"Belgian Royal Question" - the Abdication Crisis of King Leopold III of the Belgians

[Ennyllorac]

"Belgian Royal Question" - the Abdication Crisis of King Leopold III of the Belgians

by Marengo

The crisis known as the "Belgian Royal Question" shook the foundations of the Belgian monarchy after World War II and would split the country in two. Some even feared that a civil war would result. The core of the crisis was the conduct of Leopold III during World War II: was he a collaborator or not? And then there was his secret marriage to Lilian Baels, which did not sit well with the image of a grieving widower locked up in his castle and sharing the same fate as his troops. Walloons, Flemish, Catholics, Liberals, Socialists, and even Belgium's French and British allies all had different opinions about Leopold's conduct.

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[Elspeth]

Here are a couple of relevant threads in the Belgian forum. Princess Lilian died only a few years ago, even though the topic of the article is historical.

King Leopold III of The Belgians (1901-1983)

Tribute - Princess De Rethy

[Pablo Díez]

Dear Marengo:

Congratulations for your article, it's excellent!! My personal opinion is that:
Leopold's III attitude during II Wordl War was correct and he made the
things that he must made, because his obligation was stay at Belgium with
belgians during war, resisting against german enemy and invasor.

I loves Belgium and I will paid attention to the topics linked with Belgiun
Royal Family.

Congratuliations from Spain!

Pablo Díez

[Marengo]

Thank you Pablo, and welcome to The Royal Forums. The Belgian royals are very interesting indeed, though sadly they are rather invisible on the english language boards around.

I don't agree that Leopold did the right thing though, as a constitutional monarch he should have listened to the government. But he was no traitor indeed (quite the opposite). He has been villified etc. but his response to everything was rather stupid IMO. His arrogance and stubbornness in the end costed him the throne.