Thursday, October 1, 2020

a new princess in Belgium

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Belgian royal reporter Wim Dehandschutter is reporting that the Court of Appeals in Brussels has ruled that Delphine Boel has been awarded the title Princess of Belgium and can be addressed as Her Royal Highness.   Her new surname is Sachsen-Coburg.

It is unlikely that she will receive an official allowance. Since 2014, only the King, former King Albert II and the Duchess of Brabant have received a state allowance although Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent, who received allowances after Albert succeeded to the throne, were able to keep their appanages.

Delphine's lawyer, Marc Uyttendaele, released a statement:  "The court notably asserts that King Albert II is her father and that she will henceforth bear the patronymic name of Saxe-Coburg. Her other demands for her to be treated on the same footing as her brothers and her sister have also been satisfied. She is delighted with this decision which puts an end to a long and painful procedure for her and her family. "A legal victory will never replace the love of a father but it offers a sense of justice."

Her children, 16-year-old Josephine and Oscar, 12, will also have royal titles.  They will retain their birth surname O'Hare.

Delphine is the natural daughter of King Albert II and a former mistress, Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps.

The 52-year-old artist is married to James O'Hare.

In January,  former King Albert II was notified that DNA proved he is Delphine's biological father.

The ruling did not provide for succession rights for Delphine and her descendants, just the titles.




12 comments:

BlueSaphire70 said...

Why is her new surname Sachsen-Coburg and not Saxe-Coburg and Gotha? I thought that was the family name for the Belgian royal family. Or maybe Saxe-Coburg and Saalfeld, since they descend from Leopold I?

MBK said...

Is there not a rule there that royal titles come via legitimate births?

Stephen said...

Too sad, she proclaimed log & loud she only wanted to be recognized as Albert’s daughter. Well she fooled everyone. In a word, the court is wrong to give her the HRH.

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

The 1991 decree refers to all descendants of Albert but the 2015 decree from philippe limits it to the children and grandchildren of the sovereign and children, grandchildren of the heir apparent. It should say of approved marriages but the decrees do not

1971 said...

A surprise to me, the titles. I just hope this is an end to this matter and the ruling is not challenged

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

I expect there will be a new decree that makes it clear regarding who has royal titles (Children of approved marriages)

cabri said...

Art 85 of the Belgium Constitution

Candace Hinchey said...

What royal titles will Delphine's children have? The same as their mother or something lesser?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

HRH Princess Josephine and HRH Prince Oscar of Belgium

John said...

seems fair to me, if the house statutes don't say otherwise about who can be an HRH. Since she is wealthy from her family, and isn't asking for money from the Belgian royals, seems like it's a small concession.

Furkat said...

But how can her children claim titles?

Marlene Eilers Koenig said...

Because of the 1991 decree for King Albert's children and granddchildren