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'''Albert II''', (born 6 June 1934) is the [[List of Belgian monarchs|King]] of the [[Belgium|Belgians]], a [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarch]]. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named [[House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]]. He is the uncle of the current reigning [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke]] of Luxembourg, [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Henri]].
'''Albert II''', (born 6 June 1934) is the [[List of Belgian monarchs|King]] of the [[Belgium|Belgians]], a [[constitutional monarchy|constitutional monarch]]. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named [[House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]]. He is the uncle of the current reigning [[Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Grand Duke]] of Luxembourg, [[Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg|Henri]].


On 3 July 2013, King Albert II attended a midday session of the [[Cabinet of Belgium|Belgian cabinet]]. He then announced that on 21 July, he would abdicate the throne for health reasons.
On 3 July 2013, King Albert II attended a midday session of the [[Cabinet of Belgium|Belgian cabinet]]<nowiki>. He then announced that on 21 July, he would abdicate the throne for health reasons. He will be succeeded by his son, [[Prince Phillipe of Belgium]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23167525 Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication]</ref></nowiki>


==Full name==
==Full name==

Revision as of 16:27, 3 July 2013

Albert II
King of the Belgians
Reign9 August 1993 – present
PredecessorBaudouin
Heir apparentPhilippe, Duke of Brabant
Prime Ministers
See list
Born (1934-06-06) 6 June 1934 (age 90)
Stuyvenberg Castle, Belgium
SpouseQueen Paola (1959–present)
Issue
Detail		Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant
Princess Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este
Prince Laurent
Names
French: Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie
Dutch: Albert Felix Humbert Theodoor Christiaan Eugène Marie
German: Albert Felix Humbert Theodor Christian Eugen Maria
HouseHouse of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
FatherLeopold III of Belgium
MotherAstrid of Sweden
ReligionRoman Catholicism
SignatureAlbert II's signature

Albert II, (born 6 June 1934) is the King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. He is the uncle of the current reigning Grand Duke of Luxembourg, Henri.

On 3 July 2013, King Albert II attended a midday session of the Belgian cabinet. He then announced that on 21 July, he would abdicate the throne for health reasons. He will be succeeded by his son, [[Prince Phillipe of Belgium]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23167525 Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication]</ref>

Full name

Albert's full name is Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie in French (pronounced [albɛʁ feliks œ̃bɛʁ teodɔʁ kʁistjɑ̃ øʒɛn maʁi]), Albert Felix Humbert Theodoor Christiaan Eugène Marie in Dutch (pronounced [ˈʔɑlbəɾt ˈfelɪks ˈɦʏmbəɾt teːjoˈdoːɾ kɾɪsˈti̯aːn ʔøːˈʒɛːn maˈɾiː]), and Albert Felix Humbert Theodor Christian Eugen Maria in German (pronounced [ˈʔalbɛʁt ˈfeːlɪks ˈhʊmbɛʁt ˈteːodoːɐ̯ ˈkʁɪsti̯an ˈʔɔʏɡən maˈʁiːa]).[1]

Early years

Albert is the second son of King Leopold III (1901–1983) and his first wife, Astrid of Sweden (1905–1935). He ascended to the throne in 1993, following the death of his older brother, King Baudouin, who died without issue. His godparents were Prince Felix of Luxembourg and his paternal grandmother, Queen Elisabeth of Belgium.[1] He is the first cousin of King Harald V of Norway, Princess Astrid of Norway, and Princess Ragnhild of Norway.

King Albert II with Queen Paola, George W. Bush and other royals and Heads of state, at the funeral of Pope John Paul II.

Prince Albert was born in Stuyvenberg Castle, Brussels. 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 Chateau of Ciergnon in the Ardennes. In June 1944, at the time of the Allied landings, King Leopold III, Princess Lilian – whom he married in 1941 – and the royal children were deported by the Germans to Hirschstein, Germany, and later to Strobl, Austria, where they were liberated by the American Army on 7 May 1945. Due 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.[1]

Marriage and family

In 1958, Prince Albert of Liege went to the Vatican to witness the coronation of Pope John XXIII. At a reception at the Belgian embassy, the prince met Italian Princess Paola Ruffo di Calabria. “We were both shy, so we only talked a little,” Paola said later about their first meeting. Shy but smitten, Prince Albert proposed marriage to Paola, and she accepted. Two months after their meeting, the Prince introduced his future wife to his family, and four months later to the press. Upon arriving in Brussels for the first time before her wedding, Princess Paola won over the Belgian media immediately.

They wanted a marriage at the Vatican at first, a setting promoted by both families, but the Belgian government did not approve of that. They did not want to keep a fairy tale wedding from the people of Belgium, who finally had an opportunity for organizing celebrations for their royal family. The Pope, after some diplomatic pressure, refused them a marriage at the Vatican, saying he would understand if the couple would want to get married amidst their people.

King Albert II and Queen Paola with US President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush at the Royal Palace in Brussels in 2005.

On 2 July 1959 he married Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria (born 11 September 1937) in Brussels. She is the daughter of Fulco VIII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria, 6th Duke of Guardia Lombarda and his wife, Countess Luisa Gazelli di Rossana e di Sebastiano (1896–1989). Together they have three children, two sons and a daughter:

Since 1999, the media have claimed that the Belgian sculptor Delphine Boël (born in 1968) is King Albert II's extramarital daughter. In June 2013, Boël summoned the King, the Duke of Brabant and the Archduchess of Austria-Este to appear in court. She hopes to use DNA tests to prove that she is the King's daughter. As the King enjoys complete immunity under the law, Boël decided to summon his elder children as well.[2][3]

Official role

File:Queen Paola, king Albert II,Yves Leterme, John Dalli, Paweł Rogaliński.jpg
From the left: Queen Paola, King Albert II, Yves Leterme, John Dalli and Paweł Rogaliński (sits in the next row behind Dalli) at the Ninth Round Table on Poverty in 2010.

As the younger brother of King Baudouin, Prince Albert was the heir-presumptive to the throne. However his son Prince Philippe was groomed to be Baudoin's successor, once it became clear that the King would have no children to succeed him. However, on Baudouin's death (at age 62), Albert was sworn in before parliament on 9 August 1993 as the sixth King of the Belgians.[4]

As King, Albert's duties include 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.[5]

In 1984, he set up the Prince Albert Foundation, to promote expertise in foreign trade.[6]

The King has 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.[7]

In January 2012, Albert announced that the royal family would freeze their allowances and use a greater proportion of their income to maintain the royal palaces.

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.[8] 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."[8]

Ancestry

See also: Kings of Belgium family tree
Family of Albert II of Belgium
16. Leopold I of Belgium
8. Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders
17. Princess Louise-Marie of Orléans
4. Albert I of Belgium
18. Charles Anthony, Prince of Hohenzollern
9. Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
19. Princess Josephine of Baden
2. Leopold III of Belgium
20. Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria
10. Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria
21. Princess Ludovika of Bavaria
5. Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria
22. Miguel of Portugal
11. Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal
23. Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg
1. Albert II of Belgium
24. Oscar I of Sweden
12. Oscar II of Sweden
25. Duchess Josephine of Leuchtenberg
6. Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland
26. William, Duke of Nassau
13. Princess Sophia of Nassau
27. Princess Pauline of Württemberg
3. Princess Astrid of Sweden
28. Christian IX of Denmark
14. Frederick VIII of Denmark
29. Princess Louise of Hesse-Kassel
7. Princess Ingeborg of Denmark
30. Charles XV of Sweden
15. Princess Louise of Sweden
31. Princess Louise of the Netherlands

Patrilineal descent

Titles & styles

Styles of
King Albert II of Belgium
Reference styleHis Majesty
Spoken styleYour Majesty
Alternative styleSire

Titles and styles

  • 6 June 1934 – 7 June 1934: His Royal Highness Prince Albert of Belgium
  • 7 June 1934 – 9 August 1993: His Royal Highness The Prince of Liège
  • 9 August 1993 – present: His Majesty The King of the Belgians


Honours

Personal Standard of King Albert II.

See also : List of honours of the Belgian Royal Family by country

Belgian honours

Foreign honours

See also : List of state visits made by King Albert II of Belgium

Recipient of numerous foreign decorations, Albert II is one of the few European leaders to be both a Knight of the Golden Fleece in Austria (awarded in 1962 by Archduke Otto von Habsburg) and Knight of the Golden Fleece in Spain (awarded in 1994 by King Juan Carlos).

The list of his honorifical decorations (to be expanded) consists of :

   State honours
 Austria Great Star of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1958)[9]
 Bulgaria Cordon of the Order of Stara Planina (2003) Photo
Commonwealth Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) Photo
 Denmark Grand Cross of the Order of the Dannebrog
Knight of the Order of the Elephant (R. af E.) Photo
 Estonia Collar of the Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana (2008) Ph.1, Ph.2
 Finland Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose (2004) Photo
 Germany Grand Cross, Special Class, of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic Photo
 Greece Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer (before 2001 ?) Photo[10]
 Hungary Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Civilian Class Photo
 Holy See Knight of the Collar of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (1995) website
 Iceland Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Falcon (16 October 1979) Website [11]
 Italy Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic Website
 Japan Collar of the Order of the Chrysanthemum Ph. 1, Ph. 2
 Latvia Commander Grand Cross with Chain of the Order of Three Stars (2007) recipents list (.doc)
 Lithuania Golden Collar of the Order of Vytautas the Great News, Photo
 Luxembourg Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau Photo
 Monaco Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Charles (1957)[12] Photo
 Morocco Special Class of the Order of the Mohammedi
 Netherlands Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion Photo
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau
 Norway Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of St. Olav Photo
 Poland Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle Photo
 Portugal Grand Cordon of the Military Order of Aviz (GCA, 1985) Orders website
Grand Collar of the Order of the Infante Dom Henrique (GColIH, 1999) Photo
 Romania Sash (Collar) of the Order of the Star of Romania (2009) Recipients table
 Spain Sash (Collar) of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1994) Photo
Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
 Sweden Knight with Collar of the Order of the Seraphim (RSerafO) Photo
   Sovereign Entities
Malta Bailiff and Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion
of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
   Former sovereign families
Austrian Empire Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (House of Habsburg)
K. of France Knight of the Order of Saint Michael - (House of Bourbon)
 House of Savoy Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation
 House of Savoy Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus

Honorary degrees

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

Belgian coinage

File:2003 Belgium 100 Euro 100 years Franc Germinal back.JPG
Commemorative 100 euro gold coin featuring King Albert II

In Belgium, it is common that the effigy of the ruling King is minted in the coins for circulation. As a general rule, this does not happen for the commemorative and collectors' coins. However, some very high value coins have been minted with the effigy of King Albert on one side, such as the commemorative 100 euro gold coin minted in 2003.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "King Albert II". http://www.monarchie.be. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 2010-04-28. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Stroobants, Jean-Pierre (17 June 2013). "En Belgique, la fille adultérine d'Albert II exige une reconnaissance officielle". Le Monde. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  3. ^ Bacchi, Umberto (18 June 2013). "Belgium: King Albert's 'Disowned Natural Daughter' Delphine Boel Seeks Recognition in Court". International Business Times. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  4. ^ http://www.monarchie.be/royal-family/king-albert-ii
  5. ^ http://www.monarchie.be/monarchy-today
  6. ^ http://www.monarchie.be/monarchy-today/royal-initiatives/prince-albert-fund
  7. ^ "Belgium swears in new government headed by Elio Di Rupo". BBC News. 6 December 2011.
  8. ^ a b "Belgium King Albert II Christmas speech sparks controversy". BBC News Online. 27 December 2012. Retrieved 2 January 2013.
  9. ^ "Reply to a parliamentary question" (pdf) (in German). p. 53. Retrieved 4 October 2012. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |trans_title= (help)
  10. ^ Belga Pictures, Photo of King Albert II wearing the Order's rosette at Melsbroek Airport before taking off to Greece
  11. ^ Albert, ríkisarfi - Belgía - 1979-10-16 - Stórkross (= Albert, Heir, Belgium, 16th October 1979, Grand Cross
  12. ^ Royauté-News, received - as Prince Albert of Liège - in 1957 during an inauguration of a monument in memory of King Albert I of the Belgians in Monaco
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Albert II of Belgium.
Albert II of Belgium
Cadet branch of the House of Wettin
Born: 6 June 1934
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of the Belgians
1993–present 		Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Philippe, Duke of Brabant
Lines of succession
Preceded by Line of succession to the throne of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
21st position 		Succeeded by
Academic offices
Preceded by Speaker at the College of Europe Opening Ceremony
1969 		Succeeded by

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