Costs and Finances of the Belgian Royal Family

[sgl]

When you break down the figures, 1 EUR per person is not at all unreasonable. If Belgium did away with the monarchy, people would still complain about the costs of government. It is inevitable, and people always find something to complain about.

Besides, the people who conducted the study would be out of a job if people weren't complaining about something.

[IslandDweller]

I hope it's true that 2 out of 3 Belgians support the monarchy. Other surveys seem less promising. I think the Belgian royals are great!! I hope they're around for a long time. Vive la Reine Elisabeth!!

Is it known if Astrid and Laurent have to pay staff and other expenses related to their duties out of their incomes? If so, then they're really not so well off. Princess Benedikte of Denmark receives a much lesser allowance, and it is expressly given to her to cover the travel and other things necessary to fulfilling her official obligations.

[Marengo]

In the budget for 2011 most members of the royal family will receive less money. The king's budget will stay the same but the dotation for Queen Fabiola, prince Filip, princess Astrid and prince Laurent will decrease with 1.4%. For Fabiola that will mean 20.000 euros less, for Filip 13.000 euros less and for Astrid and Laurent both 4000 euros less. This was already decided in 2009 btw.

source: het gazet van antwerpen

[Marengo]

According to the late king Boudouin started a fund to help his nieces and nephews (the Belgian, Luxembourg and Mora- ones) financially . The children of his half siblings were excluded from the fund. Just efore his death, the king started the Foundation Astrida in March 1992.

Boudewijn richtte fonds op 'om neven en nichten te helpen' - Binnenland - De Morgen

The fund was created to help his nieces and nephews to develop themselves in religious, artistic, scientific and pedalogical matters. Another purpose was for them to get settled in life.

The fund had 1.37 million euros. Most of the fund has been spent on travelling costs though.

[MAfan]

Are the children of his half-siblings specifically excluded, or are they excluded just because they were not born yet (as only Princess Esmeralda has children, born in 1998 and 2001, years after Baudouin's death)?

[Esmerelda]

Mora? Is that Queen Fabiola's side of the family? That was kind of the King. I'd also like to know about the exclusion of his half-siblings' children. I guess one way to find out would be to see if he had other nieces and nephews born after his death and whether they are eligible for funds.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by MAfan

Are the children of his half-siblings specifically excluded, or are they excluded just because they were not born yet (as only Princess Esmeralda has children, born in 1998 and 2001, years after Baudouin's death)?

The article implied that they were excluded due to the old Lilian vs. de rest vendette. But your 2nd explanation seems more likely.

Originally Posted by Esmerelda

Mora? Is that Queen Fabiola's side of the family? That was kind of the King. I'd also like to know about the exclusion of his half-siblings' children. I guess one way to find out would be to see if he had other nieces and nephews born after his death and whether they are eligible for funds.

Yes, it is Queen Fabiola's nieces and nephews. She was/is close to (some of) them.

[tommy100]

Princess Astrid offers to justify her allowance < Belgian news | Expatica Belgium

Apparently Princess Astrid has said she would happily provide more clarity on how she spends her public money.

Princess Astrid told 'Royalty' that she understood demands for checks and transparency. By offering to provide greater clarity the princess hopes to remove distrust about the allowance system.
The Princess Astrid receives some 320,000 euros (273,000 pounds sterling) annually from the public purse. She insists that the money goes to good causes and causes that benefit well-being in Belgium.

[lucien]

Originally Posted by tommy100

Princess Astrid offers to justify her allowance < Belgian news | Expatica Belgium

Apparently Princess Astrid has said she would happily provide more clarity on how she spends her public money.

Princess Astrid told 'Royalty' that she understood demands for checks and transparency. By offering to provide greater clarity the princess hopes to remove distrust about the allowance system.
The Princess Astrid receives some 320,000 euros (273,000 pounds sterling) annually from the public purse. She insists that the money goes to good causes and causes that benefit well-being in Belgium.

It would also be kind if there was to be more clarity in the wages of the THREE goverrnments in a country 3/4 the size of mine...One government for Wallone-,one Flemish and one for Brussels...PLUS a national government...?I mean...is it all for nothing,all volunteerwork by these funny people.?..I don't think so.....Except Di Rupo btw..I haven't really seen one other in the four governements that is worthwhile...Total and utter waste of money...Compared to that the apanages of the Belgian RF is total peanuts...Allthough..I am all for stopping the apanages for Laurent and Astrid,only for Filip & Mathilde and TM,no freeloading by anyone...I think the Dutch RF is exemplary in that and it wouldn't hurt at the neighbours either...Mind you,nothing against Astrid,great woman,nor against Laurent...who I think adds some colour in the couleur locale and is I think a nice man at heart with a wonderfull wife & family!...Still....

[maria-olivia]

Lucien, I agree with you ,your Royals the unfortunate Prince Friso , Prince Constantijn and the 4 Van Vollenhoven are working.

In Belgium I heard that members of RF may not work to protect the RF. Our RF and their staff have middle-age reactions. Princesses Mathilde and Claire were working before their engagement !