Elisabeth As A Child

The future Queen of the Belgians as a little girl. Even as an adult, she was so petite and delicate that her husband, Albert, protectively called her: "Das Kind." Here, however, she really is a child! 

"If"

On his seventh birthday, Prince Leopold of Belgium received a copy of Kipling's If as a present from his father, Albert. Leopold later related the scene to his friend, the French writer and director Marcel Jullian. I found Jullian's retelling of the story on the website of the Cercle Leopold III.

3. novembre 1908. 

La mer du Nord, ourlée d'écume blanche, roule ses vagues sous un ciel gris. Sur la plage, de dos, une haute silhouette. C'est Albert, le futur Albert 1er de Belgique. 

Du bout de sa canne, il trace sur le sable le contour de la Belgique devant un enfant de sept ans, en costume marin blanc, culotte courte. C'est Léopold, son fils ainé.

"Tu vois, Léopold, c'est ça la Belgique! Deux langues: le français et le flamand!"

Albert inscrit l'emplacement des neuf provinces.

"La Belgique, vois-tu, s'est déclarée indépendante le 4 octobre 1830 et c'est ton arrière-grand-père, Léopold, comme toi, prince de Saxe-Cobourg qui l'année d'après, le 21 juillet 1831, en est devenu le Roi.

Aujourd'hui, c'est son fils, ton grand-oncle Léopold II qui est Roi des Belges."

L'homme et l'enfant se regardent. Albert sourit, attendri par l'immense émotion qu'il lit sur le visage du petit prince.

"Maintenant que tu es grand et que tu t'intéresses aux choses sérieuses et qu'aujourd'hui tu as sept ans, je vais te faire un cadeau que je te demande de ne jamais égarer ou oublier. C'est important pour toi, pour la Belgique aussi."

De la poche de son grand manteau, Albert sort un petit cadre qui contient un court poème et le tend à l'enfant.

"Lis-le, souvent. Apprends-le par coeur. Il t'aidera dans les circonstances graves de ta vie. Quel que soit ton destin, tu auras recours à lui."

L'enfant se saisit du petit cadre et, d'abord muettement, puis à voix haute commence à lire.

"Si tu peux voir détruire l'ouvrage de ta vie et, sans dire un seul mot, te mettre à rebâtir ... tu seras un homme, mon fils...' 

Il reste fasciné.

November 3, 1908. 

The waves of the North Sea, swirling with white foam, toss under the grey sky. On the beach, seen from behind, a tall figure. It is Albert, the future Albert I of Belgium.

With the end of his walking stick, he traces, on the sand, the outline of Belgium, in front of a seven-year-old child, dressed in a white sailor's suit, in shorts. It is Leopold, his eldest son.

"You see, Leopold, that's Belgium! Two languages: French and Flemish."

Albert outlines the nine provinces.

"Belgium, you see, declared independence on October 4, 1830, and it was your great-grandfather, Leopold, like you, Prince of Saxe-Coburg, who, the next year, on July 21, 1831, became its King. 

Today, it is his son, your great-uncle Leopold II who is King of the Belgians."

The man and the child gaze at each other. Albert smiles, touched by the immense emotion he sees on the little prince's face.

"Now that you are big and interested in serious things, and that, today, you are seven years old, I will give you a present which I ask you never to lose or forget. It is important for you, and for Belgium." 

From the pocket of his big coat, Albert gets out a little frame which contains a short poem, and gives it to the child. 

"Read it, often. Learn it by heart. It will aid you in the grave circumstances of your life. Whatever your destiny, you will have recourse to it." 

The child seizes the little frame, and, at first, silently, then aloud, begins to read: 

"If you can see your life's work destroyed, and, without a word, begin to rebuild... you will be a man, my son..."

He remains fascinated. 

If  is a poignant call to personal integrity, prudence and perseverance in the face of calumny, hatred, and reversals of fortune. Given Leopold's destiny, Albert's recommendation of the poem to his son seems almost prophetic! Here is the entire poem: 

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise: 

If you can dream- and not make dreams your master;

If you can think- and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings,

And never breathe a word about your loss,

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with Kings- nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And- which is more- you'll be a Man, my son!

Tribute to Princess Lilian

Searching for a video clip of Queen Elisabeth, I instead stumbled upon this tribute to Princess Lilian, second wife of Leopold III. The photos definitely capture Lilian's glamor, dynamism, charm, and humor.

 A very strong personality, Lilian endured decades of violent personal attacks (in reality aimed at her husband, King Leopold, and at the monarchy in general) with remarkable courage and resilience. At one point, her step-son, King Baudouin, complained that the attacks were so vicious that other people, in her position, would have committed suicide.

Practically anything Lilian did was interpreted negatively. Even the deep affection between herself and her step-children, King Leopold's children by Queen Astrid, was turned against her. In her later years, she had to face rumors, fomented by one of Leopold's old political adversaries, Achille van Acker, that she had had an incestuous affair with her step-son, Baudouin, during his youth!  Lilian's response to this outrageous accusation reveals the strength and dignity of her character. With an ironic smile, she said: "Now they will not be able to invent anything else, because they could never fall any lower" (quoted by Michel Verwilghen in Le mythe d'Argenteuil). 

I do think that King Leopold looks rather ravaged in the later photos, which is no surprise.

Book Review: Trianon A Novel of Royal France

Lucy has written a beautiful review of Elena Maria Vidal's novel, Trianon. To quote: 

'It is the story of the martyred King Louis XVI and his Queen.'

Be prepared for a re-introduction to two remarkable human beings whose fate can only be compared to that of the holiest martyrs. You will forever banish any previous perceptions or accounts which you believed to be true. Be prepared to learn history as it should have been told. You will experience their life, their love, their faith, for you have never known them as you will after reading this book...Be prepared to be moved beyond belief.

This absolutely beautifully written novel details the life of the Royal couple by capturing the very essence of their being. Faith is the fiber that binds them to a relentless love for each other and their country. The book is filled with magnificent scripture that is there not for the embellishment of the story, but rather as an ever present part of their daily life. The story is told in minute details and the love, the hardship, the loyalty and the suffering are all equally intense. There isn't a part of the book that can be read lightly. It is extremely deep in terms of love, sorrow, faith, and revelation... (more)

Many thanks to Lucy for this lovely review, and, of course, to Elena Maria Vidal for the novel! 

Louvain

An old market street in Louvain. 

(Credits: public domain)

Queen Marie-José Through Her Daughter's Eyes

Here, we see Queen Marie-José of Italy with her four children: Maria Pia, Victor Emmanuel, Maria Gabriella, and Maria Beatrice. 

Marie-José's youngest daughter, Maria Beatrice, paid this lovely tribute to her mother: 

Di mia madre ammiro molte cose: il suo spirito indipendente, l'amore per la cultura, l'abilità con cui, anche avanti negli anni, ha continuato a condurre le sue ricerche storiche. Ma sopratutto ne ho sempre apprezzato la capacità di astrarsi, ossia di andare oltre le gioie e i dispiaceri, i luoghi e le situazioni, per essere sempre se stessa.

In my mother, I admire many things: her independent spirit, her love of culture, the ability with which, even in her later years, she continued to conduct her historical research (Marie-José wrote many outstanding works on the history of the house of Savoy). But, above all, I have always appreciated her capacity to abstract herself, to go beyond joys and sorrows, places and situations, to be always herself.

(Included in Luciano Regolo's biography of Marie-José, La Regina Incompresa)

Inghels Farm

Inghels Farm in Leisele, Alveringem, West Flanders. A preserved 16th century farm in the timbered building style. 

Credits and licensing information here.

Le Roi Albert Alpiniste

A lovely book by René Mallieux on the mountaineering life of King Albert I. Published in 1956. 

From a review by Pierre Tezenas du Montcel:

L'auteur reste fidèle à la promesse de son titre en deux cents pages d'une belle présentation, il dit l'essentiel, avec une sobriété d'expression qui respecte la grande mémoire de son personnage. De nombreuses photographies, pour la plupart tirées des albums privés du Roi, des reproductions de lettres autographes, une documentation précise puisée aux meilleures sources, donnent à l'ouvrage un ton émouvant d'intimité et de vérité. Le lecteur y trouvera la liste de très beaux exploits sportifs, et aussi des précisions qui ne manqueront pas de le frapper: celle, par exemple, du temps consacré par le Roi à la montagne et à l'entraînement: près d'un mois et demi sur douze dans les cinq dernières années.

The author remains faithful to the promise of his title in a beautiful presentation of 200 pages. He says what is essential, with a sobriety of expression which respects the great memory of the person in question. Numerous photographs, taken, for the most part, from the King's private albums, reproductions of handwritten letters, a precise documentation drawn from the best sources, all give the work a moving tone of intimacy and authenticity. The reader will find, here, a list of splendid athletic achievements, and, in addition, details which will not fail to strike him; for instance, the time devoted by the King to mountaineering and training - nearly a month and a half out of every twelve -during his last five years. 

My favorite part of the book was the story of the King's discussion with the famous Italian alpinist, Tita Piaz, a fierce republican, during a climb in the Dolomites. Since, at the moment, I do not, unfortunately, have a copy of Mallieux's book on hand, I will quote Marie-José's account of the same incident. 

... Tita déclare au roi: "Je suis républicain et je le dis franchement." Albert répond: "C'est votre droit." Piaz stupéfait: "Comment, vous êtes roi et vous trouvez que c'est mon droit d'être républicain?" "Oui, parce que chacun a le droit de penser politiquement comme il lui semble le mieux," affirme mon père. Piaz ne s'estimait pas satisfait de cette explication et se lança dans d'acerbes critiques auxquelles le roi, souriant, répondit non sans humour: "Si vous permettez, monsieur Piaz, je connais cette question probablement mieux que vous, étant donné mon métier." Et la conversation se poursuivit amicalement.

... Tita declared to the King: "I am a republican, and I say it frankly." Albert answered: "That is your right." Piaz was amazed: "What, you are a King and you think it is my right to be a republican?" "Yes, because everyone has the right to think, in political matters, as seems best to him," my father asserted. But Piaz, dissatisfied with this answer, launched into bitter critiques to which the King, smiling, replied, not without humor: "If you will forgive me, Mr. Piaz, I probably know this question better than you do, given my profession." And the conversation continued amicably.

Astrid On Her Wedding Day

A beautiful bride. 

Queen Astrid's Premonitions

Strangely, not long before the tragic car crash in Küssnacht, Queen Astrid had a definite premonition of her death. She confided her forebodings to her friend, Anna Sparre, who was traveling with the royal couple in the Alps. Anna tells the story in her book, Astrid, mon amie. 

One afternoon, Astrid and I were drinking coffee in front of a mountain hut... It was our last stop before returning to the village where we had left the car.

I believe it was the 18th of August. The weather had suddenly changed, and the cold gave us the impression that it was October. The clouds had suddenly gathered around the hut and we could see no further than a metre ahead; it was grim, and both of us were suffering slightly from altitude sickness... We wanted to return to civilization, we had had enough of the mountains. 

Astrid was not completely herself; she seemed serious and was not in a mood to joke. I remember a few snatches of our conversation. 

The tragic death of her father-in-law, King Albert, in a mountaineering accident, only a year and a half earlier, had been a terrible shock to Astrid; she feared that her husband, King Leopold (also a passionate alpinist) would meet a similar fate. 

"Do you understand I am often terribly afraid that something will happen to Leopold, and that I will be left alone with the children?"

I understood her very well, but I realized that it would be impossible to persuade him to give up this sport, which, although dangerous, was so important for his well-being.

"Also, Annisen, you do not realize how much I fear, at times, that I will die. It would be even worse for the children, and terrible for Leopold. My dear, can you promise me something?"

"What is that?"

"If I die while the children are still little, will you look after Joe-Joe (her daughter, Princess Josephine-Charlotte)?" 

"We have to pull ourselves together, dear. With this bad weather, we are not quite ourselves and that is the reason why you are thinking of horrible things. Why should anything happen to you...?"

"I am serious. Look after Joe, promise me."

"No, my dear, right now we must be reasonable. How could I come and say: 'I promised Astrid that I would take care of Joe in my apartment at Västerås...It is not realistic! Please, do not ask me to make this promise. Chase away these black thoughts."

"But I promised I would look after my god-daughter, Christina, if something happened to you," she answered, trying to smile.

"That is a completely different matter, and very kind of you. It is reassuring to know you will look after her." 

That was the end of the conversation, but her melancholy persisted until we entered the car. Ten days later, she was dead.