Delphine Boël, daughter of King Albert II

[rominet09]

... contact with you !

 

[Somebody]

Well she got what she wanted, she is officially Albert' s daughter, she will inherit a lot of money when he's gone but affection and contacts are not likely to appear the way she got these results.... You cannot force someone to like you and have

They weren't likely in any other way either. Albert had completely abandoned her and let her fence for herself after having a relationship with her for the first 30 years of her life - a life that he and her mother were responsible for in the first place. Delphine didn't choose to be born as his illegitimate daughter...

 

[Prinsara]

You can force them to recognize you exist. Which is what the last 20 years have been about.

I still hold out some hope Philippe and Mathilde will be nice to her when this is done.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Well she got what she wanted, she is officially Albert' s daughter,

Not yet. The court hearing at which she will petition for legal recognition is currently scheduled for September 10.

she will inherit a lot of money when he's gone

But almost certainly less than she would have inherited as the only child of Jacques Boël, who reportedly has one of the largest fortunes in Belgium.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Well she got what she wanted, she is officially Albert' s daughter, she will inherit a lot of money when he's gone but affection and contacts are not likely to appear the way she got these results.... You cannot force someone to like you and have

Delphine herself acknowledged that King Albert II would minimize the inheritance as much as possible. For an example by giving "with warm hand" (= by life) swathes of his private fortune to Queen Paola and to his children, as long Delphine is not his legal daughter.

Was it about money, jonkvrouw Delphine Boël simply should have remained a private person and beneficiary of the Boël fortune.

 

[Osipi]

In a way, I can understand why this isn't about money or even titles and inheritances. Its about being able to feel as if one is actually somebody rather than a "second thought" or 'inconsequential result" or even being "lesser" than some other people.

Growing up with the knowledge that as a human being, you weren't worth keeping is something every little kid that's been adopted lives with. Even with the happiest of childhoods and the very best in loving adopted parents, there's that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach and keeps reminding you that "you weren't wanted". It affects each one of us differently. Personally, it doesn't bother me at all and I have no inclination to know or find any "blood" relation that may be out there. Its not so for Delphine and how she feels is valid.

I just hope that by end of all this, that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach can and does go away and she feels she's accomplished what she's set out to do.

 

[Countessmeout]

But having him forced to recognize her doesn't make her any less a second thought, or inconsequential to Albert. It just makes it public.

What does she really gain? Not a relationship with the man. If he chose not to have a part of her life for how many years, this court case wont help. And likely wont help her have any relationship with her half-siblings. I doubt they didn't know their father was her dad and this was news.

Money? As pointed out she would have far more if she kept to the man who gave her his name from the start. He was far richer.

A place in succession? She may gain the right to a last name, but not a title or place in succession. Whether she is legally recognized or not after September, that doesn't change the fact that she is not born in wedlock, even more then that, born during her father's marriage to another woman. These aren't the days when Henry VIII gave titles to his natural children, and even then he had to give them titles, they didn't get automatic ones.


Honestly its more like a 'well you want to deny me, I'll show you' moment. I hope in the end she feels like she actually gained something from it.


Just for comparison Jacques Boel comes from the 16th wealthiest family in Belgium and is said to be worth around a billion. Albert doesn't even come close, and he has other children.

 

[Skippy]

A minor detail, but my understanding is that, as is usual, the verdict won't be issued at the hearing itself but some days or weeks afterwards (I cannot remember the usual length of time).

I agree that Delphine is virtually sure to "win" the case since Albert's attorneys have been instructed to no longer mount a defense.

And *that* is, in my opinion, Delphine's point. Biologically and legally his daughter. That's it.
Unless I have missed something, she has not stated that she wants a relationship with him. She just wants her roots officially confirmed.
Which is totally understandable to me.


It amazes me that some people apparently think that, since Jacques Boël is so mega-rich, that should have made up for a lot in her life and that she should have settled for that. Money can't buy everything in the world.

Is it so difficult to believe that all she wants is to be validated as King Albert's daughter? She *is* his daughter, so I see no reason for her not to fight for that.

"But her stepfather is mega-rich, richer than her biological father" - maybe, just maybe, Delphine doesn't care all too much about the finances? She doesn't strike me as a money-grabber, she just wants (legal) justice. She already has the biological justice.

And I hope for her that she is close to achieving that.

Delphine herself acknowledged that King Albert II would minimize the inheritance as much as possible. For an example by giving "with warm hand" (= by life) swathes of his private fortune to Queen Paola and to his children, as long Delphine is not his legal daughter.

Was it about money, jonkvrouw Delphine Boël simply should have remained a private person and beneficiary of the Boël fortune.

I think, considering the lengths she went to, it may be safe to conclude that it was *not* about money. She doesn't want to be Jacques Boël's daughter, she wants to be King Albert's daughter - as she is. Period.

In a way, I can understand why this isn't about money or even titles and inheritances. Its about being able to feel as if one is actually somebody rather than a "second thought" or 'inconsequential result" or even being "lesser" than some other people.

Growing up with the knowledge that as a human being, you weren't worth keeping is something every little kid that's been adopted lives with. Even with the happiest of childhoods and the very best in loving adopted parents, there's that sinking feeling in the pit of the stomach and keeps reminding you that "you weren't wanted". It affects each one of us differently. Personally, it doesn't bother me at all and I have no inclination to know or find any "blood" relation that may be out there. Its not so for Delphine and how she feels is valid.

I just hope that by end of all this, that sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach can and does go away and she feels she's accomplished what she's set out to do.

I think I more or less agree with this. It looked like King Albert tried to erase that part of his life, bit difficult when there is visible evidence for it. And I do believe that Queen Paola was the main factor behind it. But that's done now - it's out in the open and now only the legal part is left.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

It amazes me that some people apparently think that, since Jacques Boël is so mega-rich, that should have made up for a lot in her life and that she should have settled for that. Money can't buy everything in the world.

[...]

"But her stepfather is mega-rich, richer than her biological father" - maybe, just maybe, Delphine doesn't care all too much about the finances? She doesn't strike me as a money-grabber, she just wants (legal) justice. She already has the biological justice.

I believe that was the point other posters were making by highlighting Jacques Boël's wealth: that Delphine Boël has nothing to gain financially from her court cases and is therefore most likely not motivated by financial expectations.

On a side note, Jacques Boël was never her stepfather. He was married to her mother at the time of Delphine's birth, and by virtue of that was automatically her father from birth until his legal paternity was annulled by the Brussels Court of Appeals in 2019. Since that ruling, he is no legal relation to her whatsoever, as he is long divorced from her mother.

 

[Mbruno]

Delphine herself acknowledged that King Albert II would minimize the inheritance as much as possible. For an example by giving "with warm hand" (= by life) swathes of his private fortune to Queen Paola and to his children, as long Delphine is not his legal daughter.

Was it about money, jonkvrouw Delphine Boël simply should have remained a private person and beneficiary of the Boël fortune.

I am not very knowledgeable about continental civil law, but doesn't any gift in life have to be reduced to comply with the equal shares of all the legal heirs under the civil code?


As far as the Boël's fortune is concerned, I believe Delphine was led to believe she will become a princess of Belgium and that might be more important to her than the money. I know other posters disagree that the title is her main motivation, but I am confident the September hearing will prove my point.

 

[Denville]

I believe that was the point other posters were making by highlighting Jacques Boël's wealth: that Delphine Boël has nothing to gain financially from her court cases and is therefore most likely not motivated by financial expectations.

On a side note, Jacques Boël was never her stepfather. He was married to her mother at the time of Delphine's birth, and by virtue of that was automatically her father from birth until his legal paternity was annulled by the Brussels Court of Appeals in 2019. Since that ruling, he is no legal relation to her whatsoever, as he is long divorced from her mother.

No I don't think she is interested in the money side of things. There's not a good outcome from this but that's due to Albert, not to Delphine. I think she's hurt that Alb rejected her, which is almost worse than never taking any interest in her... and she just wants a legal recognition. She's not going to be a Princess or in the succession but she wants to be known as his legal child..

 

[An Ard Ri]

Has Delphine any sort of relationship with the King,Archduchess Astrid or Prince Laurent?

 

[Denville]

Has Delphine any sort of relationship with the King,Archduchess Astrid or Prince Laurent?

I should nt think so. She hasn't had any contact with Albert for years and he is her fahter...I dont think she'd have any contact (or even want it) with her half siblings..

 

[Mbruno]

Has Delphine any sort of relationship with the King,Archduchess Astrid or Prince Laurent?

Laurent is rumored to be sympathetic to Delphine. I doubt she has any chance with Astrid, who is very close to Paola and seemingly Paola's favorite among her children.

 

[Helen.CH]

And *that* is, in my opinion, Delphine's point. Biologically and legally his daughter. That's it.
Unless I have missed something, she has not stated that she wants a relationship with him. She just wants her roots officially confirmed.
Which is totally understandable to me.


It amazes me that some people apparently think that, since Jacques Boël is so mega-rich, that should have made up for a lot in her life and that she should have settled for that. Money can't buy everything in the world.

Is it so difficult to believe that all she wants is to be validated as King Albert's daughter? She *is* his daughter, so I see no reason for her not to fight for that.

"But her stepfather is mega-rich, richer than her biological father" - maybe, just maybe, Delphine doesn't care all too much about the finances? She doesn't strike me as a money-grabber, she just wants (legal) justice. She already has the biological justice.

And I hope for her that she is close to achieving that.



I think, considering the lengths she went to, it may be safe to conclude that it was *not* about money. She doesn't want to be Jacques Boël's daughter, she wants to be King Albert's daughter - as she is. Period.



I think I more or less agree with this. It looked like King Albert tried to erase that part of his life, bit difficult when there is visible evidence for it. And I do believe that Queen Paola was the main factor behind it. But that's done now - it's out in the open and now only the legal part is left.

I think it is most understandably if Paola tried to avoid this or if Albert did so because of her (do not know what you want to say), as no woman and married wife would like the fact that the husband and father of your children had an affair.
And for the children aswell, it is hard to understand and accept no matter what age you are when your parents face such difficulties. we do not know if the family had open discussions maybe for years going by.
Why Albert let this happen instead of finding a discreet solution or if it was Delphine who wanted this media attention, last seems more likeable.
Especially as her mother had to undergo all this aswell, though nowadays comitting adultery seems to be acceptable to many, did she not feel embarrassed at all? ??
Maybe D gets her surname and money and hopefully calms down. I do not believe she wanted anything else her behaviour is far from being logical.
She lost the relationship to Albert and I doubt new relations will grow from now on , though at least Mathilde would have the mental greatness ,who would welcome an elephant into a China Shop! it makes no sense at all.

 

[Denville]

My understanding was that Q paola had relationships hersefl.. Am i right in thinking that?

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I am not very knowledgeable about continental civil law, but doesn't any gift in life have to be reduced to comply with the equal shares of all the legal heirs under the civil code?


As far as the Boël's fortune is concerned, I believe Delphine was led to believe she will become a princess of Belgium and that might be more important to her than the money. I know other posters disagree that the title is her main motivation, but I am confident the September hearing will prove my point.

Delphine is still not Albert's legal daughter. She will be one of the beneficiaries from his estate once there is a legal paternity. All what was owned and given to others before the legal paternity is no longer part of Albert's estate.

Anyone can give what anyone wants to anyone he/she wishes and at any moment. There are various "fiscal friendly" arrangements for "giving with warm hand".

King Albert can donate "free from rights", he can donate a (own) house, he can scrap loans or mortgages he gave to others, he can also grant a mortgage or a loan free from rent, to be paid back in 30 years or so (and then has passed away and the debt is relieved), he can donate grants to each grandchild for their education, he can, with a notarial act, grant a fortune to Queen Paola. All by life and so minimize what can be given "with cold hands".

 

[Skippy]

I believe that was the point other posters were making by highlighting Jacques Boël's wealth: that Delphine Boël has nothing to gain financially from her court cases and is therefore most likely not motivated by financial expectations.

On a side note, Jacques Boël was never her stepfather. He was married to her mother at the time of Delphine's birth, and by virtue of that was automatically her father from birth until his legal paternity was annulled by the Brussels Court of Appeals in 2019. Since that ruling, he is no legal relation to her whatsoever, as he is long divorced from her mother.

You are right about that, I used the wrong word. He was her legal father. Brain meltdown due to heat and autism

I am not very knowledgeable about continental civil law, but doesn't any gift in life have to be reduced to comply with the equal shares of all the legal heirs under the civil code?


As far as the Boël's fortune is concerned, I believe Delphine was led to believe she will become a princess of Belgium and that might be more important to her than the money. I know other posters disagree that the title is her main motivation, but I am confident the September hearing will prove my point.

Where did you read that she was led to believe that she will become Princess of Belgium? Do you have a source?



@Helen.CH: Queen Paola is reported to be a true Italian fury: if something is not as she wants, everyone must know. That can be tiring. It may very well be possible that her husband was tired of it as well. He was not away from home for so long for nothing in those years with very obvious consequence.
I have also read that she did not feel at home in Belgium and that she often went back to Italy - they grew apart and each did their own thing.

FF to today: I feel for Delphine.

I should nt think so. She hasn't had any contact with Albert for years and he is her fahter...I dont think she'd have any contact (or even want it) with her half siblings..

I don't think so either - he cut her off once she was outed and has ignored her ever since. I think that's where her battle originated.

 

[HereditaryPrincess]

I'm not sure there is anything to lose. The hearing is to recognize Albert as her legal father. She doesn't have a legal father at the moment and he's already been recognized as her biological one and said he won't contest anything. Which would make this more of a formality.

Once he is her legal father, she can change her name. Perhaps it's been hammered out behind the scenes all these months. Assuming Albert lives through this hearing, his daughter will have gotten a lot of what she hoped for.

I can confirm as someone in a similar parental situation that having your father recognise your existence is satisfying enough.

 

[Somebody]

I think it is most understandably if Paola tried to avoid this or if Albert did so because of her (do not know what you want to say), as no woman and married wife would like the fact that the husband and father of your children had an affair.

The theory I've heard mostly is that it is indeed Paola that asked Albert to completely give up on Delphine when it was outed that she was his daughter.

And for the children aswell, it is hard to understand and accept no matter what age you are when your parents face such difficulties. we do not know if the family had open discussions maybe for years going by.

They surely know that their parents had had a problematic relationship and I wouldn't be surprised if they knew about Delphine all along.

Why Albert let this happen instead of finding a discreet solution or if it was Delphine who wanted this media attention, last seems more likeable.
Especially as her mother had to undergo all this aswell, though nowadays comitting adultery seems to be acceptable to many, did she not feel embarrassed at all? ??

Good question. Had Albert just acknowledged her when it became known, it would not have dragged on this long and be in the media so much. Because he didn't and Delphine and her family members experienced the negative consequences of being his alleged daughter, she decided to fight for her rights.

Maybe D gets her surname and money and hopefully calms down. I do not believe she wanted anything else her behaviour is far from being logical.
She lost the relationship to Albert and I doubt new relations will grow from now on , though at least Mathilde would have the mental greatness ,who would welcome an elephant into a China Shop! it makes no sense at all.

It wasn't for the money, as she lost an enormous amount of money by formally giving up her ties to her richer former-official-father. So, she might have wanted the 'name' but money cannot have been the motive.

She didn't loose a relationship with Albert by asking him to acknowledge what he knew to be true. She lost his relationship with him 20 years ago when he suddenly decided to break off any contact because it had become public knowledge (instead of a public secret).

 

[Prinsara]

Somewhere back at the beginning of this thread according to Delphine, her last conversation with Albert was something along the lines of him denying paternity, then her saying "everybody says I have Queen Astrid's eyes" and him saying "Never say you look like my mother! Never say that!"

Presumably His Majesty meant 'how dare you' or perhaps 'stop saying that', unless he was in a rage of denial at that moment.

Anyway, that's an exceptionally terrible and hurtful (and untrue...) thing to say. So 21 years later, here we are, and perhaps Albert now has to acknowledge poetic justice. That might be worth it.

 

[Mbruno]

You are right about that, I used the wrong word. He was her legal father. Brain meltdown due to heat and autism



Where did you read that she was led to believe that she will become Princess of Belgium? Do you have a source?

If her lawyers are indeed planning to file a petition for a title as reported, it is not far-fetched to assume that they have persuaded their client that she has a chance of getting it.

On the other hand, Albert's lawyers would not have commented on how they are planning to resist any claim on a royal title if they did not expect that issue to be brought before the Court in September.


As I said, I believe the hearing will prove in due course that Delphine has been eyeing a royal title all along. If not, I will admit my perception was wrong.

Delphine is still not Albert's legal daughter. She will be one of the beneficiaries from his estate once there is a legal paternity. All what was owned and given to others before the legal paternity is no longer part of Albert's estate.

So, what you are saying is that, if Albert transfers all of his assets to Paola and his children before he is legally recognized as Delphine's father, then Delphine basically gets nothing? That makes sense.


If Jacques Boël is indeed worth close to 1 billion as was mentioned by another poster, then I am pretty sure Albert is not nearly as rich. However, in any case, I would not speculate about Albert's actual net worth as nobody knows that for sure.

Somewhere back at the beginning of this thread according to Delphine, her last conversation with Albert was something along the lines of him denying paternity, then her saying "everybody says I have Queen Astrid's eyes" and him saying "Never say you look like my mother! Never say that!"

Presumably His Majesty meant 'how dare you' or perhaps 'stop saying that', unless he was in a rage of denial at that moment.

I was not privy to the conversation, but if it unfolded as you described it, it seems to me that his reaction was more along the lines of "how dare you". Queen Astrid is a bit like an iconic figure in Belgium (a kind of a Belgian "Diana", but with different history/circumstances).

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Somewhere back at the beginning of this thread according to Delphine, her last conversation with Albert was something along the lines of him denying paternity, then her saying "everybody says I have Queen Astrid's eyes" and him saying "Never say you look like my mother! Never say that!"

Presumably His Majesty meant 'how dare you' or perhaps 'stop saying that', unless he was in a rage of denial at that moment.

Anyway, that's an exceptionally terrible and hurtful (and untrue...) thing to say. So 21 years later, here we are, and perhaps Albert now has to acknowledge poetic justice. That might be worth it.

How can we judge or nail someone on words, laid in his/her mouth? You never can take things for granted in a poisonous family affair, I know by professionnal experience.

And IF (if...) Delphine said these words: the King lost his mother at the age of one. Even he can not have any own memory about his mother. Let alone a lady born 33 years after his mother's death. IF (if...) these words indeed were said into King Albert's face, saying she looks so much like his mother, whom he himself does not even personally remember, that is the ultimate and utmost unhelpful remark to derail any of their relationship which was left.

But once again: these are words reportedly uttered by Delphine and an alleged reaction from the King, acting like stung by a wasp. But we never know how close to truth it is.

 

[Prinsara]

How can we judge or nail someone on words, laid in his/her mouth? You never can take things for granted in a poisonous family affair, I know by professionnal experience.

And IF (if...) Delphine said these words: the King lost his mother at the age of one. Even he can not have any own memory about his mother. Let alone a lady born 33 years after his mother's death. IF (if...) these words indeed were said into King Albert's face, saying she looks so much like his mother, whom he himself does not even personally remember, that is the ultimate and utmost unhelpful remark to derail any of their relationship which was left.

But once again: these are words reportedly uttered by Delphine and an alleged reaction from the King, acting like stung by a wasp. But we never know how close to truth it is.

Of course we can't know if it's true, but having one party report a conversation is a closer source than we usually get in all royal matters.

I'm very sorry for the infant Albert who lost his mother. But he had 31 years to get used to the idea of Delphine as his. And she does look strikingly like Queen Astrid, to the point that other people who never met and can't remember Her Majesty (like a good chunk of this thread) must have remarked on it.

I take Delphine's account as true (enough) because we do know Albert subsequently refused all contact with her, and this would seem to provide something of an explanation and enough hurt and anger for why. This version of their last conversation is worse than the ordinary account of it, simply telling her she wasn't his daughter and never to bother him again.

I'm not sorry for the grown man denying reality, his own child, and not only himself as a parent to her, but even a connection to her heritage. It's cruel.

Besides — even if Delphine's recollection is a lie? Albert still behaved like a jackass for two decades. So he would have even less excuse.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

It wasn't for the money, as she lost an enormous amount of money by formally giving up her ties to her richer former-official-father. So, she might have wanted the 'name' but money cannot have been the motive.

At the time Delphine Boël sued to break ties with her then legal father in 2013, she could not have counted upon getting King Albert's name even assuming she were to win legal recognition as his daughter. The legal right to take the name of the new father was established after a Constitutional Court ruling of April 2017.

I wonder why she made the decision to retain the name Boël for the time being. It was her legal right to change it from Boël to de Sélys Longchamps (her mother's name) once it was definitively established that Jacques Boël was no longer her legal father. She perhaps was confident that she would win the paternity case and would only need to tolerate being named Boël for a few more years at the most.

If her lawyers are indeed planning to file a petition for a title as reported, [...]

Has that been reported somewhere? It wasn't in the articles which were posted here.

On the other hand, Albert's lawyers would not have commented on how they are planning to resist any claim on a royal title if they did not expect that issue to be brought before the Court in September.

It could be that King Albert is the one who believes Delphine might seek a title and has instructed his lawyers to bring the issue before the court to preempt any future attempt.

 

[Somebody]

I guess Delphine was trying to 'proof' to Albert that denying was useless because 'everybody says she looks like her (iconic) grandmother'... So, even if he would deny it, the proof of resemblance was there.

 

[Prinsara]

At the time Delphine Boël sued to break ties with her then legal father in 2013, she could not have counted upon getting King Albert's name even assuming she were to win legal recognition as his daughter. The legal right to take the name of the new father was established after a Constitutional Court ruling of April 2017.

I wonder why she made the decision to retain the name Boël for the time being. It was her legal right to change it from Boël to de Sélys Longchamps (her mother's name) once it was definitively established that Jacques Boël was no longer her legal father. She perhaps was confident that she would win the paternity case and would only need to tolerate being named Boël for a few more years at the most.


It could be that King Albert is the one who believes Delphine might seek a title and has instructed his lawyers to bring the issue before the court to preempt any future attempt.

We still don't know why the Constitutional Court decided to rule for her. I imagine it's some combination of national interest and human rights, but someone who reads French or Dutch will have to get a look at that ruling.

My understanding is these days (and for quite some time) she prefers to simply be known as "Delphine". I think it's more for relief than practicing to be a princess.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

We still don't know why the Constitutional Court decided to rule for her. I imagine it's some combination of national interest and human rights, but someone who reads French or Dutch will have to get a look at that ruling.

Delphine wasn't involved in the father's-name court case. The ruling can be read in French here and in Dutch here.

 

[Prinsara]

Delphine wasn't involved in the father's-name court case. The ruling can be read in French here and in Dutch here.

Thanks; I meant the one which eliminated statute of limitations on paternity claims. I will have to see if my French is up to it.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Thanks; I meant the one which eliminated statute of limitations on paternity claims. I will have to see if my French is up to it.

I believe this is the one. Please let me know your thoughts after you have read it.