--Previous Message--
: Astrid has taken over the role of the Royal
: who supports foreign trade missions. During
: Boudewijn's reign this role was taken up by
: Albert and after he succeeded Philippe was
: given the position. Had the Duchess of
: Brabant been an adult she would have been
: the natural choice for the role but until
: she is ready to take it on aunt Astrid
: supports the King in this special position.
:
: --Previous Message--
: Well at this stage anything he has to say
: about his family will damage the monarchy
: further. That's why the government will have
: to make it clear that it his best interest
: to remain silent and at a comfortable
: distance if he does not want to loose his
: appanage. And to answer the question whether
: he would be able to earn his own keep: No
: that is precisely the reason why he kept his
: apanage so far. Astrid on the other hand
: could survive without her apanage as her
: husband is wealthy. We have been discussing
: Laurent but Astrid is another matter which
: needs further consideration. She was
: expected to back-up the King and Queen but
: so far she has not been given that role. She
: is an active royal but not as active as one
: would have expected her to be.
:
:
: --Previous Message--
: What i mean is that he could reveal some of
: the orthodox Catholic points of view they
: had. Both kings so far are respected but if
: Laurent lifts the lid of their personal
: political stances and beliefs it could have
: a negative effect on how those monarchs are
: seen in the future.
: Don't forget that Albert II still has a
: lawsuit waiting by the woman claiming to be
: his daughter.
:
: --Previous Message--
: I'm confused about this -- are you saying
: that
: the BRF would look bad because Laurent would
: reveal that his uncle was/father is a devout
: Catholic? I think people have figured that
: out already.
:
: --Previous Message--
: If they cut Laurent off anything is
: possible.
: A tell all book being part of the minor
: unsettling options. Laurent has expensive
: taste and a family to support. We have seen
: some potential antics by his father's
: halfsister Marie Christine im afraid Laurent
: could prove to be much worse.
: Unfortunately for the Belgian court the two
: monarchs he could reveal most about his
: father and his uncle both were/became very
: Catholic and Catholicism isn't very popular
: in Belgium right now.
:
: --Previous Message--
: I'm wondering what is the alternative.
: Prince
: Laurent certainly seems to have, issues ,
: as they say. Can he realistically earn an
: income on his own? Is this another Duke of
: Windsor scenario? Didn't George VI arrange
: for some sort of payoff that came out of his
: personal funds? As the story goes, the King
: had to come up with money for the Duke to
: live a King's lifestyle; otherwise he might
: embarrass the royal family more.
: In this case, could there be a
: "tell-all" book in the future? As
: an American, I really don't know anything
: about this, but this thread is
: thought-provoking, so thought I'd jump in.
:
: --Previous Message--
: "... Could the Royal Family not create
: an income from their purse if HRH was
: removed from the Civil List? Seems like it
: would be win/win for all...."
:
: Please, do say you are not suggesting
: Prince Laurent will be compensated for his
: immature and irresponsible behaviour by
: being 'paif off' by the RF? Am not even
: talking about the diplomatical risks (some
: would even say scandals) he caused by his
: conduct ?
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