Delphine Boël, daughter of King Albert II

[Mbruno]

"King Albert II ascended to the throne in 1993, following the death of his older brother, King Baudouin. It was assumed that Baudouin's nephew Prince Philippe would ascend the throne. Baudouin never had children of his own, and Philippe had been groomed as the heir apparent since birth.

However, due to problems arising from the country's linguistic and religious differences, it was decided a more experienced hand was called for.

Parliament named the King's brother, the more politically experienced Prince Albert of Liege, his successor."

Or if you'd prefer a more authoritative source than Hello! magazine, the New York Times from Baudouin's obituary:

"Next in line to the throne is Prince Albert, Baudouin's brother, yet officials in Brussels said he has been expected to offer it to his eldest son, Philippe."

Or the Washington Post:

"Though the prince was the official heir, it was originally thought that Albert's son, Philippe, was the more likely successor as king. Prince Albert, who once indicated he would turn down the throne, appears to have given into pressure from federal officials to accept the post."

Hello! is obviously factually wrong as Parliament AFAIK never had to "name" him the successor. He was the successor by default. And, if Philippe were to become the successor, Albert would have to renounce his right first as he was the "official heir", which is what I said and the WP and NYT agree with me.


The fact is that, when the time came, Albert not only took the throne, but stayed as king for 20 years, any other speculation notwithstanding.

 

[maria-olivia]

The 2 Albert the I and the II were unexpected Kings ans did well.

 

[maria-olivia]

When King Baudouin passed there was already a Reconcilation between Albert and Paola.

 

[Somebody]

Baudouin died relatively young. Had he died 10-20 years later and Philippe had a family at that point, it would have been much more likely for Albert to 'back out' and indeed have Philippe take over after Baudouin; however, that was not to be - Philippe was only in his early thirties and without a family of his own, so it made sense for the first in line of succession to indeed succeed.

Albert himself famously said -much later- that he wouldn't have done so had he and Paola been divorced at that point (to the surprise of Paola), so it wasn't 'automatic' for him.

 

[Prinsara]

Baudouin died relatively young. Had he died 10-20 years later and Philippe had a family at that point, it would have been much more likely for Albert to 'back out' and indeed have Philippe take over after Baudouin; however, that was not to be - Philippe was only in his early thirties and without a family of his own, so it made sense for the first in line of succession to indeed succeed.

Albert himself famously said -much later- that he wouldn't have done so had he and Paola been divorced at that point (to the surprise of Paola), so it wasn't 'automatic' for him.

I think given his own his father's experiences with Liliane, he well knew that trying to reign with Sybille as his consort would likely have been an exceptionally terrible idea?

 

[Skippy]

Sorry, I misspoke following the OP. I obviously meant to say he was no.1 in the line of succession.


In any case, the point the OP was making is that whoever was having an affair with him had to consider the possibility he could be king one day. And I agree with her too:it takes two people to have an affair. Sybille could have said no if she wanted to. In fact, from what I learned here on TRF (I knew nothing about that before), she was not even that much interested and it was Albert who was apparently in love with her (or so he thought) and was even considering leaving his wife. It was not just a fling.


Am I wrong?

No, you are not wrong and it was already beyond him considering leaving his wife. The groundwork for the divorce was already set with some firm conditions and King Baudouin and then-Prime Minister Leo Tindemans had given their approval. But Sybille thought the price would be too high and did not want to go through with it.
We know the rest.

 

[Denville]

No, you are not wrong and it was already beyond him considering leaving his wife. The groundwork for the divorce was already set with some firm conditions and King Baudouin and then-Prime Minister Leo Tindemans had given their approval. But Sybille thought the price would be too high and did not want to go through with it.
We know the rest.

From what I've read, yes he was in love and wanted to get a divorce and marry Sybille - but whether it was a fling, or a one night stand, or a long affair, the fact is that it produced a daughter whom he has denied any connection with. If it was a real love affair on his part, IMO that makes his rejection of his daughter much worse.

 

[Denville]

I think given his own his father's experiences with Liliane, he well knew that trying to reign with Sybille as his consort would likely have been an exceptionally terrible idea?

I suppose that if Albert had been divorced and remarried to Sybille, he might have preferred not to be King unless there was no alternative.. (Ie if Philippe had been very young). Im not sure how strongly RC Belgium was in those days and it might have been an issue to have a king who was divorced and remarried to a mistress

 

[Helen.CH]

It would have caused more problems as a majority of the belgian people then was strongly into rules of RC church, though Albert was known to be less bonded than Baudouin.
Albert had a relation for about 31 (?) years with Delphine and I can understand that Albert felt offended when she took him to court after that long time. the way he dealt with the situation then seems unlogical, but we don't know what happended.
after all Delphine profites since and will get her surname, attention and more money but lost her father.
and though I do agree every child has the right to know his/her parents.
well, she did always know her father is Albert, she wanted the public to know it,
she wanted attention, money and maybe the surname.
so her priorities are clear, it's not about love or having a family.

 

[Skippy]

It would have caused more problems as a majority of the belgian people then was strongly into rules of RC church, though Albert was known to be less bonded than Baudouin.
Albert had a relation for about 31 (?) years with Delphine and I can understand that Albert felt offended when she took him to court after that long time. the way he dealt with the situation then seems unlogical, but we don't know what happended.
after all Delphine profites since and will get her surname, attention and more money but lost her father.
and though I do agree every child has the right to know his/her parents.
well, she did always know her father is Albert, she wanted the public to know it,
she wanted attention, money and maybe the surname.
so her priorities are clear, it's not about love or having a family.

He rejected her and ignored her after she was outed as his daughter by Mario Danneels. Is that fair?
As long as it was in silence and discreet, it apparently was fine by King Albert. Once it was made public (not Delphine's fault) he pretended she did not exist.

Mario Danneels has said that he is glad that Delphine never blamed him for the situation.



So, possibly, *if* someone should be blamed besides King Albert, it could be him.

 

[Helen.CH]

He rejected her and ignored her after she was outed as his daughter by Mario Danneels. Is that fair?
As long as it was in silence and discreet, it apparently was fine by King Albert. Once it was made public (not Delphine's fault) he pretended she did not exist.

Mario Danneels has said that he is glad that Delphine never blamed him for the situation.



So, possibly, *if* someone should be blamed besides King Albert, it could be him.

I did not say he was right or fair, but Delphine is not the poor victim.
she knew he is her father, had a relationship and support.
now she'll get the name & money, it's up to her.
I hope but doubt she'll be better of afterwards
and for the RF I hope they find peace again especially Paola and Albert.

 

[Denville]

I did not say he was right or fair, but Delphine is not the poor victim.
she knew he is her father, had a relationship and support.
now she'll get the name & money, it's up to her.
I hope but doubt she'll be better of afterwards
and for the RF I hope they find peace again especially Paola and Albert.

She didn't have a relatonship and support.. her fahter rejected her...

 

[Prinsara]

He rejected her and ignored her after she was outed as his daughter by Mario Danneels. Is that fair?
As long as it was in silence and discreet, it apparently was fine by King Albert. Once it was made public (not Delphine's fault) he pretended she did not exist.

Mario Danneels has said that he is glad that Delphine never blamed him for the situation.



So, possibly, *if* someone should be blamed besides King Albert, it could be him.

As I said in post #1592, I don't think Mario is to blame, either. He said "an unacknowledged daughter of King Albert". That's all. The press found her so fast because other people knew who she was, and had known for years, if not decades. Delphine doesn't blame him because it isn't his fault.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

She didn't have a relatonship and support.. her fahter rejected her...

She had her legal father (one of the richest men of Belgium), she had her natural father (the Prince of Liège, later the King) and she had her mother, the Baroness de Sélys Longchamps, also not too pauvre either (see Château de Longchamps: https://photos.worldtravelserver.com/photo/15381/large/53346426.jpg ).

She knew who her natural father was. He regularly visited her. That was the agreement between her natural mother and her natural father, whom created her outside their respective marriages. Not ideal. But c'est la vie...

All this tumbled down when -after the revelation- she went full public. Her choice. The consequences are hers too. But do not say she had "no relationship and support". That is an insult to the millions of children who can only dream about her life, her circumstances, her surroundings, her chances and her wealth.

 

[vivat]

She didn't have a relatonship and support.. her fahter rejected her...

You are wrong, they had a relationship for 30 years, maybe you would like to read other posts give correct information about this.

 

[Denville]

You are wrong, they had a relationship for 30 years, maybe you would like to read other posts give correct information about this.

Yes they had a relationship for 30 years and then he rejected her.. Which is more painful than never having a relationship at all....

 

[vivat]

She had her legal father (one of the richest men of Belgium), she had her natural father (the Prince of Liège, later the King) and she had her mother, the Baroness de Sélys Longchamps, also not too pauvre either (see Château de Longchamps: https://photos.worldtravelserver.com/photo/15381/large/53346426.jpg ).

She knew who her natural father was. He regularly visited her. That was the agreement between her natural mother and her legal father, whom created her outside their respective marriages. Not ideal. But c'est la vie...

All this tumbled down when -after the revelation- she went full public. Her choice. The consequences are hers too. But do not say she had "no relationship and support". That is an insult to the millions of children who can only dream about her life, her circumstances, her surroundings, her chances and her wealth.

Thank you, I agree very much. It is an insult to any anonym adoption and children being dropped just somewhere.
She has chosen to take him to court after 30 years and I agree with some here saying he was understandably not amused.
It was her choice! Now she can get it legally right but their relationship will probably be destroyed for ever, bad choice IMO, even more as she never suffered financially and grew up in very well circumstances.
Thanks to Helen.CH , I looked at her work and it's truly only based on her lawsuit and story, deterrent to me and I appreciate art, believe me.

 

[Prinsara]

...she didn't take him to court after 31 years, because she couldn't. He had legal immunity.

She took him to court after 14 years of him refusing to acknowledge her as his daughter, putting her children on a terrorist watch list, and refusing to have any kind of communication with her whatsoever, including as a newly-pious Catholic through the Cardinal.

I would say Delphine had a right not to be amused. Perhaps you should read more of the other posts.

 

[Denville]

Thank you, I agree very much. It is an insult to any anonym adoption and children being dropped just somewhere.
She has chosen to take him to court after 30 years and I agree with some here saying he was understandably not amused.
It was her choice! Now she can get it legally right but their relationship will probably be destroyed for ever, bad choice IMO, even more as she never suffered financially and grew up in very well circumstances.
Thanks to Helen.CH , I looked at her work and it's truly only based on her lawsuit and story, deterrent to me and I appreciate art, believe me.

What relationship? She had no relationship with him.. since he tore it up and threw her out.

 

[Skippy]

You are wrong, they had a relationship for 30 years, maybe you would like to read other posts give correct information about this.

She is right, but perhaps stated it a bit awkwardly. Maybe you could read more posts yourself so you are better informed next time.

Yes they had a relationship for 30 years and then he rejected her.. Which is more painful than never having a relationship at all....

This.

...she didn't take him to court after 31 years, because she couldn't. He had legal immunity.

She took him to court after 14 years of him refusing to acknowledge her as his daughter, putting her children on a terrorist watch list, and refusing to have any kind of communication with her whatsoever, including as a newly-pious Catholic through the Cardinal.

I would say Delphine had a right not to be amused. Perhaps you should read more of the other posts.

I quite agree. Had he simply owned up after she was outed, none of this would have happened. He is the only one who acted spastic.

It would be nice if some people here would get the facts straight: she only went public because after the revelation he rejected her. The relationship and support stopped abruptly, cold turkey. That must have been humiliating. So that is the no relationship and no support ticket that is rightfully drawn. Because Jacques Boël was not necessarily emotionally invested in her either.

And some seem blinded by the material surroundings she grew up with (only talk about money, titles and residences).
Not everyone thinks that these things count for much if not everything in life.
Like Prinsara said, money can't buy me love. But clearly for some it can or should.

King Albert did the deed, with visible outcome, but was not man enough to man up when the outcome became public.

To quote former French President François Mitterrand (as I've done before in this thread): Et alors?

Gee whiz, all Delphine wants is to be acknowledged and here we are discussing whether she has the right to do so....I think she does and the discussion has now gone off in circles.

 

[Prinsara]

If Albert was not smart or brave enough to realize he could have avoided the last 21 years by going the Mitterrand route, we end up with 85 pages, I guess.

I hope the hearing goes through in September so the conversation moves a little, and we can talk about how dare she pick this or that name.

 

[Helen.CH]

...she didn't take him to court after 31 years, because she couldn't. He had legal immunity.

She took him to court after 14 years of him refusing to acknowledge her as his daughter, putting her children on a terrorist watch list, and refusing to have any kind of communication with her whatsoever, including as a newly-pious Catholic through the Cardinal.

I would say Delphine had a right not to be amused. Perhaps you should read more of the other posts.

There are different opinions like in all threads.
Again she knew he was her father, makes a big difference.
has he been charged guilty for putting her children an a terrorist watch list?
I prefer to make up my mind by facts.
Hope September will bring an end to this and wish her all the best, but doubt she will find peace, it's the wrong way no matter if your father is the King or a butcher, but of course her right and ok to be challenged.

 

[Mbruno]

If Albert was not smart or brave enough to realize he could have avoided the last 21 years by going the Mitterrand route, we end up with 85 pages, I guess.

I hope the hearing goes through in September so the conversation moves a little, and we can talk about how dare she pick this or that name.

As I think she will go for a title, I fear that is exactly what we will be discussing.


I don't take sides on the father x daughter dispute as it is none of my business anyway. I agree that rejecting her after she became public was not smart, but I don't condemn Albert for having had an affair and a child out of wedlock. He was in love and was going to divorce his wife; it is unfortunate, but those things happen sometimes in many marriages. Then afterwards he had a relationship with Delphine until he abruptly changed course after it became public (when of course he was already king in a complicated country where the monarchy is also in a somewhat fragile position, which is not a justification, but a circumstance of the story).


I am also surprised there is no sympathy either on this board for Paola. On the contrary, she comes across in many posts as the villain who drove Albert from his daughter.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

If Albert was not smart or brave enough to realize he could have avoided the last 21 years by going the Mitterrand route, we end up with 85 pages, I guess.

I hope the hearing goes through in September so the conversation moves a little, and we can talk about how dare she pick this or that name.

The Mitterrand route only works when a spouse is cooperating. Danielle Mitterrand accepted all her husband's many affairs during many decades. Donna Paola dei principi Ruffo di Calabria is another category: over her dead body, that whole Boël-person going full out in public, no way.

And this while the father in question is head of state in a highly complicated country where the monarchy is always under threat.

President Mitterrand could lift an eyebrow: Et alors?
The King of the Belgians was in no way in that position.


-------


Some magazines speculated about infidelities:


The Princesse de Liège would have had an affair with the singer Salvatore Adamo (he sang the classic tribute of love Dolce Paola) which really seems category "boulevard press". It is the same as claiming that Björn and Benny from ABBA must have slept with Silvia Sommerlath: how else could they have made Dancing Queen?

Then Princess Paola was alleged to have had an affair with ridder (knight) François-Xavier de Donnéa de Hamoir. He was the Mayor of Brussels officiating the wedding of Philippe and Mathilde. Larding media around the royal wedding with the framing "the mother of the groom meeting her secret lover". Seems category "boulevard press" too. As soon as the wedding was over, all evaporated.

And then there was a rumour about the artist Jan Fabre, with whom she created a spectacular gallery in the Royal Palace of Brussels. Seems category "boulevard press" as well: because she extensively cooperated with an artst, they surely must have slept together?

Then there was an Italian businessman, Aldo Vastapane, even rumoured to be Prince Laurent's natural father. Absolutely category "boulevard press" as anyone can see Laurent being the spitting image of Albert II on the same age.

Then there was a French aristocrat, Albert (des marquises) de Mun, who was a succesful photographer of the beau monde for Paris-Match. Absolutely category "boulevard press": purely because he was able to catch Paola's ethereal beauty, he surely must have been her lover? Pfff.

So we know nothing about an affair and about extramarital children of Queen Paola apart from rumours.

 

[Skippy]

There are different opinions like in all threads.
Again she knew he was her father, makes a big difference.
has he been charged guilty for putting her children an a terrorist watch list?
I prefer to make up my mind by facts.
Hope September will bring an end to this and wish her all the best, but doubt she will find peace, it's the wrong way no matter if your father is the King or a butcher, but of course her right and ok to be challenged.

Could he be charged guilty for it? Like Prinsara said, he had legal immunity.
Was it necessary to put them on such a list? Usually that only happens when there is a feeling or expectation of threat.
The facts are clear, they are just interpreted differently.

I don't think speaking of "the right way" is relevant in this state. It's her only way of getting acknowledgement. She has tried many times in the past to come to a private agreement with him, but nothing came of it.

As I think she will go for a title, I fear that is exactly what we will be discussing.

I don't take sides on the father x daughter dispute as it is none of my business anyway. I agree that rejecting her after she became public was not smart, but I don't condemn Albert for having had an affair and a child out of wedlock. He was in love and was going to divorce his wife; it is unfortunate, but those things happen sometimes in many marriages. Then afterwards he had a relationship with Delphine until he abruptly changed course after it became public (when of course he was already king in a complicated country where the monarchy is also in a somewhat fragile position, which is not a justification, but a circumstance of the story).

Second bolded and underlined part is the crux of the story: you cannot have a relationship with someone for 30 years and then turn your back on that person simply because you do not like it that your secret is out.

I am also surprised there is no sympathy either on this board for Paola. On the contrary, she comes across in many posts as the villain who drove Albert from his daughter.

What sympathy could be had for her then?

 

[Mbruno]

What sympathy could be had for her (Paola) then?

Don't people normally have sympathy for legitimate wives when their husbands cheat on them?

 

[Prinsara]

Don't people normally have sympathy for legitimate wives when their husbands cheat on them?

Yes, but Paola had her own affairs in response and Laurent's legitimacy was questioned for years because of it. (Fortunately, he also looks like Albert and I believe it got quietly resolved with DNA.)

Perhaps because she'd been so close to being in a Delphine-type situation herself, she apparently demanded Albert not recognize her when to him, initially, it was less of a big deal.

Maybe. We don't know; that's just the most common version of events. No one has an alternate version where Paola is not involved.

 

[Denville]

Yes, but Paola had her own affairs in response and Laurent's legitimacy was questioned for years because of it. (Fortunately, he also looks like Albert and I believe it got quietly resolved with DNA.)

Perhaps because she'd been so close to being in a Delphine-type situation herself, she apparently demanded Albert not recognize her when to him, initially, it was less of a big deal.

Maybe. We don't know; that's just the most common version of events. No one has an alternate version where Paola is not involved.

I think its possible to have some sympathy for her, but for her to demand that her husband cuts off relations witht his daughter, isnt fair.

 

[Heavs]

I do feel sympathy for Paola for her husband cheating on her, having a long term affair and fathering a child whilst married to her, that can't be at all easy to deal with, even if you accepted some straying. However that doesn't mean Delphine should be treated as a dirty little secret and suddenly cut off when her existence became public knowledge and she seems to have been a big part of the behind the scenes.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Yes, but Paola had her own affairs in response and Laurent's legitimacy was questioned for years because of it. (Fortunately, he also looks like Albert and I believe it got quietly resolved with DNA.)

Perhaps because she'd been so close to being in a Delphine-type situation herself, she apparently demanded Albert not recognize her when to him, initially, it was less of a big deal.

Maybe. We don't know; that's just the most common version of events. No one has an alternate version where Paola is not involved.

There has never been any substance delivered to names dropped of gentlemen alleged to have slept with Princess Paola. Even Belgian ministers (a particularly unappetising looking species) seem to have slept with the ravissante beauty, once Europe's most beautiful princess, if we have to believe the rumours. Yeah, sure. And no, Paola was not at all furtherer endangering the besieged Belgian monarchy, by sleeping around with politicians, under the eye of her strict brother-in-law King Baudouin. Yeah, sure.