Albert II of Belgium

Sworn in before the Belgian parliament on 9 August 1993, Albert II served as King of the Belgians for two decades until his abdication in 2013. His tenure followed the death of his brother, King Baudouin, and concluded when he stepped down on Belgian National Day to be succeeded by his eldest son, Philippe.

Early Life and Exile

Born in 1934 at the Château of Stuyvenberg in Laeken, Albert was the second son of King Leopold III and Princess Astrid of Sweden. His childhood was marked by the 1935 death of his mother and the instability of the Second World War. During the German occupation, he fled to France and Spain before returning to Belgium. In 1944, the royal family was deported to Germany and Austria, remaining in exile in Switzerland until 1950. He completed his education at Institut Le Rosey.

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Marriage and Family

In 1958, Albert met Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria while attending the coronation of Pope John XXIII in the Vatican. The couple married on 2 July 1959. They have three children: Philippe, Astrid, and Laurent, all born at Belvédère Château in Brussels. In 2020, following legal proceedings, Albert acknowledged Delphine Boël as his daughter. The Brussels Court of Appeal subsequently recognized her as a princess of Belgium with the surname Saxe-Coburg.

Constitutional Reign

As monarch, Albert represented Belgium in international trade missions, state visits, and high-level diplomacy. He served as a Senator by Right from 1958 until his ascension to the throne in 1993. His reign included overseeing the resolution of a prolonged political crisis in 2010–2011, during which he swore in the new government. Outside of his constitutional duties, he established the Prince Albert Foundation in 1984 to advance expertise in foreign trade.

Abdication and Honours

On 3 July 2013, Albert announced his intention to abdicate due to health concerns. He formally signed the abdication documents on 21 July 2013. Throughout his life, he received numerous international distinctions, including the Gold Olympic Order in 1993, the Order of the Elephant in 1968, and the Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece in both 1962 and 1994. He held the military rank of general.