Prince Laurent And Princess Claire, Current Events, Part 2 - Page 5

Hannelore · #81 11-09-2004, 03:48 AM

Claire & Laurent at the shop of Natan in Brussels. Eduard Vermeulen often dresses the Belgian royal family, he's also a personal friend. He was present at the baptism of princess Louise.

Hannelore · #82 11-09-2004, 07:39 AM

Laurent at his holy communion

Hannelore · #83 11-09-2004, 07:45 AM

Laurent as a teenager

Hannelore · #84 11-09-2004, 07:51 AM

Laurent the past years

Hannelore · #85 11-09-2004, 07:54 AM

1. with his mother

2. with queen Rania

3. at the engagement of Filip & Mathilde

pdas1201 · #86 11-09-2004, 09:10 PM

November 9, 2004, JODOIGNE, BELGIUM: Belgium's Prince Laurent signed an agreement for the river Gette and her arms, at the La Ramee abbey.

Hannelore · #87 11-19-2004, 04:04 AM

Before their engagement: Laurent and Claire at the wedding of prince Jean de caraman Chimay and Severine Hoare, at the castle of Chimay.

pdas1201 · #88 11-29-2004, 09:06 PM

Caricature pic of Laurent (sorry, couldn't find one of Claire)

Cathérine Bergeyck · #89 12-01-2004, 01:28 PM

Belgium, Schaerbeek. HRH Prince Laurent of Belgium and his wife Princess Claire seen at the inauguration of a new bus for the Prince Laurent Foundation. The Prince Laurent foundation is dedicated to the welfare of domestic and wild animals.

susan alicia · #90 12-01-2004, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathérine Bergeyck

Belgium, Schaerbeek. HRH Prince Laurent of Belgium and his wife Princess Claire seen at the inauguration of a new bus for the Prince Laurent Foundation. The Prince Laurent foundation is dedicated to the welfare of domestic and wild animals.

I love that about him, his attention to the little creatures of the world. He is one of the few as far as I know, of the royals in the world who give their attention to animal sactuaries.

in monaco there is an aunt of caroline(?) who protects stray dogs and cats too. she started a project with feedingpoints I think. (ludicrous that in a small rich country as monaco they cannot manage it humanely, must be because most of the wealthy people there are tax evaders and obsessed with all things material)

susan alicia · #91 12-01-2004, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by susanstotz

I love that about him, his attention to the little creatures of the world. He is one of the few as far as I know, of the royals in the world who give their attention to animal sactuaries.

in monaco there is an aunt of caroline(?) who protects stray dogs and cats too. she started a project with feedingpoints I think. (ludicrous that in a small rich country as monaco they cannot manage it humanely, must be because most of the wealthy people there are tax evaders and obsessed with all things material)

Claire looks beautifull, slender and elegant

Hannelore · #92 12-03-2004, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cathérine Bergeyck

Belgium, Schaerbeek. HRH Prince Laurent of Belgium and his wife Princess Claire seen at the inauguration of a new bus for the Prince Laurent Foundation. The Prince Laurent foundation is dedicated to the welfare of domestic and wild animals.

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Cathérine Bergeyck · #93 12-11-2004, 11:27 AM

http://www.monarchie.be/images/members/laurent_cv1.jpg

Prince Laurent was born on 19 October 1963 and is the youngest son of King Albert II and Queen Paola.

After his secondary studies, which was spent partly at the Pius X College in Antwerp, in the Dutch language, and partly at the Royal Cadet School in Laeken (Brussels) in the French language, he joined to the Royal Military Academy where he was educated as an officer of the Armed Forces. On completion of his academic education, he joined the Belgian Navy, as his father did before him. He embarked as a Naval Trainee on board of frigates and Mine Hunters.

The Prince was promoted to the rank of Sub-Lieutenant in September 1985 and was sworn in as an officer on 30 October of the same year. Like all Deck Officers in the Belgian Navy, he had to specialise in a specific area of Warfare. Prince Laurent chose to become a diver and a helicopter pilot.

On July 20th 1989, Prince Albert, Prince of Liège, who was at that time Rear-Admiral, awarded his son the diver's insignia during a Naval parade held in the Town Hall square (Burg) in Bruges. In September 1989, Prince Laurent was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant. A few months later, on completion of his Pilot Training, his uncle, the late King Baudouin, handed him with his helicopter pilot wings.
Prince Laurent was promoted to Commander on 15 November 1994.

On completion of his military training, the Prince went to the United States for practical training in various branches of private industries as pharmaceuticals, aerospace and leisure, and at the International Monetary Fund, at the World Bank and at the United Nations, in development and environment programmes.

Back in Belgium, he spent several months as a trainee at the European Commission, where he was active in a Think Tank about the quality of life and the environment. Therefore he was awarded with the Emile Noël Prize for his original contribution to the building of Europe.

In 1994, Prince Laurent became the Chairman of an Institute which seeks to promote the conservation of nature and the development of clean technologies, taking into account economic and social factors. This Institute, known as "Institut Royal pour la gestion durable des ressources naturelles et la promotion des technologies propres" (IRGT), supports and publicizes the policies of the regional governments for nature conservation and promotion of clean technologies.

Prince Laurent is also the Chairman of the Foundation, named after him, for the wellbeing of domestic and wild animals. This Foundation was founded in 1995, and aims to improve relations between men and animals.

At European level, he is the Chairman of the European Research Group for Alternative Toxicity Testing (ERGATT).

In accordance with the Constitution, Prince Laurent is a Senator, and took the Constitutional Oath on 31 May 2000.

The Prince is also honorary president of the Belgian National Orchestra.

http://www.monarchie.be/images/members/laurent_cv2.jpg

The wedding of Prince Laurent and Miss Claire Coombs took place in Brussels on April 12th 2003.

Miss Claire COOMBS was raised to Princess of Belgium, on the day of Her marriage, by Royal Decree of April 1st 2003.

Wedding of Prince Laurent and Miss Claire Coombs

The couple have a daughter, Princess Louise, born on 6 February 2004.

Birth of Princess Louise of Belgium

Prince Laurent was promoted to the rank of Captain of the Belgian Navy on June 26th 2004.

Cathérine Bergeyck · #94 12-11-2004, 11:28 AM

http://www.monarchie.be/images/members/claire_cv1.jpg

Princess Claire was born in Bath, Somerset (England) on 18 January 1974. When she was three years old, her family moved to Belgium, settling in Wavre. She attended primary and secondary school at the Institut de la Providence in Wavre. She was interested in drawing, painting, music and horse-riding. She was an active member of a youth movement (the Guides), and sang in the local choir, with whom she played an active part in the Pope's visit to Brussels.

Princess Claire frequently travels to England to visit her grand-parents on her father's side and friends. Her grandmother on her mother's side of the family lives in Chaumont-Gistoux.

Having completed her humanities, she studied as a surveyor. She completed her training with a period of work experience at "Brone & Oldenhove" in Wavre and qualified as a chartered surveyor in 1999. "Brone & Oldenhove" then offered her the possibility of becoming a partner.

Miss Coombs has dual nationality, Belgian and British, and trained at the Antwerp office of a chartered surveyors' firm.

Joanna, Princess Claire's elder sister, was born in Bath in 1972. She attended classical ballet classes at the Ecole des Petits-Rats in Brussels under Jacques Saussin, while completing her secondary education. At present, she is working as a "Management Assistant" at the Embassy of the United Kingdom in Brussels. Joanna is married to Steve Grant. They have a daughter called Emma. Steve is a lecturer at the United Kingdom Representation at the European Union.

http://www.monarchie.be/images/members/claire_cv2.jpg

Matthew, the younger brother of the Claire, was born in 1976, also in England. He attended primary and secondary school at the Institut de la Providence in Wavre. Having completed his secondary education, he obtained a diploma in marketing. He is now working in the family business in Perwez. He devotes his free time to enduro racing (trail-bike racing). He has already had occasion to distinguish himself as a motorcycle rider both in Belgium and at international events throughout Europe.

Princess Claire's parents married in Uccle in 1971.

Her mother, Nicole Mertens, was born in Ixelles in 1951. She studied in Belgium and in England, where she completed her training as a secretary in 1970. She is a partner in the family business. She is active in parish life and does charity work with the elderly.

Her father, Nicholas Coombs, was born in Wimbledon in 1938. She studied at St. George's College in South London. At the age of eighteen, he set off for Canada where he worked for the Bell Telephone Company. At the same time, he started studying rubber and electricity. Five years later, on returning to the United Kingdom, he worked for the Lindustries Group of Companies, and became the manager of one of their subsidiaries. At present, he is the manager of the family firm.

The marriage of Prince Laurent and Miss Claire Coombs took place on 12 April 2003 in Brussels.

Miss Claire Coombs was raised to Princess of Belgium, on the day of her marriage, by Royal Decree of April 1st 2003.

Wedding of Prince Laurent and Princess Miss Claire Coombs

The couple have a daughter, Princess Louise, born on 6 February 2004.

Birth of Princess Louise of Belgium

Cathérine Bergeyck · #95 12-17-2004, 03:20 AM

Laurent & Claire at the christmas concert, 16th December 2004

Hannelore · #96 12-22-2004, 10:08 AM

On December 18th, 2004, Paola, Astrid, Mathilde and Claire were present at the family info day of the Belgian military. It was a family day for the wives and children of Belgian soldiers who are on mission in the Balkans and in Afghanistan.

Hannelore · #97 12-22-2004, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hannelore

On December 18th, 2004, Paola, Astrid, Mathilde and Claire were present at the family info day of the Belgian military. It was a family day for the wives and children of Belgian soldiers who are on mission in the Balkans and in Afghanistan.

More photos.......