Albert II of Belgium: An Absent Father

        Albert II of Belgium recently abdicated in favor of his son, Philippe. It is said that Albert and his wife, Queen Paola, nee Ruffo di Calabria, were not the best parents to their three children: Philippe, Astrid and Laurent. Albert and Paola had marital difficulties, including a period acknowledged by the King in one of his Christmas speeches. Luckily, Albert's brother, King Baudouin and his wife, Queen Fabiola, took a parental role for their nephews and niece. King Philippe and his family are winning over their people. 

Albert of Belgium- credit: Voka Kamer van Koophandel Limburg

         Albert's abdication brought a hidden secret into the light. A Belgian woman named Delphine Boël claimed that Albert was her father and she was the result of an affair he had with her mother, Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps during the time referenced in the king's speech. While Albert was the king of the Belgians, he had immunity under the law. In 2003, Delphine petitioned the court for DNA samples from Albert, Philippe and Astrid. However, the courts did not grant her request. After Albert abdicated in 2013, Delphine again petitioned for his DNA. The court again ruled against her. Delphine appealed. In 2018, the courts ruled that her putative father, an extremely wealthy man Jonkheer Jacques Boël, was not her biological father and ordered that Albert submit to a DNA test. Albert refused. In 2019, the court ruled that Albert would be fined 5,000 euros for each day he continued to refuse. At last, Albert relented and took the DNA test. Delphine was vindicated when it showed that Albert was her biological father. Courts still must determine whether Albert is Delphine's legal father. 

Delphine and her daughter- credit: Luc Van Braekel 

        Many say that Delphine has a family resemblance to her grandmother, Crown Princess Astrid, as well as her half sister, Astrid. Delphine has maintained that she persisted in her claims not for money, as her legal father was extremely wealthy, but rather justice. It is claimed her mother had an affair with Albert for over eighteen years, and Albert even visited her as a child. Rumors had swirled about her paternity since 1999, when Mario Danneels published an unauthorized biography of Queen Paola that discussed this affair. At the time, both Delphine and her mother refused to comment on the issue. It seems that Delphine was only seeking vindication, rather than any monetary windfall. Unfortunately, Albert treated her rather badly, forcing her to draw out the matter over many years before she finally confirmed the truth. 

Astrid, Crown Princess of Belgium. Mother of Albert and Grandmother of Delphine.