compestola pilgrimage trail  this week. Holy Week starts today and will end on Easter Sunday.

Felipe y Matilde de B?lgica pasar?n su Semana Santa en Espa?a: descubre su plan en Palencia

[LouisFerdinand]

It is commendable that the four royal children also participate in The Way. To be Roman Catholic and to learn about Roman Catholicism and to practice Roman Catholicism all at the same time is important.

[TLLK]

Queen Mathilde and Prince Emmanuel race 20kms around Brussels ? Royal Central

Queen Mathilde and Prince Emmanuel of Belgium took part in the 20 kilometres through Brussels sporting event on Sunday.

The mother-son duo joined roughly 32000 more participants for the morning, as they ran or marched among the capital?s most iconic monuments.

Queen Mathilde opted for the march, and she finished 23584th (this also includes the people who ran the length of the race) in three hours, ten minutes and 41 seconds, according to the race?s official records. She competed with bib number 32250.

[TudorQueen]

Gabriel will be entering the royal military academy in August. I wonder if he will do full or the one year his sister did.

https://www.levif.be/belgique/le-prince-gabriel-va-rejoindre-lecole-royale-militaire-le-22-aout/

Bit surprised. Would have thought he'd do this last year if he was. Going to the school in the UK for A levels pointed to him going for further college in the UK. And with interest in STEM.

I hope this is his choice not pressure of tradition. He has an interest in science I hope we see him get back to it.

[Curryong]

Gabriel will be entering the royal military academy in August. I wonder if he will do full or the one year his sister did.

https://www.levif.be/belgique/le-prince-gabriel-va-rejoindre-lecole-royale-militaire-le-22-aout/

Bit surprised. Would have thought he'd do this last year if he was. Going to the school in the UK for A levels pointed to him going for further college in the UK. And with interest in STEM.

I hope this is his choice not pressure of tradition. He has an interest in science I hope we see him get back to it.

Perhaps Gabriel has changed his interests to the Army and more tactical and scientific subjects he could study in the service. He?s still very young. Plenty of time.

[TLLK]

The Belgian Royals have been spotted on their holiday in Croatia.

DPG Media Privacy Gate

[TLLK]

Royal Wedding News!!!   :wed:

Royal wedding date confirmed as princess makes final preparations for big day ? Royal Central

The final preparations for one of the biggest royal weddings of the year are now under way with confirmation that Princess Maria Laura of Belgium will marry her fiance on September 10th 2022.

Princess Maria Laura, Archduchess of Austria-Este announced her engagement to William Isvy at the end of 2021.

The couple have now confirmed they will wed at the Cathedral of St Michel and St Gudula in Brussels.

Maria Laura, 33, is the eldest daughter of Princess Astrid of Belgium and Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este and the eldest granddaughter of King Albert II and Queen Paola. Her mother is the sister of King Philippe of the Belgians and currently fifth in line to the throne. Maria Laura is ninth in the Belgian line of succession.

The princess needed the permission of her uncle to marry to retain her rights to the throne. That was granted in January 2022.

All of Belgium?s royal family is expected to attend the Roman Catholic marriage ceremony.

[PrincessOfPeace]

Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her family attend Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz's wedding | Daily Mail Online

[LouisFerdinand]

It is nice that Princess Maria Laura and William are having their civil wedding at the City Hall like her parents had theirs at the City Hall.

[TudorQueen]

Photos from wedding of Maria Laura and William

Princess Maria Laura of Belgium Marries William Isvy: Royal Wedding Photos

King Philippe of Belgium's niece Princess Maria Laura tied the knot with her fianc? | Daily Mail Online

Gala at Claridge?s Hotel, 1981 | The Royal Watcher

The wedding party:
-Princess Luisa as maid of honor
-Elisabetta (her sister in law)
-Ferdinand Brunet (friend?)
-Olympia Bonaparte- cousin of bride, her mother is Prince Lorenz's older sister
-Prince Joseph of Liechtenstein
-Princess Astrid of Liechtenstein

Flower girls/page boys:
-Archduchess Anna Astrid and Archduke Maximillian- niece and nephew, children of Amedeo and Lilli
- Maria-Thereza Droste zu Vischering von Nesselrode
-Alvaro de Orleans-Borbon
-Aurora and Eulalia Peters

Ushers:
-William's brother
-Prince Joachim


The bride wore a Prada dress for civil, and a Vivian Westwood for the religious. And wore the Savoy Aosta tiara.

The Savoy-Aosta Tiara

[TLLK]

Princess Esmerlda of Belgium (daughter of King Leopold  and Princess Lilian also aunt to King Phillipe and his siblings) has made a statement supporting the Eco Protestors who have attacked works of art.

Belgian princess supports climate activists attacking art ? Royal Central

Princess Esm?ralda, the half-aunt of King Philippe, spoke about last month?s Just No Oil protests that saw a Van Gogh painting smeared with soup and a wax figure of King Charles covered in chocolate cake.

On the RTL-TVI program ?C?est pas tous les jours dimanche? Princess Esm?ralda elaborated, saying, ?People are afraid, they are concerned about their future.?

This isn?t the first time the Belgian royal ? the daughter of King Leopold III by his second wife Lilian, Princess of R?thy ? has spoken out about the climate or protesting. Princess Esm?ralda has written a book on the environment called Terre, agissons pour la planete, il n?est pas trop tard, which translates to Act Now to Save our Planet, It?s Not Too Late.

She also protested with the Extinction Rebellion in 2019, sitting in Trafalgar Square until her arrest, though she was never charged with any crimes. She said at the time, ?The more people from all sections of society protest, the greater the impact will be.?

[TLLK]

The Duchess of Brabant and Prince Emanuele took part in a charity race today.

DPG Media Privacy Gate

[Curryong]

That would have been a bit chilly, but brother and sister certainly look as if they are thoroughly enjoying the run.

[TLLK]

Looking back at 2022 for the Belgian Royal Family.

YEAR IN REVIEW: Belgium?s 2022 gives the country hope for the future ? Royal Central

Belgium?s royal year was filled with joy, grief, and historic firsts. 

[sara8150]

Belgium's King Albert II, 89, is hospitalised with 'signs of dehydration', announces Palace | Daily Mail Online

King Albert of Belgium Hospitalized, Son King Philippe Cancels Outing

Former King of Belgium Albert II, 89, rushed to hospital as Palace issues health update | Royal | News | Express.co.uk

Belgium?s King Albert taken to hospital ? Royal Central

[sara8150]

Gert?s Royals Twitter says

Former King Albert of Belgium (89) was hospitalized this morning for dehydration. He is undergoing tests at the hospital. And the palace has said it is a ?precautionary measure.?

His son, King Philippe has canceled his meeting at University of Ghent today. And other royals have visited King Albert in the hospital.

Belgium Palace said King Phillipe cancelled his engagement and meeting but he rushed to his father?s hospital kept private business and private matters for Belgium royal family

We have kept updated on former King Albert?s health condition and Belgium Palace also please pray for King Albert?s health 🙏🏻

[Curryong]

Gert?s Royals Twitter says

Belgium Palace said King Phillipe cancelled his engagement and meeting but he rushed to his father?s hospital kept private business and private matters for Belgium royal family

We have kept updated on former King Albert?s health condition and Belgium Palace also please pray for King Albert?s health 🙏🏻

Ex King Albert is of an age when these things matter. And he has not been in particularly good health over the last few years.

[Blue Clover]

I hope all is well with King Albert II.