Princess Astrid of Belgium

"Astrid of Belgium" redirects here. For her grandmother, Astrid, Queen of the Belgians and consort to King Leopold III, see Astrid of Sweden.

Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 5 June 1962), is the second child and first daughter of King Albert II and Queen Paola, and the younger sister to the current Belgian monarch, King Philippe. She is married to Prince Lorenz of Belgium, head of the Austria-Este branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, and is fifth in line of succession to the Belgian throne.

Princess Astrid
Archduchess of Austria-Este
Princess Astrid in 2022
Born	(1962-06-05) 5 June 1962 (age 62) Belvédère Château, Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
Spouse	Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este ​ ​ (m. 1984)​
Issue	Prince Amedeo Princess Maria Laura Prince Joachim Princess Luisa Maria Princess Laetitia Maria
Names Astrid Joséphine-Charlotte Fabrizia Elisabeth Paola Marie
House	Belgium
Father	Albert II of Belgium
Mother	Paola Ruffo di Calabria

Biography

Princess Astrid was born one day before her father's 28th birthday at the Belvédère Château in Laeken, northern Brussels, and was named after her late paternal grandmother, Astrid of Sweden, King Leopold III's popular first wife, who had died in 1935 in a car accident aged 29. Princess Astrid godparents were her uncle Fabrizio, Prince Ruffo di Calabria-Santapau, 7th Duke di Guardia Lombarda, and her aunt Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg.^{[citation needed]}

Marriage and issue

Princess Astrid married Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, subsequently head of the Archducal House of Austria-Este, on 22 September 1984 at Church of Our Blessed Lady of the Sablon in Brussels.^[1][2] Lorenz is the eldest son of Robert, Archduke of Austria-Este (1915–1996), and his wife Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta (1930–2022).^[2] Her husband was also created Prince of Belgium by Royal Decree on 27 November 1995.^[2]

Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz have five children:^[1][2][3]

• Prince Amedeo Maria Josef Carl Pierre Philippe Paola Marcus d'Aviano of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este (born on 21 February 1986 at Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels). Married Elisabetta "Lili" Maria Rosboch von Wolkenstein, on 5 July 2014 in Rome's Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere,^[4]. They have three children:^[5][7]
  • Archduchess Anna Astrid Marie of Austria-Este (born on 17 May 2016)^[8]
  • Archduke Maximilian Joseph Lorenz Ettore Karl Marcus d'Aviano of Austria-Este (born on 6 September 2019)^[9]
  • Archduchess Alix Lorenza Anne Marie Josephine of Austria-Este (born on 2 September 2023)^[10]
• Princess Maria Laura Zita Beatrix Gerhard d'Autriche-Este (Habsburg-Lorraine), Princess of Belgium^[11] (born on 26 August 1988 at Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels), married William Isvy on 10 septiember 2022, at Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels.
• Prince Joachim Karl-Maria Nikolaus Isabelle Marcus d'Aviano of Belgium, Archduke of Austria-Este (born on 9 December 1991 at Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels).
• Princess Luisa Maria Anna Martine Pilar of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 11 October 1995 at Clinique St Jean in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels)
• Princess Laetitia Maria Nora Anna Joachim Zita of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born on 23 April 2003 at Clinique St Jean in Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels).

Royal role

Astrid was formerly President of the Belgian Red Cross,^[2] a position which ended on 31 December 2007. She declined to stand again for election to the role in light of internal struggles in the organisation in reconciling its Flemish-speaking and French branches, each of which seeks greater autonomy. The princess is also a colonel in the Medical Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. Her official residence is the Royal Castle of Laeken on the edge of Brussels.^[2]

She is a member of the Honorary Board of the International Paralympic Committee.^[12]

In April 2015 the Princess took over the reins of the Prince Albert Fund from her father King Albert.^[13]

Special Envoy

Princess Astrid has been for many years a fierce advocate for landmine survivors rights, participating actively in the work of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Treaty, since Belgium joined in 1998.^{[citation needed]}

In 2013, the Princess was named Special Envoy of the convention,^[14] and has promoted the acceptance of a global ban on landmines and promoted the rights of survivors in various UN meetings.^[14][15][16]

In 2014, she met with Minister of Foreign Affairs Yusuf bin Alawi bin Abdallah, to encourage Oman to join the treaty, which occurred a few months later.^{[citation needed]}

In 2019, she carried out a mission to Lebanon to promote the convention.^[17][18] In Beirut she met with President Michel Aoun, and Minister of National Defense Elias Bou Saab.^[19]

Titles, styles and honours

Styles of Princess Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este
Reference style	Her Imperial and Royal Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial and Royal Highness

Titles

• 5 June 1962 – 22 September 1984: Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium
• 22 September 1984 – present: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este^{[note 1]}

Honours

See also: List of honours of the Belgian royal family by country

National

•  Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold ^{[citation needed]}

Foreign

•  Germany: Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
•  Hungary: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
•  Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
•  Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
•  Norway: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit^[20]
•  Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry
•  Spain: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit^[21]
•  Sweden: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star

Awards

•  Peru: Freedom of the City of Lima

Other

2016 : Honorary mayor and The Hidalgo Award of San Antonio, Texas.^[22]

Arms

Coat of arms of Princess Astrid of Belgium

Notes As a Princess of Belgium and a descendant of King Leopold I, the Princess is entitled to use a coat of arms which was stipulated in the Royal Decree of King Philippe in 2019.[23] Adopted 12 July 2019 Coronet Princely crown of Belgium Escutcheon On a lozenge, sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued gules (Belgium), on the shoulder an escutcheon barry of ten sable and or, a crancelin vert (Wettin), overall a bordure or. Supporters Two lions guardant proper Motto French: L'union fait la force Dutch: Eendracht maakt macht German: Einigkeit macht stark Other elements The whole is placed on a mantle purpure with ermine lining, fringes and tassels or and ensigned with the Royal crown of Belgium.

Ranks

23 May 1997 – 26 December 2003: Belgian Medical Component, Lieutenant-colonel[24][25] 26 December 2003 – : Belgian Medical Component, Colonel[26]
	1997	2003

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Astrid of Belgium

8. Albert I of Belgium 4. Leopold III of Belgium 9. Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria 2. Albert II of Belgium 10. Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland 5. Princess Astrid of Sweden 11. Princess Ingeborg of Denmark 1. Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este 12. Fulco VII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria 6. Fulco VIII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria 13. Laura Mosselman du Chenoy 3. Donna Paola dei Principi Ruffo di Calabria 14. Augusto Gazelli, Conte di Rossana e di Sebastiano 7. Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana 15. Maria Cristina dei Conti Rignon

Note

1. She has held the title "Princess of Belgium" from birth under Belgian law. By marriage to an archduke of the house of Austria-Este, she gained, in addition to her native title, the style "Imperial and Royal Highness" and the title "Archduchess of Austria-Este". Upon her husband's succeeding to the headship of his house in 1996, as wife of the Archduke of Austria-Este, internationally or depending on the situation, she is also accorded the traditional title "Her Imperial and Royal Highness The Archduchess of Austria-Este" or, more formally, reflecting both her native and marital titles, is addressed as HI&RH Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este. Her children by Archduke Lorenz bear the titles "Prince(ss) of Belgium" by Belgian decree of 2 December 1991, in addition to their Austrian titles borne by tradition, "Archduke/Archduchess of Austria".

References

1. Enache, Nicolas. La Descendance de Marie-Therese de Habsburg. ICC, Paris, 1996. pp. 44-45,50. French
2. Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Furstlicher Hauser Bande XVI, C.A. Starke Verlag, Haus Osterreich, Limburg, 2001, pp. 91–92. German
3. William Bortrick. "HM The King of the Belgians and HM The Queen of the Belgians. The Royal Family of Belgium. Houses of Wettin and Belgium". Burke's Peerage. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022.
4. "Prins Amedeo en Lili trouwen in de zon". VTM. Archived from the original on 17 March 2014. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
5. William Bortrick. "HM The King of the Belgians and HM The Queen of the Belgians. The Royal Family of Belgium. Houses of Wettin and Belgium". Burke's Peerage. Archived from the original on 2 July 2022.
6. NWS, VRT. "Nederlands". vrtnws.be. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
7. Due to a royal decree issued by his uncle King Philippe, which limits the range of family members bearing the title "Prince of Belgium", Amedeo's children do not bear the princely title nor the style of Royal Highness.^[6]
8. Dubuisson, Martine (9 August 2016). "Quel nom pour les princes qui ne seront plus «de Belgique»?" [What name for the princes who will no longer be "of Belgium"?] (in French). Le Soir. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Dès lors, comment s'appelle-t-elle ? A la rubrique « nom et prénoms », son acte de naissance porte en effet, comme nous avons pu le voir : « Son Altesse Impériale et Royale la Princesse Anna Astrid Marie Archiduchesse d'Autriche-Este (Habsburg-Lorraine) » [So what is her name? Under the heading "surname and first names", her birth certificate indeed bears, as we have seen: "Her Imperial and Royal Highness Princess Anna Astrid Marie Archduchess of Austria-Este (Habsburg-Lorraine)"]
9. "België is een prinsje rijker: zoontje voor prins Amedeo en prinses Elisabetta". De Standaard. 7 September 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
10. "A third child is born to Princess Elisabetta and Prince Amedeo". The Brussels Times. 4 September 2023. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
11. "31 JANVIER 2022. - Arrêté royal autorisant Son Altesse Royale la Princesse Maria Laura d'Autriche-Este (Habsburg-Lorraine), Princesse de Belgique, à contracter mariage" [31 JANUARY 2022. - Royal Decree authorizing Her Royal Highness Princess Maria Laura of Austria-Este (Habsburg-Lorraine), Princess of Belgium, to enter into marriage] (in French). ejustice.just.fgov.be. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023.
12. "Honorary Board". IPC.
13. "About Archive".
14. "AP Mine Ban Convention: Special envoy Princess Astrid of Belgium welcomes Oman's decision to join the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention". www.apminebanconvention.org.
15. "AP Mine Ban Convention: Princess Astrid of Belgium calls for greater assistance to landmine survivors". www.apminebanconvention.org.
16. "Maputo Summit: 3rd Review Conference". www.maputoreviewconference.org.
17. "Lebanon aims at joining Ottawa Treaty: president - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Archived from the original on 5 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
18. Liban, Délégation de l'Union Européenne au (3 October 2019). "Envoyé spécial en visite au Liban pour l'encourager à prendre des mesures concrètes pour adhérer au traité historique de désarmement humanitaire". Libnanews, Le Média Citoyen du Liban (in French). Retrieved 26 October 2019.
19. "AP Mine Ban Convention: Special Envoy asks the Lebanese Republic to join anti-landmine treaty". www.apminebanconvention.org. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
20. "Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer". www.kongehuset.no.
21. "Photo" (PDF). www.boe.es.
22. Guenther, Rocío (7 December 2016). "City Welcomes Princess Astrid of Belgium to San Antonio". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
23. Philippe, Koning der Belgen (12 July 2019). "Koninklijk besluit houdende vaststelling van het wapen van het Koninklijk Huis en van zijn leden" (PDF). Moniteur Belge/ Belgisch Staatsblad. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
24. Le Soir, Article (French) announcing the rank
25. Belgian Defense Website, Article evoking Princess Astrid & Prince Laurent
26. Belgian Defense Website, Article evoking Princess Astrid, last section "Mon colonel !" Archived 3 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Official Belgian Monarchy website – Princess Astrid

Princess Astrid of Belgium House of Belgium Born: 5 June 1962
Belgian royalty
Preceded by Princess Eléonore of Belgium	Line of succession to the Belgian throne 5th position	Succeeded by Prince Amedeo of Belgium
Titles in pretence
Preceded by Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta	— TITULAR — Duchess Consort of Modena 7 February 1996 – present Reason for succession failure: Duchy of Modena merged into the Unification of Italy	Incumbent