Belgium’s King Albert II, 89, is hospitalised with ‘signs of dehydration’, announces Palace – as royal relatives are spotted visiting the former monarch
- The former monarch, 89, is the father of Belgium’s current King Philippe
- READ MORE: Royal fans rejoice as King Albert of Belgium embraces his illegitimate daughter Princess Delphine in public for the first time at remembrance ceremony in Laeken
Belgium’s former King Albert II was hospitalised earlier today with signs of dehydration, a palace spokesman has said.
The ex-king, 89, ‘was admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure,’ the spokesman, Xavier Vaert, told AFP, confirming reports by state broadcasters VRT and RTBF.
‘Examinations are being done. He is conscious,’ Vaert said.
Albert II, the father of Belgium’s current King Philippe, was the third and youngest child of King Leopold III.
He became monarch on August 9, 1993 at the age of 59, taking over after his brother Baudouin died without children.
King Albert II abdicated the throne in 2013 citing health concerns and his son King Phillipe took his place alongside his wife Queen Mathilde
Prince Emmanuel was spotted arriving at the Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels to be by the former King’s side
Albert II reigned until his abdication on July 21, 2013, handing the crown to Philippe, who today is aged 63. The former king and his wife, Queen Paola, 85, have spaced out their public appearances in recent years.
King Philippe cancelled his planned engagement at the University of Ghent in order to visit his father in the hospital, according to People.
Other relatives including Prince Laurent, King Albert’s younger son, and Prince Emmanuel were reportedly spotted arriving at the Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels to be by his side.
Speaking to the BBC at the time of his abdication, King Albert said: ‘I realise that my age and my health are no longer allowing me to carry out my duties as I would like to. Prince Philippe is well prepared to succeed me.’
At the time of his abdication his love child Princess Delphine launched a legal bid to be officially recognised as Albert’s daughter – which she won in October 2020.
After Princess Delphine was born in 1968, the King initially remained in frequent contact with his child and her mother. But when Delphine reached her 16th birthday, the King began to distance himself.
Now the 55-year-old has the right to bear the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family as are her two children Princess Joséphine of Belgium, 19, and Prince Oscar of Belgium, 14, who she shares with partner James O’Hare.
Speaking to Tatler last year, the princess, who is an artist, revealed her father’s rejection when she was young still hurts, but added she doesn’t blame him and holds no ill-will towards him.
Prince Emmanuel arrives in a car at the Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels
The ex-king, 89, ‘was admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure,’ the spokesman, Xavier Vaert, told AFP, confirming reports by state broadcasters VRT and RTBF. Pictured, the entrance of the Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels
She argued that royal life is ‘isolating’ and she believed her father had been badly advised at the time.
However, she said: ‘You don’t just have a child and kick it.’
Reflecting on her seven-year legal battle, Delphine said the action she brought was not about money or status but ‘principles’.
Now Delphine has attended royal engagements and says her relationship with her father has healed after years of bitterness.
When she launched her legal action in 2013, she told Belgian radio show Matin Premiere: ‘I feel like I have a right to exist. Not to exist in the royal family but as me.
‘My decision to call for help through the law, I feel today that it was the right thing to do… The judicial system said that I was right and that I had the right to exist.’
Since the legal action has been settled, Princess Delphine has slowly become integrated in the Belgian royal family.
She met her brother, King Philippe of Belgium who is one of 20 Belgian royals she is related to – in 2020, where they posted a socially distanced picture to Facebook, describing it as a ‘warm meeting.’ Her other royal half-siblings are Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent.
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