Posted by Lodewijk
on 5/11/2009, 15:01:06, in reply to "Re: Prince Filip and Depression"
91.96.228.189
and spent some time in hospital for treatment. I think Faith simply confused these two. Some think that the change of the succession law which was probably aimed against Laurent contributet to his condition. Philippe was most likely quite unhappy at times, but that doesn´t qualify as depression.
And the book is nothing to write home about imo. The classical Van Den Berghe opus. A bit of research mixed with gossiping and uninspired copy&paste passages. And already outdated by events.
I recommend the biography on Prince Philippe by Barend Leyts et al. published in 2007, a profoundly written book, well researched, quite balanced and since it´s of common interest - they also spend some pages on Philippe´s love life pre-marriage. 
--Previous Message--
: 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.
:
: --Previous Message--
: --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.
:
:
:
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