The King of the Belgians has made it known that he is not happy with his youngest son, Prince Laurent, and the latter's decision to visit the Congo, a former Belgian colony, against his wishes, and the wishes of the Belgian government, reports the Associated Press.
Prince Laurent has only made things worse, however, as his adviser told Humo magazine that the palace is allowing free rein to "destructive forces" and playing "a bizarre role" in disputes concerning the monarch.
A palace official "retorted that the king wouldn't react to 'delusions' that only obscure the fact" that Prince Laurent should never have gone to the Congo in the first place.
Last week, Belgian prime minister Yves Leterme "lashed out" at Laurent, stating that the prince had "disregarded his obligations" by traveling to the Congo "despite the clear objections of the government" and the King. Laurent made matters worse by meeting, albeit briefly, with Congo President Joseph Kabila without "any diplomatic oversight." Leterme also told the prince that he must abide by the government demands or give up his annual appanage of 300,000 Euros.
Prince Laurent said he would refuse to give up his stipend, and he saw nothing wrong with traveling to the Congo to "study deforestation." His adviser, Pierre Legros, told Humo that all of this pointed to "a campaign to destroy the prince."
Legros added: "They are treating him as a kid in an incredible way. He is doomed to stay a 12-year-old for the rest of his life."
http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13299056&page=2
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/us-belgium-prince-idUSTRE73456P20110405
Laurent is a fool by having his adviser speak. He needs to be treated as a 12 year old. Bad advice if you ask me. Its funny how one article claimed the King is a figurehead but its His Majesty, IMO, who is holding the country together.
ReplyDeleteAgree with MAXny. Legros' is a lousy advisor and an even worse spokesperson. The nerve of Laurent! Surely he knows what he's doing; he can't be that stupid. Why is it that some (younger) second sons of a monarch have it rough, trying to find some purpose or role? You don't read troubling reports about Constantijn of NL or Alexander of Denmark. (N.B. I wrote "troubling." People may gossip and nitpick about these royals on the royal boards, but that's all it is. I never take that stuff seriously.) Anyway, interesting take you have, Marlene. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI think you mean Joachim of Denmark - and there were discussions at the time when his first marriage broke up
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