Belgium: Ex-King Albert II admits he’s father of Delphine Boel

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Princess Delphine joined other members of the Belgian Royal Family outside the Royal Palace on Wednesday, when the country celebrated its National Day. The fourth child of ex-King Albert II donned a colourful dress featuring geometric shapes with a matching hat, face mask and green heels. 

She was accompanied to the event by her husband James O’Hare.

The couple sat under a marquee with Prince Laurent and Princess Astrid – who are also Albert II’s children – and Prince Laurenz, who has been married to Astrid since 1984.

The current King of Belgium and Albert II’s firstborn, King Philippe, sat under another marquee a few metres away from Delphine, in the company of his wife Mathilde and all his children with the exception of his eldest daughter Princess Elisabeth.

The 19-year-old took part in the annual military parade passing by the Royal Palace.

Elisabeth took part in the military parade for the first time this year as she has just completed her first year at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels, which King Philippe also attended in his youth.

The sight of her daughter marching with other cadets clearly moved Queen Mathilde, who was spotted with tears in her eyes.

Princess Delphine’s attendance in the National Day celebrations alongside her siblings marks another decisive step taken by the Belgian Royal Family to include her in the royal fold.

In February, the princess and her husband joined senior members of her Royal Family at the annual private gathering in the Royal Crypt in Laeken to pay tribute to the deceased members of the family.

Princess Delphine was born Delphine Boel but obtained a royal title in 2020 after winning two court cases and being officially recognised by Albert II as his daughter.

Princess Delphine was born during King Albert II’s 18-year-long extramarital affair with Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps.

Delphine, who made a name for herself in Belgium as an artist, first publicly said to be the illegitimate child of Albert II in 2005, when he was still the sovereign.

She launched legal action against him, in a bid to be recognised as his daughter, in 2013, after he abdicated in favour of his firstborn.

In January 2020, the former monarch officially recognised Delphine as his child after a Belgian Court ordered him to take a DNA test.

In September, Delphine launched a new legal battle to demand the same rights and titles her half-siblings have been enjoying since birth.

A few weeks later, the court granted Delphine a full royal title and style as well as the possibility to pass it on to her two children.

Explaining the real reason behind her second court battle, Delphine said: “It is not [the child’s] fault, they do not ask to be born.

“The child who comes from a love affair outside of marriage should not be treated any differently.”

Since her triumphs in court, Delphine has met face to face key members of the Royal Family.

In October, she met King Philippe for the very first time.

Brother and sister released a joint statement following their “warm meeting” at the Palace of Laeken.

In it, they promised to deepen their relationship and to develop a “familiar bond”.

Only a few days later, Delphine also met Albert II and his wife Queen Paola.

Once again, the royal put out a joint statement in which they spoke of a “new chapter”.

It read: “After the turmoil, the wounds and the suffering, comes the time for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation.

“This is the path, patient and at times difficult, that we have decided to take resolutely together.

“These first steps open the way and it is now up to us to pursue peacefully.”

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