Friday Prince Blogging - Duke of Brabant

Today we head to Belgium, where I first set foot on European soil (in autumn 1967). We feature His Royal Highness Philippe Léopold Louis Marie, Duke of Brabant, Prince of Belgium. The ducal title is given to the heir of the Belgian throne.


The Duke was born 15 April 1960 and is the eldest son and heir apparent of Albert II, King of the Belgians. [Wikipedia, the usual source of most of what I share on princes]


As someone who has lived near Berkeley, California, and taken continuing ed courses at the University of California (Go Bears!), I am swallowing my pride and including Prince Philippe who not only attended Trinity College, Oxford, but also Stanford (where he got a master's degree). Stanford put me on their waiting list. There is history. Go Bears! I am sure HRH is a very nice person in spite of his terrible taste in graduate schools. Did I mention: Go Bears!? (Crown Prince Haakon of Norway is a Cal Bear, btw.) Allez les Ours!

He married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz, daughter of a Belgian noble family, on December 4, 1999.

They have three children: Princess Elisabeth, born 25 October 2001; Prince Gabriel, born 20 August 2003; and Prince Emmanuel, born 4 October 2005. It was announced (on 4 October 2007) that Mathilde is pregnant with their fourth child whose expected date of birth is April 15, 2008.

That's just a month from tomorrow!


The law of succession has been amended so that the eldest child may inherit, regardless of gender, and Princess Elisabeth is next in line to the throne after her father.


The Belgian monarchy's official website is here.

Very best wishes to Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde as they anticipate the birth of their fourth child.

Here is a video tribute to Princess Mathilde (she has a lovely smile):


A total romantic did this video of the Prince and Princess (I love mush):


Oh yes, we have wedding pics too!


And a video of the royal children:


And a family outing in the Ardenne:


OK, enough cute for one Friday!
--the BB