King Albert & Queen Paola : Current Events Part 1

[martha-louise]

The royal family is very touched by the shooting, every person is, I think. But of course the king has to be carefull when he is protesting against the racism, that feeded this action, because then he does a political proclamtion against the extreme-right party: Vlaams Belang.

[purple_platinum]

20060517, BRUSSELS, BELGIUM
King Albert II and Queen Paola (R) pictured in Laken/Laeken castle during a ceremony for the Queen Paola Prize for teatching, Wednesday 17 May 2006.

from BELGA PHOTO / HERWIG VERGULT

[purple_platinum]

more from Belgapic :

[Emily]

What lovely photos, Jess. The queen looks especially nice in that pale yellow color.

[fanletizia]

King Albert II of Belgium wears an electronic hearing device during his visit to the harbour of Brussels, 18 May 2006, on the occasion of the Harbour's Feast and to mark the anniversary of the BRYC ( Brussels Royal Yacht Club )

from getty

[Emily]

You can also see the small tube going into his inner ear in two of the photos from QP giving her awards out. I wonder how long he has had this? He is in his 70's isn't he?

[purple_platinum]

I read about King Albert wearing a hearing aid as well.
I think this is the first time he wore it in public, since Belga made the headline (or rather just photo caption) on it today. but i might be wrong.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Originally Posted by martha-louise

The royal family is very touched by the shooting, every person is, I think. But of course the king has to be carefull when he is protesting against the racism, that feeded this action, because then he does a political proclamtion against the extreme-right party: Vlaams Belang.

I think he can't protest loud enough!

Originally Posted by Emily

You can also see the small tube going into his inner ear in two of the photos from QP giving her awards out. I wonder how long he has had this? He is in his 70's isn't he?

Albert's 72. He's been wearing a small hearing aid at each ear since a couple of weeks.

[johann]

Originally Posted by Cathérine Bergeyck

I think he can't protest loud enough!

So true – but sadly enough there seems to be only little scope left for King Albert. And we only have to commemorate, what happened when Philippe spoke out against Vlaams Belang. When it comes to nationalism or even worse to racism it´s not enough to operate behind closed doors. I hope all this debates about reducing the King´s constitutional role will lead to nothing. It´s a pity (to say it in moderate way), that the Head of a democratic state can´t interfere stronger when things like this happen…

[purple_platinum]

20060523 - MARCINELLE, BELGIUM
Belgium's King Albert II and Queen Paola pictured during a visit to the new tourist infrastructures and memorial of the Bois du Cazier coal mine, Tuesday 23 May 2006 in Marcinelle, near Charleroi. Some 262 miners died on 08 August 1956 during a fire in the Bois du Cazier mine.



20060523 - MARCINELLE, BELGIUM
Belgian King Albert II and Queen Paola (C) paid a visit to " Bois du Cazier " site in Marcinelle, with Charleroi Jean-Claude Van Cauwenberghe (2nd R) and Jacques Van Gompel (R) Wednesday 23 May 2006, for the opening of the second phase of the renovation works of former coal mine wich hosted 8 August 1956 disaster when 262 men of 12 differents nationalities dyed in a fire.

from BELGA PHOTO / BRUNO ARNOLD

[purple_platinum]

more from belgapic

20060523 - MARCINELLE, BELGIUM
Belgium's King Albert II and Queen Paola pictured during a visit to the new tourist infrastructures and memorial of the Bois du Cazier coal mine, Tuesday 23 May 2006 in Marcinelle, near Charleroi.

[Jo of Palatine]

King Albert ist already 72? Hm, somehow it's a pity that it took so long for the duke of Brabant to find a wife he can love. Even if the king is enjoying continous good health (which I hope) for the next 10 years, the duke's kids will still not be of any help to him and Mathilde for the first years when he becomes king.

[martha-louise]

It's just because we got used to see many active royals. But in the early years when King Baudouin was reigning, he had just prince Albert to do other duties. From 1950 till 1980-1990, the king and his brother were the only royals with public activity.So don't worry about that...

[sara1981]

Originally Posted by fanletizia

King Albert II of Belgium wears an electronic hearing device during his visit to the harbour of Brussels, 18 May 2006, on the occasion of the Harbour's Feast and to mark the anniversary of the BRYC ( Brussels Royal Yacht Club )

from getty

many old people always using hearing aids device because can hear than nothing.

my grandmother's husband using tube for his both ears not same hearing aids device

[martha-louise]

I read that the Flemish television (and perhaps the Walloon also) will broadcast a portrait of Queen Paola. I think it will be a reliable documentary, the persons who worked on it are known to be serious. It's told that the Queen herself asked to make this portrait, because there exist a lot of images of her, but the people don't know her speeking. So in the portrait she will talk. But not in the format of an interview, couse souvereigns don't do that, but she will talk to 3 friends of her (french, dutch, and I guess Italian with a youthfriend) . Well I'm very excited....

It will be broadcasted at 6th June at 'één'

[Hannelore]

VRT BRINGS HONEST PORTRAIT OF QUEEN PAOLA

On June 6th tv channel Eén broadcasts "the voice of the queen", a unique portrait of queen Paola. The documentary has been made in secrecy. "People don't know my voice", the queen regrets. She wants to do "something" about it with this documentary.

The documentary made by Jan Becaus,Jean-Pierre Coppens and Tony Verbruggen is a well kept secret. The recordings already took place on October 7 and 8, 2005 in Italy, the queen's native country.

"During research it appeared that there's a flood of images of Paola Ruffo di Calabria, but very few sound material", says VRT journalist Jan Becaus. "An interview with a member of the royal family was out of the question. That's why we went looking for a format that allows Paola to speak as much as possible. The queen chose 3 lady friends with whom she discusses various topics that intrest her."

She talks to countess Marina Emo, a childhood friend. Marianna Freddi is the friend that witnessed the meeting of Albert and Paola. A third friend is Mirjam Van Beusekom, a Dutch woman the queen met when she triend to improve her Dutch during a language course in Spa.

14 hours have been shot in total. From this a 50 minute documentary has been distilled.

Jan Becaus describes the portrait as "a self-portrait with own words". Paola talks a.o. about her not so happy childhood, her helplesness when she suddenly became queen, her marriage problems and the relation with her children and grandchildren.

(LB)

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

King Albert II and Queen Paola at the opening ceremony of the National Special Olympics for mentally disabled athletes, Wednesday 24 May 2006 at the Antwerp Sportpaleis.

belga