It seems we reviewed the first episode in the Laurent thread.
I am just watching the first episode. Quite sad and at times bizarre. Laurent was named 'the last act of love' between Albert of Paola. Shortly afterwards Albert left as often as he could to Bss Sybille -later in London while Paola sunk into a depression, being blamed for the failure of the...
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The other 3 episodes were a bit more haphazard and esp. the last one rather difficult to follow (about all the financial dealings of the prince).
Still the impression I have is one of sadness that the rightful resentment towards his father was never healed. Paola was closer to Laurent and more involved than what was previously the story. But it was implied that the court e.g. Baudouin and Van Ypersele, simply decided what should happen next. Not always taking Laurent's qualities and limitations into account. The one time she was able to stand up for him things actually greatly improved.
It is clear he hates his father. In one episode they talk about him meeting police agents at the White marches (for the victims of pedophile Marc Dutroux). He asked a police official if he had any knowledge of his father attending any of these -now believed to be made up- sex parties of the Belgian elites with the underage girls. It seems he never forgave Paola for getting back with his father.
It was obvious the palace/ Laurent ok-ed this documentary. Many people spoke who would otherwise not have done so. His foster parents in Wilrijk, the former mayor of Brussels, Mrs. Renée Haferkamp etc.
The conclusion in the final episode, even by his friends, is that he *could* have done something (workwise), he was/is always full of plans, but he is his own worst enemy and there are always excuses for him not to simply find a job. His whole identity seems to be somebody who is against something. Against the monarchy, against the establishment in his case. As Mrs. Haferkamp says: there are enough banks or Mercedesses to sell and these companies would love to have a prince representing them.
Another reason why I think they may have received some approval from the prince/palace is that the episode where he ended up in hospital and nearly died is simply omited completely. Which is rather odd as it was all very strange and sad.
I great thing in these Belgian royal documentaries is that people are rather frank and relatively honest. Even intimi of the family or sometimes even the family themselves. As Queen Paola said in Albert's post-abdication interview: 'we don't play comedy'.
