Queen Paola of Belgium

Paola (born Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria;^[1] born 11 September 1937) is a member of the Belgian royal family. She was Queen of the Belgians from 1993 to 2013. She is the wife of the King Albert II.

Paola
Paola in 2008
Queen consort of the Belgians
Tenure	9 August 1993 – 21 July 2013
Born	Donna Paola Margherita Giuseppina Maria Antonia Consiglia Ruffo di Calabria (1937-09-11) 11 September 1937 (age 87) Villa Claudia, Forte dei Marmi, Kingdom of Italy
Spouse	Albert II of Belgium ​ ​ (m. 1959)​
Issue	Philippe of Belgium Princess Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este Prince Laurent
House	Ruffo di Calabria
Father	Fulco, Prince Ruffo di Calabria
Mother	Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana
Religion	Roman Catholicism

Titles and Styles

11 September 1937-2 July 1959:Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria

2 July 1959-9 August 1993: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Liege

9 August 1993-21 July 2013: Her Majesty The Queen of the Belgians

21 July 2013-present: Her Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium

References

1. Although The Belgian Monarchy website attributes the title of "Princess" to Queen Paola prior to marriage, Burke's Peerage 1973, The Descendants of Louis XIII 1999, Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels 2001, La Descendance de Marie-Thérèse de Habsburg 1996, and Le Petit Gotha 2002 among others, accord only the noble prefix of Donna to her and her sisters, reserving the title Principessa for the wife of the head of the family

Other websites

• Biography on the official Belgian monarchy web site

Queen Paola of Belgium House of Ruffo di Calabria Born: 11 September 1937
Belgian royalty
Preceded by Fabiola de Mora y Aragón	Queen consort of the Belgians 1993–2013	Succeeded by Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz