Princess Esmeralda of Belgium

[altagrace]

Definitely looks like her mother, a little more serene.

[indian princess]

in my opinion she resembes her mother to quite an extent.

[indian princess]

Originally Posted by Cathérine Bergeyck

Little Esmeralda with her half brother, Baudouin

paris match

u sure thats esmeralda, i thought she was a brunnete.

[indian princess]

Originally Posted by irishchic5

In this picture, Marie-Christine looks just like Astrid's eldest daughter Maria-Laura, doesn't she?

yes ,the resembance is uncanny

[Fie]

Of all the children of the second marriage of King Leopold III I like Esmeralda the most. Don't know why, but from all the interviews I have seen she seems to me like a very down to earth woman, who chose her own path in live without breaking any ties with her family.

Do we know anything about the godparents of her children?

[Marengo]

I agree with you Fie and for exactly the same reasons. And she did not go to the press to start about her half siblings, as I am suire she has been asked to do several times (unlike MC).

Anyway, I couldn't find the godparents of her children but just her own godparents:

King Albert II of Belgium
Princess Marie-Adelaide of Luxembourg

[Fie]

That seems to be right. According to my sources all three children of Leopold and his first wife Astrid were godparent to one of their halfsiblings.

Joséphine-Charlotte was godmother to Alexander (or Alexandre), Baudouin was godfather to Marie-Christine (the rebel) and Albert was godfather to Marie-Esmeralda (or Esmeralda for short).

Traditionally in Belgian Roman Catholic families with a first child it's the father of the father that is godfather together with the mother of the mother. Second one is father of the mother together with the mother of the father.

As Princess Lilian was not a godparent to either of her stepchildren's children I would presume that Lilian was asked to be a godmother to either of her daughter's children, most likely would be Alexandra, as she's her maternal grandmother. Then it's quite possible that Esmeralda's brother Alexander (or Alexandre) is godfather to Leopoldo, because it's quite common that if the grandfather has died, one of his sons is chosen to take over.

But it seems clear that nothing was made public at the time, and looking at the fact that Esmeralda is quite private, it might be a piece of information we will never know...

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Is it true that Baudouin tried to maintain ties with his half-sister Marie Christine for years by offering her financial assistance before finally throwing in the towel?

I think Esmeralda was always called "Esme" within the family, and MC was called "Daphne" from what I have read.

[alterego]

Originally Posted by Fie

As Princess Lilian was not a godparent to either of her stepchildren's children I would presume that Lilian was asked to be a godmother to either of her daughter's children, most likely would be Alexandra, as she's her maternal grandmother.

I thought Princess Lilian should be at least one of the godmothers of Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria nee Luxembourg, the first child of HRH Josephine-Charlotte, as her full name is Marie-Astrid Liliane Charlotte Léopoldine Wilhelmine Ingeborg Antoinette Elisabeth Anna Alberta.

[altagrace]

Does anyone have pictures of Esmeralda's wedding?

[HMTLove23]

according to netty royalty page Princess esmeralda's first husband Paul druker died april 1st 2008

[Elspeth]

Wasn't Paul Druker Princess Marie-Christine's husband?

[HMTLove23]

whoops!!!!!!!!! I found the right thread. sorry for the mix up.

[Marengo]

Princess Esmeralda has been interviewed by the Walonian version of Paris Match. The photo has been heavily photoshopped.

Look here for the cover.

Courtesy: Catherine at the BRMB.