In this interview, Princess Delphine confides that she only learned of her filial link with King Albert II when she was 17 years old. Before that, she thought she was the daughter of Jonkheer Jacques Boël, a wealthy industrialist: “It was a relief. I think everyone in Belgium knew the secret, apart from me,” she says.
However, she will wait a long time before taking the steps to be recognized by her father. Delphine de Saxe-Cobourg explains that she decided it was time, when her father abdicated in favor of her son Philippe: “At that moment, I said to myself above all that I did not love him and that I was going to fight for my life. ‘Now it’s me and my children. Our future. This story has to come out in the open,'” she said.
Since then, her relationship with King Albert has improved markedly: “There was no doubt that he was my father. When I found myself near him, I felt him. It was as if nothing hadn’t happened. It was really strange. He’s got a brilliant sense of humor. He’s a very easy-going man, and so interesting. He’s traveled a lot. That’s why it’s so sad,” she breathes.
For her part, Princess Delphine declares that she has no grudge against her father: “We don’t see each other every five seconds but he sends me flowers for my birthday and so on. These are small things”, concludes -she.