The fact that children and grandchildren of the King are HRH prince(ss) of Belgium is because there is a gender neutral succession. Princess Eleonore is in the same position as her uncle prince Laurent. His children are also HRH and princess and prince of Belgium.
I agree that we might see a judge rule that Delphine Boel is not the daughter of THE king and just his half-sister and as such not entitled to the style HRH and the title princess of Belgium.
The other part has to do with her surname. As the official child of Albert II she could get of Belgium as her surname. There is also a change that she might claim the titles Duchess of Saxony and princess of Sase-Coburg. Her grandfather Leopold III made clear that those titles still are with the family even if they don't use them.
Delphine's grandfather Leopold III also added the princely title of Rethy to the family styles. It is possible that we might see Delphine becoming princess of Rethy or Duchess in Saxony and princess of Sase-Coburg. If she was to get either of those titles that might also indicate what the title for the children of the twins of prince Laurent would be and possibly for all great grandchildren of the monarch.
Revised Artikel 85 of the Constitution on 12 November 2015 stipulates as "prince(ss) of Belgium children and grandchildren of the King and children and grandchildren of the Crown Prince(ss).
I guess any specialist in Constitutional Law would not have any problem in establishing that the the quotation "children and grandchildren of the King" refers to the acting King, Philippe, and not to the emmerit one, Albert II, in spite that he maintains his title.
As someone posted, he is no longer THE King.
So, under the present Constitution, a daughter of Pss Eleonore with Mr Jean Toutlemonde would still be a princess ?
Does the Constitution specifies the present King, or the king reigning in 2015 ?
Could a child of Pss Esmeralda (daughter of a reigning King) claim the title of Prince ?
819
Message Thread
« Back to index