Baudouin
King of the Belgians
King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola
Reign	17 July 1951 – 31 July 1993 (42 years)
Born	7 September 1930(1930-09-07)
Birthplace	Laeken, Belgium
Died	31 July 1993 (aged 62)
Place of death	Motril, Spain
Predecessor	Leopold III
Successor	Albert II
Consort	Doña Fabiola Fernanda María de las Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y Aragón
Royal House	Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Father	Leopold III
Mother	Astrid of Sweden

Baudouin I (French: Baudouin Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave or Dutch: Boudewijn Albert Karel Leopold Axel Marie Gustaaf) (7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993) reigned as King of the Belgians from 1951 to 1993. Monarchy in Belgium is Constitutional and popular in nature The hereditary Monarch Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Laken ( Dutch) or Laeken ( French) is a residential suburb in north-west Brussels ( Postal code: B-1020 Belgium. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Motril is a town and Municipality on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Granada, Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Leopold III (born as Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel (French or Leopold Filips Karel Albert Meinrad Hubertus Maria Miguel Life Prince Albert was sent to the Swiss private school Institut Le Rosey for his pre-university education Biography Her Excellency Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón was the third daughter of Don Gonzalo de Mora y Fernández Riera y del Olmo Marquess of Casa Riera Saxe-Coburg and Gotha or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha served as the name of the two German duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha in Leopold III (born as Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel (French or Leopold Filips Karel Albert Meinrad Hubertus Maria Miguel Early life Princess Astrid of Sweden was born in Stockholm on November 17 1905 French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Events 1251 BC - A Solar eclipse on this date might mark the birth of legendary Heracles at Thebes Greece. Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) He was the eldest son of King Leopold III (1901-1983) and his first wife, Princess Astrid of Sweden (1905-1935). Leopold III (born as Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel (French or Leopold Filips Karel Albert Meinrad Hubertus Maria Miguel Princess is the feminine form of Prince (from Latin Princeps, meaning principal citizen Early life Princess Astrid of Sweden was born in Stockholm on November 17 1905 Baudouin is the French form of his name, which is mostly used outside of Belgium; his Dutch name is Boudewijn. Very rarely his name is anglicized as Baldwin.

Ascent to the throne

Baudouin was born in Stuyvenberg Castle, Laeken in Belgium. Laken ( Dutch) or Laeken ( French) is a residential suburb in north-west Brussels ( Postal code: B-1020 Belgium. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those On 1 August 1950 his father King Leopold III requested the Belgian Government and the Parliament to approve a law delegating his royal powers to his son, Prince Baudouin, who took the constitutional oath before the United Chambers of the Belgian Parliament as Prince Royal on 11 August 1950. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Leopold III (born as Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel (French or Leopold Filips Karel Albert Meinrad Hubertus Maria Miguel The executive branch of the Belgian federal government consists of ministers and secretaries of state ("junior" ministers or smaller departments The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament It consists of the Chamber of Representatives (Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers la Chambre des Représentants The Belgian Federal Parliament is a bicameral parliament It consists of the Chamber of Representatives (Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers la Chambre des Représentants Events 2492 BC - Traditional date of the defeat of Bel by Hayk, progenitor and founder of the Armenian nation Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. He ascended the throne and became the fifth King of the Belgians upon taking the constitutional oath on 17 July 1951, one day following his father's abdication. Events 180 - Twelve inhabitants of Scillium in North Africa are executed for being Christians Year 1951 ( MCMLI) was a Common year starting on Monday. Events of 1951 January

Part of Leopold III's unpopularity was the result of a second marriage in 1941 to Mary Lilian Baels, an English-born Belgian commoner, later known as Princess de Réthy. Princess Lilian of Belgium ( born Mary Lilian Baels) ( November 28, 1916 &ndash June 7, 2002) was best known as More controversial had been Leopold's decision to surrender to Nazi Germany during World War II, when Belgium was invaded in 1940; many Belgians questioned his loyalties, but a commission of inquiry exonerated him of treason after World War II. World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including Though reinstated in a plebiscite, the controversy surrounding Leopold led to his abdication. Abdication (from the Latin abdicatio, disowning renouncing from ab, away from and dicare, to declare to proclaim as not belonging to one

Love and Marriage

On December 15, 1960, Baudouin was married in Brussels to Doña Fabiola Fernanda María de las Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y Aragón, a former nurse and a writer of children's stories. Events 533 - Byzantine general Belisarius defeats the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, at the Battle of Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Biography Her Excellency Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón was the third daughter of Don Gonzalo de Mora y Fernández Riera y del Olmo Marquess of Casa Riera Queen Fabiola is immensely popular for her good cheer, personal modesty, and devotion to social causes. The Belgian royal couple had no children, which was a source of much sadness in the marriage, and would provide a partial reason why the King was so uncomfortable with the topic of abortion. An When in 1990, the Belgian government passed a law drastically liberalising abortion, King Baudoin could not bring himself to sign.

There was some concern among politicians close to the King that he might actually be in love with his stepmother, Princess Lilian, suspicions fueled by secret recordings of telephone conversations between the two. Princess Lilian of Belgium ( born Mary Lilian Baels) ( November 28, 1916 &ndash June 7, 2002) was best known as The post-wedding actions of the Baudoin's father and stepmother only increased speculation; they briskly moved out of the royal palace at Laeken and reportedly broke off relations with Baudouin for some time. Laken ( Dutch) or Laeken ( French) is a residential suburb in north-west Brussels ( Postal code: B-1020 Belgium.

Notable events

Belgian Royalty
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha

Leopold I Children    Crown Prince Louis-Philippe    Leopold II    Philippe, Count of Flanders    Charlotte, Empress of Mexico Grandchildren    Prince Baudouin    Princess Josephine Marie    Princess Henriette, Duchess of Vendome and Alencon    Josephine Caroline, Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen    Albert I Leopold II Children    Louise-Marie, Princess of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha    Leopold, Duke of Brabant    Stéphanie, Crown Princess of Austria    Clémentine, Princess Napoléon Albert I Children    Leopold III    Prince Charles    Marie-José, Queen of Italy Leopold III Children    Joséphine-Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg    Baudouin I    Albert II    Prince Alexander    Princess Marie-Christine    Princess Maria-Esmeralda Baudouin I Albert II Children    Philippe, Duke of Brabant    Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este    Prince Laurent Grandchildren    Princess Elisabeth    Prince Gabriel    Prince Emmanuel    Princess Eléonore    Princess Louise    Prince Nicolas    Prince Aymeric

During Baudouin's reign the colony of Belgian Congo was given its independence, and the King personally attended the festivities; he gave a speech that was widely seen as insensitive to the atrocities in the Congo, and the speech received a blistering response by Congolese Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba. Saxe-Coburg and Gotha or Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha served as the name of the two German duchies of Saxe-Coburg and Saxe-Gotha in Leopold I ( Leopold George Christian Frederick (in German Leopold Georg Christian Friedrich) Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later Titles His Royal Highness Prince Louis-Philippe Crown Prince of Belgium Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Duke of Saxony (1833-1834 Leopold II (Léopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor Leopold Lodewijk Filips Maria Victor (9 April 1835 – 17 December 1909 was King of the Belgians. Prince Philippe Count of Flanders, Prince of Belgium ( Philippe Eugène Ferdinand Marie Clément Baudouin Léopold Georges (French or Filips Eugeen Ferdinand Marie Clemens Charlotte of Belgium ( Princess Marie Charlotte Amélie Augustine Victoire Clémentine Léopoldine of Belgium) ( 7 June, 1840 &ndash 19 January Death Baudouin died in Brussels on 23 January, 1891, a day after the anniversary of his cousin Léopold's death Princess Henriette of Belgium ( Henriette Marie Charlotte Antoinette ( French) or Henriëtte Marie Charlotte Antonia ( Albert I (8 April 1875 &ndash 17 February 1934 was the third King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934 Leopold II (Léopold Louis Philippe Marie Victor Leopold Lodewijk Filips Maria Victor (9 April 1835 – 17 December 1909 was King of the Belgians. Louise-Marie Amélie Princess of Belgium ( 18 February 1858 in Brussels &ndash 1 March 1924 in Wiesbaden) was Early life At birth Leopold was styled Count of Hainaut, as the eldest son of the then crown prince Princess Stéphanie of Belgium (Stéphanie Clotilde Louise Herminie Marie Charlotte Stefanie Clotilde Louise Hermine Marie Charlotte ( 21 May, 1864 &ndash 23 Albert I (8 April 1875 &ndash 17 February 1934 was the third King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934 Leopold III (born as Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel (French or Leopold Filips Karel Albert Meinrad Hubertus Maria Miguel Prince Charles Count of Flanders, Prince of Belgium ( Charles Théodore Henri Antoine Meinrad ( French) or Karel Theodoor Hendrik Anton Meinrad ( Princess Marie José of Belgium ( Marie José Charlotte Sophie Louisa Amélie Henriette Olga Gabrielle) ( 4 August 1906 &ndash 27 January Leopold III (born as Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel (French or Leopold Filips Karel Albert Meinrad Hubertus Maria Miguel Life Prince Albert was sent to the Swiss private school Institut Le Rosey for his pre-university education Prince Alexander of Belgium ( Alexandre Emmanuel Henri Albert Marie Léopold (French or Alexander Emanuel Hendrik Albert Maria Leopold (Dutch (b Princess Marie-Christine of Belgium ( Marie-Christine Daphné Astrid Elisabeth Léopoldine, born 6 February, 1951 in Laeken, Belgium Princess Marie-Esméralda of Belgium ( Marie-Esméralda Adelaide Lilian Anna Léopoldine, born September 30, 1956, Laeken, Belgium) Life Prince Albert was sent to the Swiss private school Institut Le Rosey for his pre-university education Biography Prince Philippe was educated at the Belgian Royal Military School Ancestry Place in succession Prince Laurent used to be third in line to the throne but this changed when the constitution was altered so that women would enjoy the same succession rights For the consort of Albert I who was also Princess of Belgium see Elisabeth Gabriele of Bavaria Princess Elisabeth of Belgium ( Élisabeth Prince Emmanuel of Belgium ( Emmanuel Léopold Guillaume François Marie) is a grandchild of King Albert II of Belgium. Princess Eléonore of Belgium (Eléonore Fabiola Victoria Anne Marie born 16 April 2008) is the second daughter and fourth child of Prince Philippe of Princess Louise of Belgium ( Louise Sophie Mary) born Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, February 6, 2004, is the first child of Prince Laurent Place in succession Prince Laurent used to be third in line to the throne but this changed when the constitution was altered so that women would enjoy the same succession rights Place in succession Prince Laurent used to be third in line to the throne but this changed when the constitution was altered so that women would enjoy the same succession rights The Belgian Congo ( Dutch: Belgisch Kongo French: Congo Belge German: Belgisch Kongo was the formal title of present-day Democratic Republic Patrice Émery Lumumba ( 2 July, 1925 – 17 January, 1961) was an African anti-colonial leader and the first legally elected Prime

In 1976, on the 25th anniversary of Baudouin's accession, the King Baudouin Foundation was formed, with the aim of improving the living conditions of the Belgian people. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The King Baudouin Foundation (KBF is a public benefit foundation in Brussels, Belgium, established in 1976.

Baudouin also made some visits to the Spanish leader Francisco Franco, a family friend of his wife, Fabiola. Francisco Paulino Hermenegildo Teódulo Franco y Bahamonde (born December 4, 1892 in Ferrol, died November 20, 1975 in Madrid Biography Her Excellency Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón was the third daughter of Don Gonzalo de Mora y Fernández Riera y del Olmo Marquess of Casa Riera

Religious influences

Baudouin was a deeply religious Roman Catholic. Some thought after his accession to the throne that he wanted to abdicate, in order to become a priest. Royal advisers suggested at the time that the Belgian monarchy would probably not survive two abdications in a row. Through the influence of Leo Cardinal Suenens, Baudouin participated in the growing Catholic Charismatic Renewal and regularly went on pilgrimages to the French shrine of Paray-le-Monial. Leo Jozef Suenens ( July 16, 1904 &mdash May 6, 1996) was a Belgian Prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. The Catholic Charismatic Renewal is a movement within the Catholic Church emphasizing the release of more of the power and gifts of the Holy Spirit in a continuing and New Pentecost Paray-le-Monial is a town and commune of central France, in the region of Burgundy, in the Saône-et-Loire département

In 1990, when a law, submitted by Roger Lallemand and Lucienne Herman-Michielsens, liberalising Belgium's abortion laws was approved by Parliament, he refused to give Royal Assent, an unprecedented act in Belgium, although without much significance since (as in most modern constitutional and popular monarchies) Royal Assent has long been a formality. Roger Lallemand ( Quevaucamps, 17 January 1932) is a Walloon - Belgian Lawyer and Socialist politician Lucienne Adeline Jeanne Ida Michielsens ( Ghent, 13 March 1926 - 22 January 1995) was a Belgian liberal politician for the An The granting of Royal Assent is the formal method by which a constitutional monarch completes the legislative process of Lawmaking by formally assenting to an Because of his religious convictions, Baudouin asked the Government to declare him temporarily unable to reign so that he could avoid signing the measure into law ([1]). The Government under Wilfried Martens complied with his request on April 4, 1990. ( ˈʋeɫfɾit ˈmɑɾtəns (born Wilfried Achiel Emma Martens, 19 April 1936 is a Belgian Politician. Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) According to the provisions of the Belgian Constitution, in the event the King is temporarily unable to reign, the Government as a whole fulfills the role of Head of State. The Constitution of Belgium dates back to 1831 Since then Belgium has been a Parliamentary monarchy that applies the principles of Ministerial Head of state is the generic term for the individual or collective office that serves as the chief public representative of a Monarchic or Republican Nation-state All members of the Government signed the bill, and the next day (April 5, 1990) the Government declared that Baudouin was capable of reigning again. Events 456 - St Patrick returns to Ireland as a missionary bishop Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) (It is a point of contention whether Baudouin abdicated for two days so as not to have to approve the law, while still allowing abortions to be legalised in Belgium, or whether he was merely suspended for the day. Abdication (from the Latin abdicatio, disowning renouncing from ab, away from and dicare, to declare to proclaim as not belonging to one )

Death, Succession and Legacy

Statue of King Baudouin

He reigned for 42 years until dying of heart failure on July 31, 1993 in the Villa Astrida in Motril, in the south of Spain. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Motril is a town and Municipality on the Mediterranean coast in the province of Granada, Spain. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. His death was unexpected, and sent much of Belgium into a period of deep mourning. It was a mark of great affection and respect for King Baudoin that Queen Elizabeth II attended the funeral in person; by tradition the British monarch attends only those funerals which are of close family members or such politicians as prime ministers who die while in office. For the ship see RMS Queen Elizabeth 2 Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Context States headed by Elizabeth II TalkCommonewalth realm.--> The monarchy

King Baudoin was interred in the royal vault at the Church of Our Lady, Laeken Cemetery, Brussels, Belgium. Brussels (Bruxelles pronounced; Brussel pronounced) officially the Brussels Capital-Region, is

Baudouin was succeeded by his younger brother, who became King Albert II. Life Prince Albert was sent to the Swiss private school Institut Le Rosey for his pre-university education

After Leopold's abdication in 1951, Baudoin had brought stability, but not harmony, to a country gripped by a struggle between Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia. At the time of his death Belgium had begun a far-reaching federalisation that made the maintenance of Belgian unity questionable. The wave of mourning over Baudoin's passing brought Flemings and Walloons together in support of the monarchy, and there was no support for a deputy who shouted in favour of a European republic before Albert took his oath. It was thought by some that the rush to full separation into independent states, anticipated for early in the next century, would be halted by the new king's influence and the resurgent commitment to the dynasty. [2]

Ancestry

See also

• Kings of Belgium family tree

• Crown Council of Belgium
• Royal Trust
• Herman Liebaers (Marshal of the Royal Household)
• André Molitor (private secretary)
• Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou (private secretary)

References

• A. Leopold I ( Leopold George Christian Frederick (in German Leopold Georg Christian Friedrich) Prince of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, later Prince Philippe Count of Flanders, Prince of Belgium ( Philippe Eugène Ferdinand Marie Clément Baudouin Léopold Georges (French or Filips Eugeen Ferdinand Marie Clemens Albert I (8 April 1875 &ndash 17 February 1934 was the third King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934 Prince Karl Anton Joachim Zephyrin Friedrich of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen/of Hohenzollern ( 7 September 1811 - 2 June 1885) was head of the Marie Luise Alexandrine Karoline ( Sigmaringen, 17 November 1845 - Brussels, 26 November 1912) was a Princess of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen Josephine Friederike Luise Princess of Baden ( 21 October 1813 - 19 June[[ 900]] was born at Mannheim, the daughter of Karl (1786-1818 Leopold III (born as Léopold Philippe Charles Albert Meinrad Hubertus Marie Miguel (French or Leopold Filips Karel Albert Meinrad Hubertus Maria Miguel Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria ( 4 December, 1808 &ndash 15 November, 1888) was a member of a junior branch of the House of Duke Karl-Theodor in Bavaria ( August 9, 1839 - November 30, 1909) was a member of the House of Wittelsbach and a well-known Ophthalmologist Children For the daughter of Philippe and Mathilde see Princess Elisabeth of Belgium For the Empress Elisabeth of Austria born Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria see Miguel I ( Miguel Maria do Patrocínio João Carlos Francisco de Assis Xavier de Paula Pedro de Alcântara António Rafael Gabriel Joaquim José Gonzaga Evaristo de Bragança e Life Maria José was the fourth child and third daughter of King Miguel I of Portugal and his wife Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg. Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg ( 3 April, 1831, Kleinheubach, near Miltenberg - 16 December, 1909, Oscar I, born Joseph François Oscar Bernadotte ( July 4, 1799, Paris &ndash July 8, 1859, Stockholm Early life At his birth in Stockholm Oscar Frederik was created Duke of Östergötland. Joséphine of Leuchtenberg ( 14 March, 1807 - 7 June, 1876) was the Queen consort of Oscar I of Sweden and Norway History On August 27, 1897, he married Princess Ingeborg of Denmark. Wilhelm Duke of Nassau ( Given names: Georg Wilhelm August Heinrich Belgicus zu Nassau) ( 14 June, 1792, Kirchheimbolanden - 20 Sofia Wilhelmina Mariana Henrietta of Nassau ( July 9, 1836 &ndash December 30, 1913) was Queen consort of Sweden Early life Princess Astrid of Sweden was born in Stockholm on November 17 1905 Christian IX ( April 8, 1818 - January 29, 1906) was King of Denmark from November 16, 1863 to January 29 Frederik VIII (Christian Frederik Vilhelm Carl ( June 3, 1843 &ndash May 14, 1912) was King of Denmark from 1906 to 1912 Louise of Hesse (Luise Wilhelmine Friederike Caroline Auguste Julie von Hessen-Kassel Louise Wilhelmine Frederikke Caroline Auguste Julie ( 7 September 1817, Princess Ingeborg of Denmark ( Ingeborg Charlotte Caroline Frederikke; 2 August 1878 - 11 March 1958) was the second daughter and fifth Biography He was born in Stockholm Palace and dubbed Duke of Skåne at birth Queen Louise of Denmark ( October 31, 1851 &mdash March 20, 1926) was a princess of Sweden and the Queen consort of Frederik Princess Louise of the Netherlands (Wilhelmina Frederika Alexandrine Anna Louise ( August 5, 1828 – March 30, 1871) later Queen This is a Family tree of the Kings of Belgium. See also Dutch monarchs family tree A style of office, or honorific, is a term which by Tradition or Law precedes a reference to a person who holds a post or Title, or to the Majesty is an English word derived ultimately from the Latin Maiestas, meaning Greatness. The Crown Council of Belgium is composed of the King of the Belgians, the Ministers and the Ministers of State. The Royal Trust (Dutch Koninklijke Schenking; French Donation Royale) was proposed in a letter by king Leopold II of Belgium on 9 April Herman Liebaers (b Tienen, 1919 is a Belgian linguist He was the first Fleming to become Marshal of the Royal Household of the Royal Court André Molitor (1911&ndash 4 June 2005) is a former Belgian senior civil servant of the Belgian State and former principal private secretary of King Jacques van Ypersele de Strihou (born 5 December 1936) is the Principal Private Secretary to the King of Belgium. Molitor, La fonction royale en Belgique, Brussels, 1979
• J. Stengers, De koningen der Belgen. Van Leopold I tot Albert II, Leuven, 1997.
• Kardinaal Suenens, Koning Boudewijn. Het getuigenis van een leven, Leuven, 1995.
• Kerstrede 18. 12. 1975, (ed. V. Neels), Wij Boudewijn, Koning der Belgen. Het politiek, sociaal en moreel testament van een nobel vorst, deel II, Gent, 1996.
• H. le Paige (dir. ), Questions royales, Réflexions à propos de la mort d'un roi et sur la médiatisation de l'évènement, Brussels, 1994.