Princess Esmeralda of Belgium

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Princess Marie Esmeralda of Belgium (° 1956) is the youngest daughter of king Leopold III (1901-1983) and princess Lilian, née Lilian Baels, Leopold's second wife (1916-2002).

When she was born, Leopold had already abdicated and left the throne to his eldest son Baudouin. Therefor he had more time for his youngest children, and Esmeralda, his last child, was a bit his favorite.

Leopold's second family lived at the castle of Argenteuil, where Esmeralda grew up, together with her sister Marie Christine and brother Alexander. In 2002, after her mother's death, this castle was returned to the state, to whom it originally belonged.

Esmeralda studied to be a journalist, and lived for 15 years in Paris, where she also worked a while for the famous French newspaper Le Figaro.

In 1998, she got married to the Honduran born professor Salvador Moncada (° 1944). They have two children: Alexandra Leopoldine Moncada (° 1998), and Leopoldo Daniel Moncada (°2001).

The family lives in London, where Esmeralda leads a very discreet life, very few people know that she's actually a princess of Belgium.

Esmeralda stopped working when she had children, but said she hopes to be able to go to work again when they're a bit older.

In 2002, she wrote a wonderful book about her father, with lots and lots of family pictures in it.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Baby Esmeralda with her mother, Lilian Baels.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

With her mother and her sister, Marie Christine.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

mother and daughter

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

With her mother, princess Lilian

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Esme (as she was called at home) hald by her stepbrother king Baudouin and her mother.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Esmeralda was named after her father's favorite place in Venezuela (after his abdication, he travelled a lot).

Here she's dancing with her father.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Queen Paola, king Albert II, princess Esmeralda, prince Alexandre and his wife, Lea Wolman.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

After Lilian's death in 2002, her 3 children decided to sell a large part of her clothing (she had masses of haute couture dresses), jewelry, silver, furniture etc.

Everything was (and is) auctioned by Sotheby's.

Esmeralda posing with her mother's fabulous clothing collection, before it was sold.

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

With a Dior outfit

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

With princess Anne de Bourbon Sicile, at the exhibition of her mother's clothes

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)

[Martine]

Princess Esmeralda at home in London with her husband Salvador Moncada and her 2 children Alexandra Leopoldine(4) and Leopoldo(2)
(pics taken june 2003)