Friday, April 24, 2009

Favorite Belgian Royals?

A survey just for fun...

Who are your favorite members of the Belgian royal family? Why?

I'm very interested to hear your thoughts.

4 comments:

MadMonarchist said...

For me it is a toss-up between King Albert I and King Baudouin. King Baudouin might not be as famous but I regard him as one of the greatest monarchs in the world of the post-WW2 era. I admire his devotion, his choice of wife, the way he handled things with the Congo, his choice of friends and especially his unswerving loyalty to his principles.

King Albert I was also a man of high principles, good character and also immense courage. I admire his stand against the Germans (we sons of the Alamo always admire the small power standing in defiance of overwhelming odds) and I also admire him for being the only major Allied leader who tried to end the war peacefully. The leaders of both sides should look on men like King Albert and Emperor Charles and hang their heads in shame that they did not have the moral courage to do as they did and put their people before their pride.

Of course, I have a soft spot for Belgium and generally think well of most of them. Leopold I was a great statesman with uncommon common sense, Leopold II might be a bit unsavory but I don't think he should be *quite* so vilified as he has been, Leopold III was a good man I think, quite unjustly maligned by rumor and innuendo and Albert II seems to have at least done a good-enough job as monarch. I am also still holding out high hopes that the Duke of Brabant will prove his detractors wrong and reign as the good man of character he seems to be.

Too long? Thanks for the opportunity to voice my opinion in any event.

May said...

"The leaders of both sides should look on men like King Albert and Emperor Charles and hang their heads in shame that they did not have the moral courage to do as they did and put their people before their pride."

I completely agree.

Thank you for sharing your views!

Lucy said...

I love Princess Astrid. She is so wonderfully refreshing, simple, yet elegant, sophisticated and yet so approachable. She's a mom of 5 children and so involved in the community and and and...I'm in awe of her. Thanks:)

May said...

Yes, Princess Astrid seems like a lovely lady. Her children are beautiful too.