2023-06-27 18:42:00
This July 21, it will be 10 years since Albert II abdicated. Ten years of retirement for the former sovereigns, who are now very discreet. What does their life look like, far from the Palace?
On June 2, King Albert II and Queen Paola took on one of their rare official activities at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. The former sovereign will then celebrate his 89th birthday. He has some difficulty moving around but he seems fit and smiling.
The couple make themselves more and more rare to preserve themselves but also to leave all the room to King Philippe. “From the beginning he wanted to erase himself“, says Pierre de Vuyst, journalist specializing in monarchies at Soir Mag. “To leave all the light to his son who is the only king reigning in Belgium.”
“They are people of a certain age“, says Emmanuelle Jowa, journalist specializing in monarchies for Paris Match. “They try to make the most of their last slices of life.“
Read also King Albert II hospitalized: his grandchildren visited him on Tuesday evening
“Great Walkers”
What does their daily life look like apart from their rare official appearances? “They are great walkers“, affirms Thomas de Bergeyck. “Albert hasn’t been riding a motorcycle for years, even though it was his great passion. He ended up investing the field of walks.“
Walks in Belgium, Italy or in their residence in the south of France. They spend time there during the holidays with their children and grandchildren. Since they retired, their family has been their priority. They are present at all the events like the wedding of Maria-Laura, one of Astrid’s daughters, last year. “Queen Paola wanted to reunite her clan with her“, this Pierre de Vuyst. “And she succeeded in picking up the pieces of this family.“
The former sovereigns are more and more often in Belgium. Between the Belvedere castle in Laeken and the presbytery they bought and renovated in the countryside.
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