Posted by CatherineNy
on 5/11/2009, 3:09:52, in reply to "Re: Prince Filip and Depression"
148.168.127.10
Well, the change in the law may also have made him feel like a loser. "We've changed the succession law, and we'd really rather have your sister as monarch" -- not a political message guaranteed to cheer a crown prince up.
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: --Previous Message--
: I was wondering, correct me if I am wrong.
: Wasnot Prince Filip in depression when he
: meet mathilde?
:
: I can vaguely remember that persons were
: saying that he was in depression because he
: was under a lot of pressure to find a
: suitable wife?
:
: Can anyone shed some light on that.
: Thanks
:
: Where did you hear this? I find this fact
: somewhat surprising -- especially the
: reason. After all: by the time Filip and
: Mathilde met (around 1996, it has been
: stated), the succession law had already
: changed.
:
: And in fact, the dynasty was secured with
: the births of Princess Astrid's first four
: children (remember that the new law was
: absolute primogeniture, applied
: retroactively). So there were seven dynasts
: in line to the Belgian throne.
:
: Moreover, the princess was so highly popular
: that there was even speculation that perhaps
: her older brother might step aside in the
: succession, so that she and her family would
: assume the throne after their father, King
: Albert II.
:
: Of course, it was just that -- speculation.
: Practically speaking, it was hardly an
: issue: whether or not Filip was to remain a
: lifelong bachelor, he was to become the
: eventual king, period.
:
: If anything, I should think that the change
: in succession law would have taken the
: pressure off Filip to marry and produce
: heirs -- precisely because the throne was
: secured. As such, he had the leisurely time
: to find a suitable wife.
:
: