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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Astrid ensures the succession

By Special cable to the New York Times.

Crown Princess Astrid of the Belgians gave birth to a son today. Cannons "boomed 101 joyous salvos to announce the happ event." The birth took place at 5 p.m., today at Stuyvenberg Chateau, outside Brussels.
There has been an "expectancy in the air for several days." and evening newspapers were delayed "for the good news that was believed certain to come today."
The beautiful Princess Astrid is very popular in Belgium, and the birth of a son and heir in Belgium's centenary year, is seen as an "omen of good luck."
The new little prince weighs nearly nine pounds. He has been given the names Baudouin Albert Axek Marie Gustave.
Crown Prince Leopold this morning "hastily canceled his scheduled appearance" in Dixmude, where he was to have unveiled a new statue.
News of the birth was "immediately telephoned" to Leopold's sister, Crown Princess Marie José of Italy, who is expecting her first child in January.

Crown Princess Astrid is the daughter of Prince Carl of Sweden, the younger brother of King Gustav V. Her first child, Princess Josephine Charlotte, was born in 1927, but due to Belgium's salic law, women cannot succeed to the throne.

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