Princess Astrid of Belgium

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 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.

Astrid
Archduchess of Austria-Este
At the World Investment Forum 2018
Born	5 June 1962 Belvédère Castle, 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
Full name Astrid Joséphine-Charlotte Fabrizia Elisabeth Paola Marie
House	Belgium
Father	Albert II of Belgium
Mother	Paola Ruffo di Calabria
Religion	Roman Catholic

Biography

Princess Astrid was born one day before her father's 28th birthday at the Château de Belvédère, near Laeken, and was named after her late paternal grandmother, Astrid of Sweden, the popular first wife of King Leopold III. Her godparents were her uncle Fabrizio, Prince Ruffo di Calabria-Santapau, 7th Duke di Guardia Lombarda, and her aunt Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg.

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 Brussels.[1][2] Lorenz is the eldest son of Robert, Archduke of Austria-Este (1915–1996), and his wife Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta (born in 1930).[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]

• Prince Amedeo
• Princess Maria Laura
• Prince Joachim
• Princess Luisa Maria
• Princess Laetitia Maria

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 French-speaking and Flemish 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.[3]

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.

In 2013, the Princess was named Special Envoy of the Convention,[4] and has promoted the acceptance of a global ban on landmines and promoted the rights of survivors in various UN meetings.[4][5][6]

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.

In 2019, she carried out a mission to Lebanon to promote the convention.[7][8] In Beirut she met with President Michel Aoun,[9] and Minister of National Defense Elias Bou Saab.[10]

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

National

•  Belgium: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Leopold I[11][12][13]

Foreign

•  Germany: Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany[14][15][16]
•  Hungary: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary[17][18]
•  Luxembourg: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau[19][20]
•  Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown[21]
•  Norway: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit[22]
•  Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry[23][24]
•  Spain: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit[25]
•  Sweden: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star[26][27]

Awards

•  Peru: Freedom of the City of Lima[28]

Other

2016 : Honorary mayor and The Hidalgo Award of San Antonio, Texas.[29]

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.[30] 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[31][32] 26 December 2003 – : Belgian Medical Component, Colonel[33]
	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. "Honorary Board". IPC.
4. "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.
5. "AP Mine Ban Convention: Princess Astrid of Belgium calls for greater assistance to landmine survivors". www.apminebanconvention.org.
6. "Maputo Summit: 3rd Review Conference". www.maputoreviewconference.org.
7. "Lebanon aims at joining Ottawa Treaty: president - Xinhua | English.news.cn". www.xinhuanet.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
8. 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.
9. "Lebanese Presidency". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
10. "AP Mine Ban Convention: Special Envoy asks the Lebanese Republic to join anti-landmine treaty". www.apminebanconvention.org. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
11. "Photo". c7.alamy.com.
12. "Royal wedding of Prince Frederik and Mary Donaldson, arrivals at the..." Getty Images. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
13. "Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz of Belgium attend the Te Deum mass,..." Getty Images. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
14. "Photo". www.theroyalforums.com.
15. "Stock Photography, Royalty-Free Photos & The Latest News Pictures - Getty Images". www.corbisimages.com.
16. "Stock Photography, Royalty-Free Photos & The Latest News Pictures - Getty Images". www.corbisimages.com.
17. "Princess Astrid From Belgium poses for a photo before a gala dinner..." Getty Images. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
18. "Prince Lorentz, Princess Astrid, Prince Philippe from Belgium ,..." Getty Images. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
19. . 25 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120425124037/http://3.t.cdn.belga.be/picture:6345423:preview:watermark. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
20. "Prince Nikolaus, Princess Margaretha, Prince Lorentz, Princess..." Getty Images. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
21. . 25 April 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120425123911/http://0.t.cdn.belga.be/picture:23475634:preview:watermark. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Missing or empty |title= (help)
22. "Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer". www.kongehuset.no.
23. "Photo". modenaducale.altervista.org. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2011.
24. "Prince Laurent, Princess Claire, Prince Lorentz, Princess Astrid,..." Getty Images. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
25. "Photo" (PDF). www.boe.es.
26. "Belga Image". www.belgaimage.be.
27. "Stock Photography, Royalty-Free Photos & The Latest News Pictures - Getty Images". www.corbisimages.com.
28. "Stock Photography, Royalty-Free Photos & The Latest News Pictures - Getty Images". www.corbisimages.com.
29. Guenther, Rocío (7 December 2016). "City Welcomes Princess Astrid of Belgium to San Antonio". San Antonio Report. Retrieved 3 September 2020.
30. 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.
31. Le Soir, Article (French) announcing the rank
32. Belgian Defense Website, Article evoking Princess Astrid & Prince Laurent
33. Belgian Defense Website, Article evoking Princess Astrid, last section "Mon colonel !" Archived 3 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine

External links

• Media related to Astrid of Belgium at Wikimedia Commons
• Official Belgian Monarchy Website – Princess Astrid