Death & Funeral of Prince Alexandre

[Carminha Stalker]

Indeed, what a sad occasion for the whole family. It´s been years that I´ve seen pictures of Maria Esmeralda. King Leopold was very fond of her.
Very emotional the pictures of King Fabiola with Alexandre´s widow.

[Lumutqueen]

Who is Didier Magnant?

[MAfan]

Didier Nagant de Deuxchaisnes is the son-in-law of Princess Lea, the husband of her daughter Laetitia.

[Lumutqueen]

Thank you very much MAfan, is Princess Lea's son married?

[MAfan]

You're welcome!
No, Lea's son Renaud is not married.

About Lea, did she wear a decoration during the funeral? Which decoration was?

[maria-olivia]

Thanks a lot Claypoint 2, is was a misunderstanding.. Kind regards

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by Marengo

... [snipped] Nice to see that prince Alexandre has the funeral mas in the royal cathedral of Leaken and that he will be burried in the royal crypt. The children of princess Lilian were neve r'full' princes of Belgium (no HRH and no succession rights). ... [snipped]

Had King Albert II refused to bury Prince Alexandre with all the solemnities befitting his somewhat royal status, I dare to say that Princess Lea would have torn the Belgian royal family apart in various media outlets. It was wise on King Albert II's part not to provoke any controversy.

[Nathalie Cox]

http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture...v/17007771.jpg

Why are they laughing?

[Hendrik-Jan77]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

Had King Albert II refused to bury Prince Alexandre with all the solemnities befitting his somewhat royal status, I dare to say that Princess Lea would have torn the Belgian royal family apart in various media outlets. It was wise on King Albert II's part not to provoke any controversy.

On what have you based the assumption that dowager princess Léa would "have torn the Royal Family apart" if prince Alexander hadn't received a royal funeral?
Do you know Princess Léa?
You must have reasons to suggest this...

[Al_bina]

I made my assumption based on the following. "In 2008 she published a book of photographs from the life of her husband and his family, called Le Prince Alexandre de Belgique, because she felt that he was too little known in Belgium."
Reference: Wikipedia.com

[claypoint2]

Originally Posted by MAfan

Prince Alexandre of Belgium Funeral - Pictures - Zimbio
Gallery from Zimbio.

MAfan, thanks for the link to these interesting and moving photos. I have not seen them elsewhere.

[claypoint2]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

Thanks a lot Claypoint 2, is was a misunderstanding.. Kind regards

Likewise, Maria-Olivia.

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by Nathalie Cox

http://picture.belga.be/belgapicture...v/17007771.jpg

Why are they laughing?

Thats an interesting question. Prince Laurent is holding his nose so ummm

[Zonk]

Maybe someone was sharing a story of Prince Alexandre during the service that caused them to smile. Its important to note that funerals are both a way to say goodbye to a loved one as well share stories of joyous occasions that the loved one was a part of.

[Nathalie Cox]

Yes, you are right. Then I guess they were listening to some nice story

[asma]

Originally Posted by Nathalie Cox

Yes, you are right. Then I guess they were listening to some nice story

I don't think so and I think it's something bet. prince Laurent and princess Mathilde that made them laughing,at one of the photos of zimbio,you can clearly notice P.Laurent whispering to P.Mathilde and I think this is impolite at such sad event.

[LadyLeana]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

I made my assumption based on the following. "In 2008 she published a book of photographs from the life of her husband and his family, called Le Prince Alexandre de Belgique, because she felt that he was too little known in Belgium."
Reference: Wikipedia.com

Prince Alexandre is little known in Belgium because, just like his siblings, he chose (or maybe was asked, I don't know) to live "under the radar". They were the children of King Leopold III and his widely disliked second wife, and they were never much in the spotlights. So I don't think she meant anything mean or negative when she said her husband was "too little known in Belgium", it is a simple fact that many people will only now have realised "oh yes, the King has half-siblings too..."

[Zonk]

Originally Posted by asma

I don't think so and I think it's something bet. prince Laurent and princess Mathilde that made them laughing,at one of the photos of zimbio,you can clearly notice P.Laurent whispering to P.Mathilde and I think this is impolite at such sad event.

Do you know what conversation was between Laurent and Mathilde? If not, how do you know they were being impolite?

[asma]

Originally Posted by Zonk

Do you know what conversation was between Laurent and Mathilde? If not, how do you know they were being impolite?

I certainly don't know the conversation bet. them but I meant by ''impolite'' the act of sharing laughing during sad event like this one.

[Zonk]

As I said earlier, a funeral is a mixture of events...it can be both bad (because your loved one is no longer among the living) and good (because your loved one is no longer in pain and/or you are sharing joyous stories of said loved ones).

My sister passed away this summer, and I shared a story of the both of us driving her car as teenagers and because her car could no longer go in reverse, we could only drive places where she could do a U turn. The church burst in laughter because that was SO SOMETHING that they could imagine the both of us doing. And I don't consider that being impolite to my sisters memory.

Perhaps whoever was speaking at the Prince's funeral was sharing such a moment with the congregation and that is why Mathilde and Laurent were laughing, smiling, etc. I don't think its wise to jump to conclusions that they were being impolite and/or disrespectful to the late Prince. That's my point.