Belgian Royalty: Albert II's Children


Figure 1.--Here is Albert II and his family anout 1968=69. he Prince was not yet king at the time. The children here are dressed rather casually. This image illustrates several important fashion trends. As this is an informal portrait, the boy's clothes are more responsive to contemporary fashions than some of the more formal portrairs. Presumably the boys were allowed to chose their own clothes. Prince Laurent, the younger boy, is even in long pants--rather American looking jeans. This reflects how the idea that at some age a boy passes from short pants to longs was passing out of fashion. Notice how Prince Phillipe's shorts are a little longer than would have been the case a few years earlier. Phillipe's longer shorts are an early harbinger of the change from short-shorts to longer shorts in French-influenced Europe.

King Albert II and Queen Paola have three children. Their eldest son and heir apparent was born on April 15, 1960. He is the first child of King Albert II and Queen Paola and is thus first in line to succeed to the Throne. As such, he also bears the title of Duke of Brabant. The princess was born on June 5, 1962. She was nammed after her Swedish grandmother who was much beloved by the Belgian people and who aroused great public emotion on her tragic death in a car accident in 1935. Their youngest son was born on October 19, 1963.

Prince Philippe (1960- )

Their eldest son and heir apparent was born on April 15, 1960. He is the first child of King Albert II and Queen Paola and is thus first in line to succeed to the Throne. As such, he also bears the title of Duke of Brabant. He was educated in Belgium at the Collège Saint-Michel in Brussels, Abdijschool van Zevenkerken in Sint-Andries-Brugge, and the Royal Military Academy (1978-80). He also trained as a pilot of the Belgian Air Force and a paratrooper. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in 1983 and to the rank of Colonel in 1989. Prince Philippe, who lived as a bachelor for many years, thrilled Belgians when he mairred Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz, a Belgian of nobel desent, in 1999. The mairrage has proven extrodinarily popular in Belgium.

Princess Astrid (1962- )

The princess was born on June 5, 1962. She was nammed after her Swedish grandmother who was much beloved by the Belgian people and who aroused great public emotion on her tragic death in a car accident in 1935. Following secondary schooling in Brussels, the Princess completed her education in the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States. Princess of Belgium, she also became Archduchess of Austria-Este on marrying Archduke Lorenz of Austria in September 1984, who is also now, Prince of Belgium. Their first child, Prince Amedeo (February 1986- ), Princess Maria Laura (August 1988- ), Prince Joachim (December 1991- ), and Princess Luisa Maria (October 1995- ). The Princess is very active in representing the throne at public events, the Princess also serves as Chairperson of the Belgian Red Cross having succeeded her father in 1994. As such, she regularly chairs meetings of the National Executive Board, the National Council and the General Assembly, as well as visiting and closely following all Red Cross activities here and abroad.

Prince Laurent (1963- )

Their youngest son was born on October 19, 1963. After lower secondary education at the Pius X-college in Antwerp, he began his military training in 1980 at the Royal Cadet High School in Laeken. Three years later he enrolled at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels for further education as a naval midshipman. He left the Royal Military Academy in 1985 with the rank of Ensign and started, like his father, who is also a naval officer, his naval training on board several ships of the Belgian Navy, where he trained as a diver and helicopter pilot. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in September 1989 and completed his training as helicopter pilot, eventually receiving his "wings" from the late King Baudouin. He also qualified as combat diver and received the insignia from his father. Prince Laurent is now a Commander in the Belgian Navy. After his naval training in Belgium, Prince Laurent began a long period of higher education in the United States. He began at an American university, then did a year of practical training in the "Environment" department of a large international consultancy firm, as well as at the International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Development Programme and the United Nations Environment Programme. Prince Laurent's current activities are mainly focused on the environment and the animal welfare. . In 1994, he assisted the Ministers of the three Belgian regions in establishing the Royal Institute of Sustainable Management of Natural Resources and the Promotion of Clean Technologies and became its President. In 1995, he also created and became President of the Prince Laurent Foundation for the Welfare of Domestic and Wild Animals. In addition, he is President of the Euphonia Music Foundation for the promotion of young talented musicians, Honorary President of the National Orchestra of Belgium and President of its management committee.







HBRC








Navigate the Boys' Historical Clothing Web Site royal pages:
[Main Belgium Albert II page]
[Austria] [Belgium] [France] [Germany] [Italy]
[Monaco] [Netherlands] [Norway] [Romania] [Russia] [Spain] [Sweden] [United Kingdom]
[Main royal pages]





Created: 8:50 PM 9/1/2004
Last updated: 8:50 PM 9/1/2004