Prince Laurent, Princess Claire & Family - News & Events, Part 7; Aug 2023 -

[iceflower]

Princess Claire together with other members of the Board of Directors of the Queen Paola Foundation visited the Belgian National Lottery, one of their sponsors, on March 5:


** Pic **

 

[rominet09]

Always happy to see her.

 

[Linda_26]

Princess Claire, as Vice-President of the Queen Paola Foundation, attended yesterday in Brussels a Forum (organised by the Foundation) gathering associations from across Belgium operating in favour of disadvantaged young people:

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Queen Paola Foundation on Instagram: "Meer dan 120 mensen uit heel België hebben gisteren deelgenomen aan ons eerste grote Forum in Brussel voor verenigingen die zich inzetten voor kansarme jongeren. Tijdens workshops konden terreinactoren van elkaar leren, goede praktijken uitwisselen, uitdagingen delen en waardevolle contacten leggen. Deze eerste editie was een succes! BEDANKT aan alle deelnemers voor hun enthousiasme en hun energie! BEDANKT ToolBox asbl-vzw voor het organiseren van de workshops. BEDANKT aan onze mecenassen om aanwezig te zijn bij de lancering van dit evenement. BEDANKT aan Prinses Claire, onze Ere-Vicevoorzitster, voor haar trouwe aanwezigheid. #delen #community #Forum #jeugd #Netwerken #Inspiratie Plus de 120 personnes venues de toute la Belgique ont participé hier à notre premier grand Forum organisé à Bruxelles pour les associations qui œuvrent en faveur de la jeunesse défavorisée. Lors d’ateliers, les acteurs de terrain ont pu apprendre les uns des autres, échanger leurs bonnes pratiques, partager leurs difficultés et succès et nouer de précieux contacts. Cette première édition fut un succès ! MERCI à tous les participants pour leur enthousiasme et leur énergie ! MERCI ToolBox asbl-vzw pour l’animation de la journée et des ateliers. MERCI à nos mécènes qui nous ont fait le plaisir d’assister au lancement de cet évènement. MERCI à la Princesse Claire, notre Vice-Présidente d’Honneur, pour sa fidèle présence à nos côtés. #partage #Community #Forum #Jeunesse #Networking #Inspiration Frederic Andrieu Photographe"

 

[iceflower]

Yesterday, March 26, Prince Laurent attended the funeral of Frederic Mitterrand at Eglise Saint-Thomas-d'Aquin in Paris:


** Pic **

 

[iceflower]

On April 26 Prince Laurent attended the first stone laying for the new Prince Laurent Foundation’s veterinary dispensary in Laeken that will replace the old one in Marolles, Brussels:

Le dispensaire vétérinaire de la Fondation Prince Laurent s’installe à Laeken

La Fondation Prince Laurent, qui fournit des soins vétérinaires gratuits aux animaux de compagnie de personnes en situation de précarité, déménage son dispensaire dans les Marolles pour s’installer rue Steyls à Laeken.

www.sudinfo.be

https://www.facebook.com/closephilippe/posts/pfbid0KYdXPpkruceBpiJoEV5VH8HXZU5sxdW2Y6zrMVr4eid3w1ggWiNDMpPvQEoXBUfrl

 

[leidi]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1790639989824356765

Does anyone have access to see what this is about? Where is he going?

 

[maria-olivia]

The twins will soon finish their scholarship at the Lycée français . What will they do later we don't know.

 

[Linda_26]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1790639989824356765

Does anyone have access to see what this is about? Where is he going?

An archived version of the interview: https://archive.is/LHkp3
There's nothing really concrete about his plans to move abroad, just that he would like to live in Italy in the future, which is something he had already said in past interviews

 

[leidi]

An archived version of the interview: EXCLUSIEF. Prins Laurent bereidt compleet nieuw leven voor in buitenl…
There's nothing really concrete about his plans to move abroad, just that he would like to live in Italy in the future, which is something he had already said in past interviews

Thank you very much!

 

[iceflower]

Finally an engagement for Princess Claire again!

On behalf of Queen Paola she visited the non-profit organization AMONSOLI (World Action for Solidarity) in Verviers that is supported by the Queen Paola Foundation:


** gettyimages gallery **

La princesse Claire en visite à l'ASBL Amonsoli, au centre-ville de Verviers (vidéo)

Un événement marquant pour Amonsoli, mettant en lumière le travail indispensable de l'association verviétoise.

www.lavenir.net

 

[Linda_26]

Finally an engagement for Princess Claire again!

On behalf of Queen Paola she visited the non-profit organization AMONSOLI (World Action for Solidarity) in Verviers that is supported by the Queen Paola Foundation:


** gettyimages gallery **

La princesse Claire en visite à l'ASBL Amonsoli, au centre-ville de Verviers (vidéo)

Un événement marquant pour Amonsoli, mettant en lumière le travail indispensable de l'association verviétoise.

www.lavenir.net

Great to see Princess Claire representing Queen Paola again!

 

[Somebody]

It seems that's the only thing she is willing to do for the royal house: represent her mother-in-law.

 

[leidi]

It seems that's the only thing she is willing to do for the royal house: represent her mother-in-law.

Yeah, she seems to be like her husband in that regard tbh

 

[Marengo]

The palace supposedly is not happy about Laurent's remarks about wanting a life and carreer abroad, says the journalist who interviewed Laurent.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1791069974334689303

The article itself is behind paywall:

EXCLUSIEF. Koning Filip vindt uitspraken van zijn broer Laurent ongepast en tikt hem op de vingers

Het koninklijk paleis heeft prins Laurent (60) op de vingers getikt over zijn exclusief interview met HLN. De jongere broer van koning Filip kondigde in deze krant aan dat hij “een nieuw leven aan het voorbereiden is” en desnoods zijn dotatie wil opgeven. Maar geraakt hij zo gemakkelijk van die...

www.hln.be

Somebody asks if it is true that the prince needs to ask permission before he can visit a cousin in Luxembourg. I am not sure if Laurent said this in the interview itself as it was behind paywall as well.

 

[Linda_26]

Finally an engagement for Princess Claire again!

On behalf of Queen Paola she visited the non-profit organization AMONSOLI (World Action for Solidarity) in Verviers that is supported by the Queen Paola Foundation:


** gettyimages gallery **

La princesse Claire en visite à l'ASBL Amonsoli, au centre-ville de Verviers (vidéo)

Un événement marquant pour Amonsoli, mettant en lumière le travail indispensable de l'association verviétoise.

www.lavenir.net

During yesterday's activity Princess Claire also facetimed her mother-in-law, and King Albert could be seen in the videocall as well, looking in "good spirits" (after he had felt unwell these past days), according to Wim Dehandschutter:
Prinses Claire videobelt met koningin Paola tijdens werkbezoek, omstaanders krijgen ook Albert te zien

 

[Prinsara]

The palace supposedly is not happy about Laurent's remarks about wanting a life and carreer abroad, says the journalist who interviewed Laurent.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1791069974334689303

The article itself is behind paywall:

EXCLUSIEF. Koning Filip vindt uitspraken van zijn broer Laurent ongepast en tikt hem op de vingers

Het koninklijk paleis heeft prins Laurent (60) op de vingers getikt over zijn exclusief interview met HLN. De jongere broer van koning Filip kondigde in deze krant aan dat hij “een nieuw leven aan het voorbereiden is” en desnoods zijn dotatie wil opgeven. Maar geraakt hij zo gemakkelijk van die...

www.hln.be

Somebody asks if it is true that the prince needs to ask permission before he can visit a cousin in Luxembourg. I am not sure if Laurent said this in the interview itself as it was behind paywall as well.

I suspect what they’re not happy about is less the prospect of Laurent doing this (if he honestly wants to and isn’t just talking for attention or talking’s sake), and more him chatting about and advertising it publicly before all the tricky details are nailed down.

If he wants to do a Prince Charles, give up his apanage, and go live privately with Claire in Italy somewhere, I can’t see how it’s so objectionable… except that Laurent has problems doing anything quietly, for one thing, and the palace undoubtedly doesn’t want a Harry.

It might be a good solution for him. But it might not be simple.

 

[Somebody]

To which 'prince Charles' are you referring? The Belgian one, Laurent's great-uncle?

I agree that they are probably not truly opposed to him living abroad. He is hardly doing any royal engagements after all while receiving a sizeable dotation. So, if he just wants to retire in Italy - without receiving any money from the Belgian tax-payer preferably, that in itself should not be a problem and might even be a 'solution'. However, they way how he goes about it, might not be in the best interest of the palace...

 

[PhillyMonarchist]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1790639989824356765

Does anyone have access to see what this is about? Where is he going?

His niece and future queen and his nephews are all adults nows he 60 make prefect sense to be fair

 

[Linda_26]

Not only Princess Louise, but also Prince Laurent was in Turin this weekend, for the birthdays of Gabrielle and Thomas Janssens. His goddaughter Princess Carolina of Bourbon shared a nice pic of the two of them on her IG stories:

Zie hem glunderen: prins Laurent en zijn knappe Italiaanse petekind maken een selfie

 

[Adda]

That's quite a party. Wow.
There's lots of photos in here, including the aforementioned photo of Prince Laurent with his goddaughter Maria Carolina. He looks so much like his father!

La soirée royale de la princesse Louise de Belgique avec les princesses de Bourbon-Siciles au château royal de Racconigi

La princesse Louise de Belgique, nièce du roi Philippe, faisait partie des jeunes bien-nés invités par Gabrielle et Thomas Janssens de Balkany, les petits-enfants de la princesse Marie-Gabrielle de Savoie, au château royal de Racconigi. La fille du prince Laurent y a retrouvé de nombreux cousins...

histoiresroyales.fr

 

[Stefan]

That's quite a party. Wow.
There's lots of photos in here, including the aforementioned photo of Prince Laurent with his goddaughter Maria Carolina. He looks so much like his father!

La soirée royale de la princesse Louise de Belgique avec les princesses de Bourbon-Siciles au château royal de Racconigi

La princesse Louise de Belgique, nièce du roi Philippe, faisait partie des jeunes bien-nés invités par Gabrielle et Thomas Janssens de Balkany, les petits-enfants de la princesse Marie-Gabrielle de Savoie, au château royal de Racconigi. La fille du prince Laurent y a retrouvé de nombreux cousins...

histoiresroyales.fr

Actually that celebrations where not only at Racconicci Castle but also at the Palazzo di Stuppinicci a former Hunting Castle (the white on in the last pic). There are plenty of Palaces and Castles in and around of Turin

 

[maria-olivia]

To me Princess Louise wears an orange dress and is in the middle ?? I am sure she wears pink in the second picture.

 

[Adda]

To me Princess Louise wears an orange dress and is in the middle ?? I am sure she wears pink in the second picture.

No, she's on the right. Wearing a cream and navy blue dress with a big ribbon.

https://histoiresroyales.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/princesse-louise-de-belgique-soiree-bourbon-siciles-janssens-balkany-raccogini-1200x682.jpg

She does wear powder pink in here, so cute.

https://histoiresroyales.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/anniversaire-balkany-raccogini-981x1536.jpg

 

[Linda_26]

Actually that celebrations where not only at Racconicci Castle but also at the Palazzo di Stuppinicci a former Hunting Castle (the white on in the last pic). There are plenty of Palaces and Castles in and around of Turin

Thanks to Maria Carolina's Instagram story showing the invitation card (you can see it also here) we have the whole program of the weekend (from Friday 23 to Sunday 25), also with dress code and other details:
on Friday they were at the Royal Palace of Turin; on Saturday at lunch in Stupinigi, in the evening (dinner and ball) in Racconigi and on Sunday at the beautiful Reggia di Venaria

 

[Adda]

Goodness gracious, if this was only for a 20th and 18th birthday party, what will they do for their respective weddings...

Pierre and Beatrice will bite the dust, lmao.

 

[Linda_26]

No, she's on the right. Wearing a cream and navy blue dress with a big ribbon.

https://histoiresroyales.fr/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/princesse-louise-de-belgique-soiree-bourbon-siciles-janssens-balkany-raccogini-1200x682.jpg

I imagine the big ribbon was the "touch of extravaganza" requested by the dress code

 

[Marengo]

The Prince of Venice and Piedmont was there as well with his daughters Vittoria, Pss di Carigano and Luisa, Pss di Chieri. Nice to see them there and that the coldness between M Gabrielle and the late Prince of Napels did not continue in the next generations.

Soirée au château royal de Racconigi – Noblesse & Royautés

www.noblesseetroyautes.com

The name of the father 'sounds' Belgian; Olivier Janssens. Many people have that name. What is known about him?

It seems that the children go by 'Janssens de Balkany'. Mr. Robert Zellinger de Balkany famlsly claimed to be a baron. He was however a very wealthy man, and Elisabeth one off his three daughters. In 2016 700 lots from his properties Palazzo Lancellotti in Rome and Château Balsan on the Cote d'Azur -built for Consuelo Vanderbilt- were auctioned by Christie's.

I imagine Pss Marie-Gabrielle of Italy was not well enough to attend, as she is not on the photos. She sadly was unable to attend the funeral of her brother too.

 

[Adda]

The Prince of Venice and Piedmont was there as well with his daughters Vittoria, Pss di Carigano and Luisa, Pss di Chieri. Nice to see them there and that the coldness between M Gabrielle and the late Prince of Napels did not continue in the next generations.

Soirée au château royal de Racconigi – Noblesse & Royautés

www.noblesseetroyautes.com

The name of the father 'sounds' Belgian; Olivier Janssens. Many people have that name. What is known about him?

It seems that the children go by 'Janssens de Balkany'. Mr. Robert Zellinger de Balkany famlsly claimed to be a baron. He was however a very wealthy man, and Elisabeth one off his three daughters. In 2016 700 lots from his properties Palazzo Lancellotti in Rome and Château Balsan on the Cote d'Azur -built for Consuelo Vanderbilt- were auctioned by Christie's.

I imagine Pss Marie-Gabrielle of Italy was not well enough to attend, as she is not on the photos. She sadly was unable to attend the funeral of her brother too.

Maria Gabriella was there. I've seen a picture of her. Perhaps you can also see it if you check Royals_Without_Throne on IG. I'd post a screenshot here but it would be deleted.

She was pictured next to Count Rodolphe de Causans, husband of Princess Anna Cecilia of Bourbon Two-Sicilies.

 

[Marengo]

Thanks! I have not been able to find that photo yet but I am sure you are right. Let's hope Point de Vue has a reportage.

The twins will soon finish their scholarship at the Lycée français . What will they do later we don't know.

I thought this was already posted here, but I can not find it.

The twins will be joining the army. More specifically the junior officers training of the militairy school of Saint Trond (Sint Truiden) / l’Ecole royale militaire à Saint-Trond on the Campus Saffraanberg.

Aymeric et Nicolas de Belgique à l’armée – Noblesse & Royautés

www.noblesseetroyautes.com

 

[Linda_26]

I thought this was already posted here, but I can not find it.

The twins will be joining the army. More specifically the junior officers training of the militairy school of Saint Trond (Sint Truiden) / l’Ecole royale militaire à Saint-Trond on the Campus Saffraanberg.

Yes, the news about the twins' education plans was posted in the children's thread. I imagine they have already begun their training, otherwise they would have been at the party in Italy as well (and Aymeric would have posted something on his IG)