tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666114716955489883.post6138574082995907839..comments2024-02-14T22:57:55.638-05:00Comments on The Cross of Laeken: Defending the Saxe-Coburgs: Part IVUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666114716955489883.post-84649633959589531502011-03-19T14:35:50.333-04:002011-03-19T14:35:50.333-04:00Some people like to put his refusal to sign the ab...Some people like to put his refusal to sign the abortion law down to "Fabiola's influence", but honestly...She probably encouraged him, but he was the one who made the final decision. And the Congo business occurred before he married her. Whatever people think of the speech he gave there, everyone ought to agree that it would have taken backbone to go on record with his "unpopular" views, especially at that inflammatory moment.Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18230268418171628594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666114716955489883.post-66023838570608098322011-03-19T11:47:23.625-04:002011-03-19T11:47:23.625-04:00Absolutely and it was that very strength of charac...Absolutely and it was that very strength of character, shown in those two instances, that makes him probably my favorite reigning monarch of the post-WW2 era.MadMonarchisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083008336883267870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666114716955489883.post-41202008484072301642011-03-19T11:30:30.133-04:002011-03-19T11:30:30.133-04:00Yes, I thought of those photos of Baudouin, too!
...Yes, I thought of those photos of Baudouin, too!<br /> There really has always been an effort to make him out to be somehow weak- not a man in his own right. Even at the beginning of his reign, there were cartoons joking about reducing the size of the crown to fit his head and so on, and rumors to the effect that Leopold III was still really the one ruling, through his son. Even much later, some authors spoke of a supposed "dyarchy". <br /><br />In reality, Baudouin was a very forceful character, despite his meek appearance, as can be seen in his ability to take unpopular stands, over the Congo and over the abortion crisis.Mayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18230268418171628594noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5666114716955489883.post-39652041002256277432011-03-19T04:11:29.783-04:002011-03-19T04:11:29.783-04:00King Baudouin a gloomy gus? Odd, he's smiling ...King Baudouin a gloomy gus? Odd, he's smiling from ear to ear in almost every picture I've seen of the man. Lately I've also noticed some ridicule for the late king based on his high regard for Crown Prince Philippe -who of course these slimeballs have labeled as bafoon for no reason at all so anyone who thought well of him must have been a bubble off too. For some there is no depth too low. They are really grasping at straws. Your Royal Family is the national extension of your own family and you love them -warts and all. And, as someone who loves the Grimaldis, I can say with all honesty the Saxe-Coburgs are downright dull when it comes to the "scandal" department. These sort will always find something to criticize. You can see that just in comparing the current crop, the King has had some scandals so he's portrayed as immoral while Philippe, who has had none, is portrayed as stuffy and prudish. No one, no family, is flawless, but even if such a thing did exist these types would still find something to complain about. It's infuriating.MadMonarchisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08083008336883267870noreply@blogger.com