Princess Delphine of Belgium
How does she feel about the royal family today?
Princess Delphine of Belgium
© Dana Press
It has been almost two years since Delphine Boël became Princess of Belgium. On July 21, 2022, she will be allowed to appear for the second time at the military parade on National Day with the royal family. But how is her relationship with her new old relatives now?
On October 5, 2020, Princess Delphine, 54, touched a number of royal fans with tears at her first press conference. For a long time she didn’t know that former King Albert of Belgium, 88, is her father, only knowing him as her mother’s nice friend. At the age of 17, Delphine, whose real last name is Boël, found out about his identity, later fought for years in court for the recognition of her title – and won. Since October 2020, Albert’s illegitimate daughter has been allowed to call herself Royal Highness Princess Delphine of Belgium.
How is her once strained relationship with her birth father now, and has Delphine become closer to her previously unknown relatives?
Princess Delphine of Belgium: Your children now know their cousins
On Belgium’s national day, July 21, Princess Delphine will sit next to the royal family for the second time to watch the military parade. But was she only invited out of courtesy, or does she really belong? According to the daily newspaper “Het Nieuwsblad”, Delphine also maintains contact with her “new” family in addition to official appointments.
Chris Michel, director of the documentary “Delphine. Mijn verhaal.” (in English: “Delphine. My story.”) says: “When there is a birthday party or a barbecue in the family, Delphine gets an invitation and sees Albert again on the occasion. Her partner Jim and their two children are also always invited . Daughter Josephine and son Oscar now know their cousins.”
Delphine “does not seek contact” with the royal family more often
According to “Het Nieuwsblad”, the princess told journalist Emmanuelle Jowa in autumn 2021 that the family would be “at the beginning of a new family relationship, a reconstruction”. But the artist also reveals that she “didn’t seek contact more often”. The reason? Everyone, including Delphine herself, would work hard and don’t want to suddenly neglect their friends.
Despite years of litigation, Delphine’s contact with former King Albert is “miraculously” good again, which she hardly expected, explains Chris Michel, who was allowed to interview the princess for several hours for his documentary.
Former Queen Paola, Former King Albert and Princess Delphine (left to right) at a meeting at Belvedere Palace in Brussels on October 25, 2020.
© KONINKLIJK PALEIS BRUSSEL / dana press
Trouble with these two Belgian royals?
According to Emmanuelle Jowa, Delphine gets along well with Princess Astrid, 60. She wholeheartedly supports her half-sister. However, half-brother King Philippe, 62, was the first to approach Delphine and welcomed her into the family.
Contact with two family members should not be so good: Old Queen Paola, 84, allegedly tried to turn down a meeting with Delphine and avoid any conversation. A source told Het Nieuwsblad: “Paola will of course always see Delphine as the result of her husband’s infidelity, as a reminder of the most painful years of their marriage.”
Princess Delphine and King Philippe meet at the Royal Palace in Brussels on October 9, 2020.
© KONINKLIJK PALEIS BRUSSEL / dana press
Other sources claim Delphine’s relationship with her half-brother Prince Laurent, 58, is also difficult. That would come as a surprise, however, as he was the only one who supported her in the fight for title recognition. “It’s not like they’re fighting, but Laurent feels like Delphine isn’t on his side anymore,” claims an insider. During the trial, she is said to have distanced herself from Laurent so as not to hurt her father’s feelings. “Laurent now feels that Delphine is doing everything she can to be in the good graces of her new family. And he thinks: Now you don’t need me anymore.”
Sources used: Dana Press, nieuwsblad.be