Leopold III, the first born of King Albert I, becomes king after the death of his father, in 1934, in a difficult period when the world is in great economic crisis and political tension. On the 10th of May 1940, the German troupes invade the country and the king is obliged to capitulate without putting any conditions. This remains the key point in his reign and corresponds to the period when he is reneged both by the government and the Belgian population. He will thus retire to Laeken castle and will further avoid taking any public political initiative.
In June 1944, the king and his family are transferred to Germany at the order of Hitler. Leopold, his second wife, princess of Rethy and their four children leave Laeken Castle and are escorted by two hundred German soldiers to Hirchstein, over Elba. They
will remain there, surrounded by barbed wire and no possibility to communicate with anybody outside the walls of the castle, until the month of March 1945, when they are transferred to Austria.
On the 12th of March 1950 a popular referendum takes place and Leopold regains his functions. This is however temporary as the king decides to delegate his power to his first born, Baudouin, as a result of a riot in the laborer block in Liege. He also announces his abdication one year later when the prince will be of civil age.
Leopold III was initially married to Princess Astrid of Sweden, an important figure in the history of Belgium. The Princess conquers the hearts of Belgians with her simplicity and naturalness. Her sudden death (in a car accident) leaves behind her image of supreme sovereign. He will have three children with his second wife, Liliane Baels: Alexander, Marie Christine and Marie-Esmeralda.
Baudouin I becomes king on the 16th of July 1951 after his father’s abdication. He is the creator of the federalization of provinces that are entirely separated, but to whom the dynasty had given the motto “unity gives force”. Though he had a happy marriage with Fabiola de Mora y Aragon, the two cannot have children. In 1966, following a chirurgical intervention caused by an extra uterine pregnancy, the queen loses any hope of becoming pregnant again. This drama aroused Fabiola’s interest for children: she writes stories, sponsors villages and receives 500 children at Laeken castle with the occasion of Childhood Year.
After the death of Baudouin, due to a heart attack, in 1993, the throne is taken over by his brother - Albert II. Albert hesitates before accepting the crown of Belgium, as he hates official receptions, among his passions being motorcycles and mechanics. His wife Donna Paola di Calabria wasn’t too thrilled about protocol events either. The prime minister, Jean Luc Dehaene convinced Albert accept the throne thus he becomes the sixth king of Belgium on the 9th of August 1993. He and Paola had three children: Philippe (who will follow him to the throne), Astrid and Laurent.
In 1999 a flaming reporter reveals the existence of an illegitimate daughter Albert had with a baron – Sybille de Selya Longchamps, while his marriage to queen Paola was shaking. Delphine Boel, born in 1968 was known for her artistic talents: she was sculpting cardboard paste.
Philippe, duke of Brabant, prince of Belgium, was born at Belvedere castle on the 15th of April 1960 and is the successor of Albert II to the throne. Even though he had been educated to become a king one day, when his uncle Baudouin died, he was considered insufficiently mature to take over the throne so his father takes the crown. In 1999 he marries Princess Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz, a young Belgian aristocrat. They have three children: Elisabeth, Gabriel and Emmanuel, the last born on October 4 2005.
