Albert II of Belgium

Albert II (born 6 June 1934) is a member of the Belgian royal family who reigned as King of the Belgians from 9 August 1993 until his abdication on 21 July 2013.

Albert II is the son of King Leopold III and the last living child of Queen Astrid, born a princess of Sweden. He is the younger brother of the late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg and King Baudouin, whom he succeeded following Baudouin's death in 1993. He married Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria (now Queen Paola), with whom he had three children. Albert's eldest son, Philippe, is the current King of the Belgians.

On 3 July 2013, King Albert II attended a midday session of the Belgian cabinet. He then announced that, on 21 July, Belgian National Day, he would abdicate the throne for health reasons. He was succeeded by his son Philippe on 21 July 2013. Albert II was the fourth monarch to abdicate in 2013, following Pope Benedict XVI, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and Emir Hamad bin Khalifa of Qatar. In so doing, he was also the second Belgian monarch to abdicate, following his father, Leopold III, who abdicated in 1951, albeit under very different circumstances.

Early life
Prince Albert was born at the Château of Stuyvenberg in Laeken, northern Brussels, as the second son and youngest child of King Leopold III and his first wife, Princess Astrid of Sweden. He was second in line to the throne at birth, and was given the title Prince of Liège. Queen Astrid died in a car accident on 29 August 1935, in which King Leopold was lightly injured but survived, when Prince Albert was one year old. The King remarried to Mary Lilian Baels (later became Princess of Réthy) in 1941. The couple produced three children: Prince Alexandre, Princess Marie-Christine and Princess Marie-Esméralda (who is also Albert's goddaughter). Albert and his siblings had a close relationship with their stepmother and they called her "Mother".

During World War II, on 10 May 1940, at the time when Belgium was being invaded, Prince Albert, his elder sister Princess Joséphine-Charlotte and his elder brother Prince Baudouin, left the country for France and later Spain. The Prince and the Princess returned to Belgium on 2 August 1940. They continued their studies until 1944, either at Laeken, or at the Castle of Ciergnon in the Ardennes. In June 1944, at the time of the Allied landings, King Leopold, his wife Princess Lilian and the royal children were deported by the Germans to Hirschstein, Germany, and later to Strobl, Austria, where they were released by the American 106th Cavalry Regiment on 7 May 1945. Owing to the political situation in Belgium, King Leopold and his family moved to the villa "Le Reposoir" in Pregny, Switzerland, when they left Austria in October 1945 and stayed until July 1950. During that time, Prince Albert would continue his education in a secondary school in Geneva. King Leopold III, accompanied by Prince Baudouin and Prince Albert, returned to Belgium on 22 July 1950.

Marriage and family


In 1958, Albert went to the Vatican to witness the coronation of Pope John XXIII. At a reception at the Belgian Embassy, he met Italian Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria. Prince Albert proposed marriage to her, to which she accepted. Two months after their meeting, the prince introduced his future wife to his family, and four months later to the press. The couple were married on 2 July 1959, one-and-a-half years before Albert's older brother, the king, got married (a marriage which would prove childless). Albert and Paola have three children, twelve grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Their children are:


 * King Philippe (born 15 April 1960 at the Belvédère Château in Brussels)
 * Princess Astrid (born 5 June 1962 at the Belvédère Château in Brussels)
 * Prince Laurent (born 19 October 1963 at the Belvédère Château in Brussels)

Delphine Boël
In 1997, the Belgian satirical magazine Père Ubu reported that the Belgian sculptor Delphine Boël (born 22 February 1968) was King Albert II's extramarital daughter. It took some years for the Belgian mainstream media to report this news. According to Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, the mother of Delphine, she and Albert shared an 18-year-long relationship into which Delphine was born.

In June 2013, Boël summoned the then King and his two older children (the then Duke of Brabant and the Archduchess of Austria-Este) to appear in court. She hoped to use DNA tests to prove that she is the King's daughter. As the King enjoyed complete immunity under the law, Boël decided to summon his elder children as well. The king abdicated the following month, in July 2013. After the King's abdication, Boël abandoned her first suit to introduce a second one only against the former King as he was no longer protected by immunity and the first claim would have been judged according to the situation at the time of the introduction of the claim.

In March 2017, the Court ruled that her claim was unfounded, and her lawyers said she would take the claim to appeal. On 25 October 2018, the Court of Appeal decided that Delphine Boël is not a descendant of Jacques Boël, and ordered King Albert to undergo DNA testing. His lawyer announced that he would seek further advice about a possible referral to Belgium's Cour de Cassation / Hof van Cassatie. In 2019, the King's lawyer confirmed he would not provide a DNA sample in the case.

On 29 May 2019, it was reported by CNN that Albert II had submitted a DNA sample after a Belgian court ruled on 16 May that he would be fined 5,000 euros for each day that he failed to do so, although he would continue to challenge the ruling, according to his attorney, Alain Berenboom. The results of these DNA samples were released on 27 January 2020 by Alain Berenboom, confirming Delphine Boël as Albert II's daughter. Albert II confirmed this on 27 January 2020 in a press release. "The king will treat all his children as equal," Berenboom said, according to VTM News. "King Albert now has four children."

While it was proven that Boël was his biological daughter, her legal status as a daughter was not recognized until a 1 October 2020 ruling of the Brussels Court of Appeal, which also recognized Boël as a princess of Belgium and granted her the new surname of Saxe-Coburg.

Official role


As the younger brother of the childless King Baudouin, Prince Albert was the heir-presumptive to the throne. Albert's son Philippe was groomed to eventually succeed. On Baudouin's death, Albert was sworn in before parliament, on 9 August 1993, as King of the Belgians.

As King, Albert's duties included representing Belgium at home and abroad on state visits, trade missions, and at high level international meetings as well as taking an interest in Belgian society, culture and enterprise. The King had a constitutional role which came into play in 2010–2011 when Belgium's parliament was unable to agree on a government. When the crisis was resolved, Albert swore in the new government.

In 1984, he set up the Prince Albert Foundation, to promote expertise in foreign trade.

Albert sparked controversy in his December 2012 Christmas speech by comparing modern "populist movements" with those of the 1930s. This was seen by several political commentators, as well as many Flemish politicians, as aimed implicitly at the large Flemish nationalist party, the N-VA. Bart De Wever, the party's leader, called for the King's role in the formation of Belgian governments to be changed in the wake of this comment since he "could no longer see the monarch as playing the constitutional role of referee."

Abdication
On 3 July 2013, 79-year-old King Albert II attended a midday session of the Belgian cabinet, where he revealed his intention to abdicate to Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and to the deputy prime ministers. This came less than one month after the king and two of his children had been asked to appear in court by the Belgian sculptor Delphine Boël, who was intent on proving that the king was her biological father. According to a letter sent by the King to the Prime Minister and dated 3 July 2013, and which was made public, the King had already broached the topic of his intention to abdicate several times with the Prime Minister, who had asked him to reconsider it. At 6 pm (CET) the King announced in a recorded radio and television speech that on 21 July, Belgium's National Day, he would abdicate the throne for health reasons. He was succeeded by his elder son, Philippe.

After his abdication on 21 July 2013 it was decided that he would be styled as His Majesty King Albert II, the same form of address granted to his father, Leopold III, after his abdication.

National honours
As King (1993-2013) he was Grand Master of:
 * BEL_-_Order_of_Leopold_-_Grand_Cordon_bar.svg Grand Cordon in the Order of Leopold
 * BEL_Order_of_the_African_Star_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.png The Order of the African Star
 * BEL_Royal_Order_of_the_Lion_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.png The Royal Order of the Lion
 * BEL_Kroonorde_Grootkruis_BAR.svg The Order of the Crown
 * BEL_Order_of_Leopold_II_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.png The Order of Leopold II

Other European distinctions

 * AUT_Honour_for_Services_to_the_Republic_of_Austria_-_1st_Class_BAR.svg Grand Star in the Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1958)
 * BUL Order Stara planina ribbon.svg Grand Cross of the Order of the Balkan Mountains (Bulgaria) (2003)
 * GER_Bundesverdienstkreuz_9_Sond_des_Grosskreuzes.svg Grand Cross Special Class in the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)
 * Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar.svg Knight in the Order of the Elephant (Denmark)
 * DNK Order of Danebrog Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross in the Order of the Dannebrog (Denmark)
 * EST Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana - 1st Class BAR.png Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (5 June 2008) (Estonia)
 * FIN_Order_of_the_White_Rose_Grand_Cross_BAR.svg Grand Cross in the Order of the White Rose of Finland (1996)
 * Legion_Honneur_GC_ribbon.svg Grand Cross in the Legion of Honour (France)
 * GRE_Order_Redeemer_1Class.svg Grand Cross in the Order of the Redeemer (Greece)
 * HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civ) 1class Collar BAR.svg Grand Cross in the Hungarian Order of Merit
 * ISL_Icelandic_Order_of_the_Falcon_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.png Grand Cross in the Order of the Falcon (Iceland) (16 October 1979)
 * Cordone_di_gran_Croce_OMRI_BAR.svg Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (Italy) (29 October 1973)
 * Cavaliere di gran Croce SSML BAR.svg Grand Cross in the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (Italy)
 * Order of the Most Holy Annunciation BAR.svg Knight in the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (Italy)
 * LVA Order of the Three Stars - Commander BAR.png Commander Grand Cross in the Order of the Three Stars (Latvia)
 * Order of Vytautas Commanders Grand Cross Ribbon.jpg Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Vytautas the Great (Lithuania) (16 March 2006)
 * Order_of_the_Golden_Lion_of_Nassau_Ribbon_bar.svg Knight in the Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau (Luxembourg)
 * MCO_Order_of_Saint-Charles_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.svg Grand Cross in the Order of Saint-Charles (Monaco) (13 October 1957)
 * Order_of_the_Netherlands_Lion_ribbon_-_Knight_Grand_Cross.svg Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion
 * NLD Order of Orange-Nassau - Knight Grand Cross BAR.png Knight Grand Cross in the Order of Orange-Nassau (Netherlands)
 * Queen Beatrix Investiture Medal 1980.gif Queen Beatrix Investiture Medal (Netherlands)
 * St_Olavs_Orden_storkors_stripe.svg Grand Cross in the Order of St. Olav (Norway) (1964)
 * St. Olavs Orden stripe.svg St. Olavsmedaljen (Norway)
 * SMOM-gcs.svg Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
 * POL Order Orła Białego BAR.svg Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland
 * PRT_Order_of_Prince_Henry_-_Grand_Collar_BAR.svg Grand Collar in the Order of Prince Henry (Portugal) (13 December 1999)
 * PRT_Military_Order_of_Aviz_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.svg Grand Cross in the Military Order of Aviz (Portugal) (11 December 1985)
 * ROU Order of the Star of Romania 1999 GCross BAR.svg Collar of the Order of the Star of Romania (2009)
 * SVK Rad Bieleho Dvojkriza 1 triedy BAR.svg Grand Cross in the Order of the White Double Cross (Slovakia)
 * Order_of_the_Golden_Fleece_ribbon_bar.svg Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece (Spain) (16 September 1994)
 * Order_of_the_Seraphim_-_Ribbon_bar.svg Knight in the Order of the Seraphim (Sweden)
 * SWE King Carl XVI Gustaf Jubilee Medal III.png King Carl XVI Gustaf Jubilee Medal (Sweden)
 * Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal ribbon.png Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal (UK)
 * UK Royal Victorian Order honorary member ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cross in the Royal Victorian Order (UK)
 * VAT Order of Pope Pius IX GCross BAR.svg Knight Grand Cross with the Collar of the Order of Pope Pius IX (Vatican)

Latin-American distinctions

 * ARG_Order_of_the_Liberator_San_Martin_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.svg Grand Cross in the Order of the Liberator General San Martín (Argentina)
 * COL Order of Boyaca - Grand Cross BAR.svg Extraordinary Grand Cross of the Order of Boyacá (Colombia)
 * Ribbon bar of Orden Nacional de San Lorenzo.png Grand Collar of the National Order of San Lorenzo (Ecuador)
 * MEX_Orden_del_Aguila_Azteca_2011_Collar_BAR.svg Collar in the Order of the Aztec Eagle (Mexico)
 * PER_Order_of_the_Sun_of_Peru_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun of Peru, Special Class
 * VEN_Order_of_the_Liberator_-_Grand_Cordon_BAR.png Grand Cross with Collar in the Order of the Liberator (Venezuela)

African distinctions

 * Ordre_du_Merite_Camerounais_(after_1972)_1_class_ribbon.svg Grand Cross in the Order of Merit (Cameroon)
 * Ribbon_bar_of_the_National_Order_of_the_Leopard_(Zaire).svg Grand Cordon in the National Order of the Leopard (R. Congo)
 * EGY Order of the Republic - Grand Cordon BAR.png Grand Cordon in the Order of the Republic (Egypt)
 * Order of The Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia) ribbon.gif Collar in the Order of the Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia)
 * GAB_Order_of_the_Equatorial_Star_-_Grand_Cross_BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of the Equatorial Star (Gabon)
 * MAR_Order_of_the_Throne_-_Special_Class_BAR.png Grand Cordon of the Order of the Throne (Morocco)
 * Order of Merit - Grand Cross (Senegal) - ribbon bar.png Crand Cross of the Order of Merit (Senegal)
 * Order of the Republic (Tunisia) - ribbon bar.gif Grand Cross in the Order of the Independence (Tunesia)

Asian and Middle-East distinctions

 * 25th_Centennial_Anniversary_Medal_Ribbon_Bar_-_Imperial_Iran.svg 25th Centennial Anniversary Medal Ribbon (Iran)
 * JPN_Daikun'i_kikkasho_BAR.svg Grand Cordon in the Order of the Chrysanthemum (Japan)
 * Grand_Order_of_Mugunghwa_(South_Korea)_-_ribbon_bar.gif Grand Cross in the Grand Order of Mugunghwa (South-Korea)
 * MY Darjah Yang Mulia Pangkuan Negara (Defender of the Realm) - SMN.svg Honorary Grand Commander of the Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm (Malaysia)

Dynastic and religious honours

 * Order of the Most Holy Annunciation BAR.svg Knight in the Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
 * Order of the Golden Fleece ribbon bar.svg Knight in the Order of the Golden Fleece (Austrian Imperial Family)
 * OESSG Cavaliere di Collare BAR.jpg Knight of the Great Cross in the Order of the Holy Sepulchre

Honorary degrees
King Albert II is Doctor Honoris Causa of:
 * the Catholic University of Leuven
 * Saint Louis University, Baguio City
 * Ghent University
 * the Free University of Brussels
 * the Catholic university of Mons
 * the Polytechnic Faculty of Mons.

Eponym

 * Boulevard du Roi Albert II/Koning Albert II-laan, Brussels.
 * Boulevard Prince de Liège /Prins van Luiklaan, Brussels
 * Institute King Albert II, University hospital of Saint-Luc.