King Albert II & Queen Paola of Belgium

[Lucien]

New Years reception,Royal Palace Brussels this morning.

http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=30-01-2008%20Brussel

Courtesy PPE/Nieboer.

[Lucien]

Brussels/Laeken last wednesday,a mass of remembrance for the deceased members of the Royal Family,especially King Baudouin.

http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=20-02-2008%20Laken

courtesy PPE/Nieboer.

Yesterday morning King Albert II underwent cataract surgery on his right eye at the university hospital Antwerp,all went well and HM is home again.In 2006 he had the same on his left eye.

[Lucien]

King Albert II and Queen Paola will receive Hungarian president Laszlo Sólyom and mrs.Sólyom for a State Visit,april 15th - 17th.

[Lucien]

King Albert II and Queen Paola will receive Hungarian president Laszlo Sólyom and mrs.Sólyom for a State Visit,april 15th - 17th.

Brussels this morning:

http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=15-04-2008%20Brussels

Courtesy PPE/ v/d Werf.

[Norbert]

Thank you Lucien. Can you tell us why the King has not given titles to members of the royal family..Laurent as Prince de Liege  and Alexandre Count of Flanders ?

[Lucien]

King Albert II and Queen Paola will receive Hungarian president Laszlo Sólyom and mrs.Sólyom for a State Visit,april 15th - 17th.

Brussels this morning:

http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=15-04-2008%20Brussels

Courtesy PPE/ v/d Werf.

Royal Palace,Brussels tonight:

http://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=15-04-2008%20Gala

courtesy PPE/ v/d Werf.


Interesting qeustion Norbert.Albert II was a Prince of Liege from his birth.HM could have done so yes,but maybe choose not to as the persons in question didn't warm to the idea and the titles are bestowed upon birth.I suppose the titles will be waiting untill Crown Prince Filip becomes King and bestowes the titles to his sons.

Btw,Prince Filip has his birthday today,and his dear spouse Princess Mathilde is due any moment,if the baby so decides.

[Norbert]

many thanks. Pss Mathilde is so charming.

[Eric VdV]

Thank you Lucien. Can you tell us why the King has not given titles to members of the royal family..Laurent as Prince de Liege  and Alexandre Count of Flanders ?

Apart from the title 'Duke of Brabant', other titles wouldn't be used anymore. Besides, Prince Alexander is not a dynast and wouldn't receive a courtesy title.

Eric VdV

[Lucien]

Thank you Lucien. Can you tell us why the King has not given titles to members of the royal family..Laurent as Prince de Liege  and Alexandre Count of Flanders ?

Apart from the title 'Duke of Brabant', other titles wouldn't be used anymore. Besides, Prince Alexander is not a dynast and wouldn't receive a courtesy title.

Eric VdV

Dank je wel Eric!
 

[Norbert]

It's a shame as the titles are full of such historical romance. Where does the title Rethy come from please?

[Lucien]

It's a shame as the titles are full of such historical romance. Where does the title Rethy come from please?

In 2001 HM decided to cease to bestow any of the titles,Count of Flanders,Count of Hainaut and Prince de Liège.

The Rethie title,besides that it is a village,is something that can better be answerred by Eric I'm sure as he is from Belgium.
Eric,could you please explain why Leopold III choose that title?

[Norbert]

Yes please Eric ;-)

[Eric VdV]

Well, the title 'de Réthy', 'van Retie' was a title members of the royal Family used incognito. The most known case comes to mind when Prince Leopold (future King Leopold III) visited Sweden before his engagement to Princess Astrid of Sweden, he was introduced to friends of Prince Carl & Princess Ingeborg of Sweden (his future parents-in-law) as 'Monsieur Philippe de Réthy', while his mother Queen Elisabeth was 'Madame de Réthy'.

Eric VdV

[Norbert]

 ah,so where does it come from , a royal estate? I know The British Royals would call themselves Count/ess Balmoral when travelling privately.

[Eric VdV]

ah,so where does it come from , a royal estate? I know The British Royals would call themselves Count/ess Balmoral when travelling privately.

At least not an estate. Have no clue where the use comes from.

Eric VdV