Every July 21st, Belgium celebrates its National Day with great elegance. This date marks the anniversary of Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg swearing in as the first King of the Belgians on July 21, 1831. This historical moment occurred just a year after Belgium gained its independence. The day is filled with official events, presided over by the Royal Family.
However, this year brought a notable event as well. Princess Delphine, the daughter of King Albert II from a relationship outside of marriage, shared a meaningful photograph on her public profiles. In the image, she appears with her father, Queen Paola, and her two children—Princess Josephine, who is 20, and Prince Oscar, aged 16. It is significant that this is the first time the king, who abdicated in favor of the current King Philippe on July 21, 2013, has posed publicly with his grandchildren.
In her post, Delphine expressed that it is unusual for her to share family photos. However, she wanted to celebrate a "positive evolution" on this special occasion. She mentioned that the photograph was taken in June, during the month when the King celebrated his 90th birthday.
Delphine also shared a picture with her two children, Oscar and Josephine, signifying that the family bond has been growing stronger. "I wanted to celebrate this day with my loved ones," she shared.
It’s important to remember that Delphine only discovered that King Albert was her father when she was 17, previously believing he was merely a close friend of her mother. In 2020, she was officially recognized as his legitimate daughter, allowing her to take her father’s surname and receive a royal title. According to Delphine, her children had the opportunity to meet their grandfather for the first time that same year, starting to build a connection with him, albeit from a distance until now.
Delphine and her partner, Jim O’Hare, also joined the celebrations in Brussels, the country’s capital, for National Day. The events included a military parade at the Palace Square in front of the Royal Palace, featuring the Army, emergency services, and a showcase of combat aircraft.
Later in 2023, Delphine sparked controversy when her lawyer sent a letter to the Belgian Prime Minister, addressing the unequal treatment she felt compared to her siblings, Princes Astrid and Laurent. Her main grievance was that she hadn’t been invited to the King’s Day events on November 15. The existing protocol states that only active members of the Royal Family, or those receiving a royal allowance, are permitted to attend. While Delphine opted out of this allowance, she believed it was unfair not to be included in certain official events.
In conclusion, Belgium’s National Day not only served as a commemoration of the country’s history but also highlighted the evolving dynamics within the Royal Family, particularly in Princess Delphine’s life.
For more details about the celebrations, you can visit Yahoo Life.
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