For the first time, the former King of the Belgians Albert II appeared surrounded by his four children in public. This Thursday, February 17, 2022, on the occasion of the annual mass given in memory of the deceased members of the royal family of Belgium, a large part of the clan gathered in the Notre-Dame de Laeken church in Brussels. Delphine of Saxe-Coburgthe daughter of the ex-sovereign born out of wedlock and recognized as a princess a little over a year ago, was also present.
On the arm of her husband James O’Hare, Princess Delphine made a remarkable arrival in front of the religious building. Dressed all in black, the 53-year-old artist and ex-candidate of the Flemish version of Dance with the stars thus joined his half-brothers and sister: King Philippe of Belgium and his wife Queen Mathilde, Prince Laurent and his wife Princess Claire, as well as Princess Astrid and her husband Prince Lorenz. All took place alongside the former sovereign couple, Albert II and his wife Paola. The attention was somewhat focused on the ex-king of the Belgians, now 87 years old, who appeared with an astonishing bandage on his face…
Since winning, by legal process, her title of royal highness, Princess Delphine has taken more and more part in royal life. Last July, she took part for the first time in the National Day with her husband, alongside Prince Laurent, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz (see slideshow). This family outing this Thursday marks his first public appearance alongside his father. It comes as a documentary event devoted to Queen Paola will be broadcast on RTBF on Friday February 18.
Reconciliation and forgiveness is the hardest part
In this program called Paola, garden side, the former queen confides with an open heart about her extraordinary journey, that of an Italian aristocrat who became Queen of the Belgians in 1993. With frankness, Paola evokes the ups and downs of her marriage to Albert II, including her own extramarital affair with a French journalist. On the other hand, she refrained from mentioning the (official) arrival in the family of Princess Delphine, contenting herself with recalling her support for her husband in off.
After being on the verge of divorce, the couple finally reunited. He now enjoys a busy family life with children and grandchildren. Also present in the documentary, King Philippe also testifies: “I am proud and really happy to see my parents united. Reconciliation and forgiveness is the most difficult but the greatest.” A clan decidedly more united than ever.