Belgium Archives - Page 2 of 8 - History of Royal Women

Sisi & her sister-in-law Charlotte of Belgium – A “pretentious little Coburg” (Part three)

Saturday, 11 June 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part two here. Maximilian woke early on the morning of 19 June. Around 5, he received the last sacraments during a short mass. He handed his wedding ring, a rosary and a scapular to Doctor Basch and told them to give them to his mother. He had a breakfast of coffee, bread, chicken and [read more]

Sisi & her sister-in-law Charlotte of Belgium – A “pretentious little Coburg” (Part two)

Thursday, 9 June 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part one here. In the early 1860s, Emperor Napoléon III wished to turn Mexico into a satellite state and needed a figurehead for the empty throne. He chose Maximilian, who needed a challenge, and he accepted the throne against his brother’s advice. There were many doubts about this, but he believed that he could [read more]

Sisi & her sister-in-law Charlotte of Belgium – A “pretentious little Coburg” (Part one)

Tuesday, 7 June 2022, 6:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Charlotte of Belgium was born on 7 June 1840 as the daughter of Leopold I of Belgium and Louise of Orléans. Though her childhood was considered to be happy, she had little contact with her parents. Charlotte was separated from her brothers and was given an entirely different education. She grew up fast, and Charlotte was just [read more]

Princess Astrid of Belgium – A working princess

Sunday, 5 June 2022, 0:00 Moniek Bloks 0

On 5 June 1962, a day before her father’s birthday, Princess Astrid was born as the daughter of the then Prince and Princess of Liège, later King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians – with a grand total of seven names – Astrid Josephine Charlotte Fabrizia Elisabeth Paola Maria – and weighing 3,3 [read more]

Sisi & her daughter-in-law Stéphanie of Belgium – The “emptiness of the heart” (Part four)

Monday, 23 May 2022, 5:55 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part three here. The Empress and Emperor blamed Stéphanie for Rudolf’s death, but she received a heartfelt letter from Queen Elisabeth of Romania, who wrote, “My dearest Stéphanie, My thoughts turn to your almost hourly in your solitude, and the words of your wonderful letter are chiselled deep into my heart. This letter of [read more]

Sisi & her daughter-in-law Stéphanie of Belgium – The “emptiness of the heart” (Part three)

Monday, 23 May 2022, 5:00 Moniek Bloks 0

Read part two here. Their duties soon took them away from their young daughter. Stéphanie and Rudolf visited Constantinople and Bulgaria, followed by visits to Carinthia, Carniola, Tyrol, Albania, Greece and Montenegro. They returned to Belgium to celebrate Stéphanie’s father’s 50th birthday in 1885. The following year, both Rudolf and Stéphanie became ill. Stéphanie was [read more]