Death & Funeral of Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz, Father of Mathilde; Sept. 2008

[Marengo]

A clip from the VRT news:

deredactie.be - Graaf d'Udekem d'Acoz begraven

King Albert II, Queen Paola, Queen Fabiola, Princess Margaretha of Liechtenstein (née Luxembourg), Archduchess Marie-Astrid (née Luxembourg) with her husband Archduke Carl-Christian were also there and their brother prince Guillaume of Luxembourg. Another royal present was Archduchess Anna Gabriella of Austria.

[kyansaunt20]

Mathilde and her family are heartbroken........you can see it all over their faces :(

[lucien]

Heartbraking indeed.Feel a bit like an intruder watching them.Sad.

[Marengo]

Some newspaper articles:

In Dutch:
GVA
Het Nieuwsblad
Het Laatste Nieuws

In French:
La Derniere Heure
Le Soir

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According to 'Het Nieuwsblad' counts Henri and Raoul d'Udekem d'Acoz both attended the funeral.

---
From Flandersnews.be:

Tue 30/09/08 14:23 - Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz was born in Ukkel (Brussels) in 1936. After his studies in agriculture he settled down in the Walloon province of Luxemburg where he worked in forestry.

He was also mayor of Villers-la-Bonne-Eau (Luxemburg province). After that he was a town councillor in Bastogne and provincial councillor in Luxemburg.

Read the entire article here.

[indian princess]

very tragic news...all our condolences are with mathilde and her family...may the count rest in peace...and god welcome him with open arms in heaven

[crm2317]

Such sad images. Countess Anna seems to be taking comfort from the presence of her granchildren. Nice to see Mathilde's in-laws rallying round

[Al_bina]

It is great that the Royal family, including Queen Fabiola, came to support Crown Princess Mathilde and her family. Now Charles-Henry, the brother of Crown Princess Mathilde, is the new Count d'Udekem d'Acoz, isn't he?

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by Al_bina

It is great that the Royal family, including Queen Fabiola, came to support Crown Princess Mathilde and her family. Now Charles-Henry, the brother of Crown Princess Mathilde, is the new Count d'Udekem d'Acoz, isn't he?

No, THE count d'Udekem d'Acoz (as in the head of the family) is the late count Patrick's eldest brother, Henri. Since he has no issue he will be succeeded by his brother Raoul and ultimately by Raouls son Bernhard.

[martha-louise]

Originally Posted by Marengo

No, THE count d'Udekem d'Acoz (as in the head of the family) is the late count Patrick's eldest brother, Henri. Since he has no issue he will be succeeded by his brother Raoul and ultimately by Raouls son Bernhard.

Before Mathilde was married to the prince:
Baron Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz (eldest)
Squire Patrick & Countess Anne Komorowski
- Noble woman Mathilde
- Noble woman Elisabeth
- Noble woman Hélène
- Squire Charles -Henri
Squire Roaul

After the marriage of Mathilde:
Count Henri & Countess Anne Komorovski
Count Patrick
- Princess Mathilde
- Countess Elisabeth (now marquise Pallavicini)
- Countess Hélène
- Count Charles-Henri
Count Roaul

So after the death of Patrick, nothing about the titles has changed.

[Marengo]

Originally Posted by martha-louise

So after the death of Patrick, nothing about the titles has changed.

True, but I meant that THE count of Udekem is Henri, the eldest one of the main line :). I think you can refer to him as ' the count of Udekem' while the others are count X of Udekem. I am not sure how it works in Belgium though, but at least since Henri is the eldest of the main line he is considered head of the family, foir what it is worth.

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About your list: I don't think Mathilde ever was a countess d'Udekem, right (not that you were saying she was, just out of curiosity)? The royal decree making her a princess preceeded the one 'elevating' this part of the Udekem family.

[CaliforniaDreamin]

The poor Princess looks like she has been through the ringer. How sad.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Marengo

True, but I meant that THE count of Udekem is Henri, the eldest one of the main line :). I think you can refer to him as ' the count of Udekem' while the others are count X of Udekem. I am not sure how it works in Belgium though, but at least since Henri is the eldest of the main line he is considered head of the family, foir what it is worth.

-
About your list: I don't think Mathilde ever was a countess d'Udekem, right (not that you were saying she was, just out of curiosity)? The royal decree making her a princess preceeded the one 'elevating' this part of the Udekem family.

I thought that too. The decree about the d'Udekem Titles came in force on her Wedding Day. But when i was in Brussels i was also at the Royal palace. in the guide about the Royal palace Mathilde is titled as Countess.
But even more strange is that in one of the death-announcements of the Family also his late daughter Mare-Alix is mentioned with the Title Countess.

[Odette]

Originally Posted by martha-louise

Before Mathilde was married to the prince:
Baron Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz (eldest)
Squire Patrick & Countess Anne Komorowski
- Noble woman Mathilde
- Noble woman Elisabeth
- Noble woman Hélène
- Squire Charles -Henri
Squire Roaul

After the marriage of Mathilde:
Count Henri & Countess Anne Komorovski
Count Patrick
- Princess Mathilde
- Countess Elisabeth (now marquise Pallavicini)
- Countess Hélène
- Count Charles-Henri
Count Roaul

So after the death of Patrick, nothing about the titles has changed.

I may be totally wrong but I remember at the time of Matilde's wedding to Phillipe her father was not titled Count. His elder brother had the title and the King anobled Matilde's father before the wedding so he could escort her on her wedding day as a Count.
Is this correct?

[marmi]

Originally Posted by Odette

I may be totally wrong but I remember at the time of Matilde's wedding to Phillipe her father was not titled Count. His elder brother had the title and the King anobled Matilde's father before the wedding so he could escort her on her wedding day as a Count.
Is this correct?

Yes, thats how I understood it.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Odette

I may be totally wrong but I remember at the time of Matilde's wedding to Phillipe her father was not titled Count. His elder brother had the title and the King anobled Matilde's father before the wedding so he could escort her on her wedding day as a Count.
Is this correct?

Yes and no The oldest brother of Mathilde's father was the Baron d'Udekem d'Acoz not Count. His 2 younger brothers and their descendants where Jonkheer/Jonkvrouw. The King granted the 3 brothers the Title Count which came in effect the day of the marriage. Since then they and their descendants are Count/Countess d'Udekem d'Acoz.

[Angelica]

Princess Mathilde must be devastated! It must be very hard for her and of course for her whole family!

The late Count seems to have been a great family man! May he rest in peace!

[Al_bina]

Thanks for the explanations! I mistakenly thought that Crown Princess Mathilde's father was the eldest brother.

[Marengo]

Well, the 3 brothers are very close in age, more info here.

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RTL has a clip about the funeral in French, look here. It seemed they filmed part of the funeral through the window of the church.

The service lasted 2 hours.

[stephanievl]

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[LadyFinn]

More photos from this sad day:
Zimbio