FAQ

Here are some questions and answers about the Belgian monarchy. If you have any more questions, just add them on the The Benelux Royals Message Board.
If you find any examples of bad grammar or spelling, and I am sure you will, do not hesitate to tell me. I will appreciate it.
This page was last updated on 3 of May 2003.
 
1. What is the name of the Belgian Royal House and how did this family gain the throne?
2. Can a woman become Queen Regnant in Belgium?
3. Have there been any Queen Regnants in Belgium?
4. Where can I find the part of the Constitution that regards the succession in English?
5. Who are in line of succession to the Belgian throne?
6. If the current Act of Succession with cognatic succession had applied when the House of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha became the Royal House of Belgium in 1831, who would then have been Sovereign of Belgium today?
7. Who was the last King to be crowned?
8. Which Monarch reigned for the longest period?
9. Which Monarch reigned for the shortest period?
10. Can a Prince/Princess of Belgium marry whomever he/she wants?
11. What power does the King have today?
12. Which are the Belgian noble titles?
13. What is the Belgian Coat of Arms?
14. Which are the Royal Regalias?
15. Which are the Belgian Orders?
16. How is King Albert II related to other European Monarchs?
1. What is the name of the Belgian Royal House and how did this family gain the throne?
The name is Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha. In 1830 Belgium became an independant country after having been a part of the Netherlands. In 1831 Prince Leopold of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha was elected King and he became King Leopold I.

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2. Can a woman become Queen Regnant in Belgium?
Yes, the Constitution was changed in 1991. Before that Salic Law applied, but now Belgium has cognatic succession, which means that the oldest child inherites the throne.

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3. Have there been any Queen Regnants in Belgium?
No.

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4. Where can I find the part of the Constitution that regards the succession in English?
You can find it right here.

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5. Who are in line of succession to the Belgian throne?
This is the list:
1. Crown Prince Philippe (b. 1960). The King's elder son.
2. Princess Elisabeth (b. 2001). Prince Philippe's daughter.
3. Princess Astrid (b. 1962). The King's daughter.
4. Prince Amadeo (b. 1986). Princess Astrid's elder son.
5. Princess Maria Laura (b. 1988). Princess Astrid's eldest daughter.
6. Prince Joachim (b. 1991). Princess Astrid's younger son.
7. Princess Louisa Maria (b. 1995). Princess Astrid's second daughter.
8. Princess Laetitia Maria (b. 2003). Princess Astrid's youngest daughter.
9. Prince Laurent (b. 1963). The King's younger son.

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6. If the current Act of Succession with cognatic succession had applied when the House of Sachsen-Coburg-Gotha became the Royal House of Belgium in 1831, who would then have been Sovereign of Belgium today?
Stephanie zu Windisch-Graetz. In 1909, King Leopold II would have been succeeded by his daughter Louise. The Monarchs after 1909 would have been Louise (1909-1924), Dorothy (1924-1967), Franz Josef (1967-1981) and Stephanie (from 1981).

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7. Who was the last King to be crowned?
No Belgian King has ever been crowned.

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8. Which Monarch reigned for the longest period?
That was Leopold II, who reigned for 44 years in 1865-1909.

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9. Which Monarch reigned for the shortest period?
King Albert II (1993-) has reigned for 7 years so far. His father, Leopold III, was King for 17 years, 4 nonths and 23 days in 1934-1951.

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10. Can a Prince/Princess of Belgium marry whomever he/she wants?
No, he/she needs the consent of the King.

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11. What power does the King have today?
According to the Constitution he is quite powerful, but in reality he has the same position as e.g. the British Queen. He appoints the Prime Minister, but he always appoints the one that he knows will be accepted by the Parliament.

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12. Which are the Belgian noble titles?
Prince, Duke, Marques, Count, Baron, Knight (Ridder) and Jonkheer.

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13. What is the Belgian Coat of Arms?
A Golden lion on a black background. You find a picture here:

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14. Which are the Royal Regalias?
There are no Belgian Royal Regalias.

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15. Which are the Belgian Orders?

In Belgium there are five orders:

1. The Order of Leopold (Leopoldsorde). Founded in 1832 by King Leopold I to reward civil and military merits. Grandmaster is the King of the Belgians.

2. The Order of the African Star (Orde van de Afrikaanse Ster). Founded in 1888 by King Leopold II for civil and military merits in Kongo. Since Kongo's independance in 1960 the Order has not been granted. 3. The Royal Order of the Lion (Koninklijke Orde van de Leeuw). Founded in 1891 by King Leopold II for civil and military merits in Kongo. Since Kongo's independance in 1960 the Order has not been granted.

4. Order of the Crown (Kroonorde). Founded in 1897 by King Leopold II as state order for Kongo. Since 1908 it's a state order for Belgium. Grandmaster is the King of the Belgians.

5. The Order of Leopold II (Orde van Leopold II). Founded in 1900 by King Leopold II. Grandmaster is the King of the Belgians.

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16. How is King Albert related to other European Monarchs?
Denmark
King Albert II and Queen Margrethe II are third cousins once removed. They are descendants of the Swedish King Oscar II. These are the lines: Oscar II - Carl - Astrid - Albert II and Oscar II - Gustaf V - Gustaf VI Adolf - Ingrid -Margrethe II.
Sweden
King Albert II and King Carl XVI Gustaf are third cousins once removed. They are descendants of the Swedish King Oscar II. These are the lines: Oscar II - Carl - Astrid - Albert II and Oscar II - Gustaf V - Gustaf VI Adolf - Gustaf Adolf - Carl XVI Gustaf.
Norway
King Albert II and King Harald V are first cousins. They are descendants of the Swedish Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland. These are the lines: Carl - Astrid - Albert II and Carl - Märtha - Harald V.
United Kingdom
King Albert II and Queen Elizabeth II are third cousins. They are descendants of the Danish King Christian IX. These are the lines: Christian IX - Frederik VIII - Ingeborg - Astrid - Albert II and Christian IX - Alexandra - George V - George VI - Elizabeth II.
Spain
King Albert II and King Juan Carlos are fourth cousins. They are descendants of the French King Louis Philippe I. These are the lines: Louis Philippe I - Louise - Philippe - Albert I - Leopold III - Albert II and Louis Philippe I - Ferdinand Philippe - Louis Philippe - Louise - Maria - Juan Carlos.
Luxembourg
Grand Duke Henri is King Albert II's nephew. King Albert's sister Josephine-Charlotte is the Grand Duke's mother.
The Netherlands
King Albert II and Queen Beatrix are third cousins once removed. They are descendants of Wilhelm von Nassau-Weilburg, Duke of Nassau. These are the lines: Wilhelm - Sophia - Carl - Astrid - Albert II and Wilhelm - Helene - Emma - Wilhelmine - Juliana - Beatrix.
Liechtenstein
King Albert II and Prince Hans Adam II are third cousins. They are descendants of the Portuguese King Miguel I. These are the lines: Miguel I - Marie José - Elisabeth - Leopold III - Albert II and Miguel I - Marie-Thérèse - Elisabeth - Franz Josef II - Hans Adam II.
Monaco
King Albert II and Prince Rainier III are fourth cousins. They are descendants of Karl Ludwig, Grand Duke of Baden. These are the lines: Karl Ludwig - Josefine - Marie - Albert I - Leopold III - Albert II and Karl Ludwig - Marie Elisabeth - Mary Victoria Douglas-Hamilton - Louis II - Charlotte - Rainier III.
Bulgaria
King Albert II and King Simeon II are third cousins once removed. They are descendants of the French King Louis Philippe I. These are the lines: Louis Philippe I - Louise - Philippe - Albert I - Leopold III - Albert II and Louis Philippe I - Clémentine - Ferdinand I - Boris III - Simeon II.
Greece
King Albert II and King Constantinos II are third cousins. They are descendants of the Danish King Christian IX. These are the lines: Christian IX - Frederik VIII - Ingeborg - Astrid - Albert II and Christian IX - Giorgios I - Konstantinos I - Giorgios II - Konstantinos II.
Portugal
King Albert II and Prince Duarte Pio are second cousins once removed. They are descendants of King Miguel I of Portugal. These are the lines: Miguel I - Marie José - Elisabeth - Leopold III - Albert II and Miguel I - Miguel - Duarte Nuno - Duarte Pio.
Romania
King Albert II and King Mihai I are third cousins. They are descendants of the Danish King Christian IX. These are the lines: Christian IX - Frederik VIII - Ingeborg - Astrid - Albert II and Christian IX - Georgios I - Constantine I - Helena - Mihai I.

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