Queen Fabiola « Royalty in the News

Belgian Royals Mark National Day

July 21st was a big day for Belgium and its royal family, as they celebrated in National Day, marking the day when King Leopold I swore an oath, and Belgium won its independence from the Netherlands.

: Reuters

Festivities began the previous evening, when the royal family went to the “Preludium to the National Day” concert at the Palace of Fine Arts. The royals listened to music by the Belgian National Orchestra and opera sung by Helene Guilmette.

Tuesday saw the actual Nationa Day celebrations. The day began with the Belgian royals attending Te Deum mass all over the country. King Albert II, Queen Paola, Queen Fabiola, Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde went to mass at St. Michael and St. Gudule Cathedral in Brussels. The other two children of the King – Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent – and their spouses went to services at Antwerp and Mons.

After the mass, the royals in Brussels went up to the crowds outside of the cathedral, and chatted and posed for pictures with their subjects.

: Reuters

Later came the military defile. King Albert II inspected the troops before joining his family in the stands for the parade. The royal women had changed their attire for this event. Crown Princess Mathilde, for example, switched from a black fascinator and a white dress she wore to for Te Deum, to a brilliant pink outfit with a matching fascinator.

Philippe and Mathilde chatted with Queen Fabiola right before the parade. The dowager Queen was in a bright mood, despite her previous illness this year, plus the death threats that warned that she would be killed during the defile. But nothing happened. Queen Fabiola held a green apple during the event, perhaps to show she would not back down from anything.

Also at the defile were the children of Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent. None of the Crown Princely couple’s children were present, for reasons unknown.

After the military parade, the royals visited various locations in Brussels that were also marking National Day. Philippe and Mathilde visited a UNICEF stand in the royal park, while Princess Astrid and her husband, Prince Lorenz stopped by to chat with the Brussels police.

By nightfall, the royal family of Belgium enjoyed a magnificent fireworks display.

Queen Fabiola Threatened for Second Time

For the second time in two months, a Belgian newspaper has received a letter threatening to kill dowager Queen Fabiola. The letter was dated July 2nd, but since the reporter, Emmanuelle Preat, wasn’t in the office at the time, the letter is only making light now.

AP File

As with the previous death threat, the writer, who is unknown, says the Queen would be assassinated on July 21st during a military parade. But as with the previous death threat, this letter is written in poor French and is filled with bizarre accusations.

Among the allegations, the writer says Fabiola poisoned her husband, the late King Baudouin (the person even calls for an autopsy of the King), was the lover of such dictators as the Shah of Iran and General Pinochet, and claims the Queen beats children with her cane during church.

In addition, the author of the letter says Queen Fabiola would be killed by use of car bombs. Before, the person had threatened to use a crossbow.

Emmanuelle Preat has turned the letter over the authorities, who are taking the threatening letter seriously. It is expected on July 21st that Queen Fabiola would arrive in a closed car, and 100 extra more police would be in the crowds, though some would be in regular clothes to disguise themselves.

Death Threats Against Belgium’s Queen Fabiola

Belgium authorities are looking into a possible death threat made against Queen Fabiola. queen-fabiola2

A Belgian newspaper received a letter earlier this week in which someone threatened to kill the widow of King Baudoin by a crossbrow during an Independence Day parade on July 21st.

The letter was written by an electric typewriter, and was mailed using five cent stamps from the image of King Albert I from the 1930′s.

According to André Van Doorn, the Coordinating Body for Threat Analysis (OCAM), the letter is very structured, “but that does not mean that we will investigate these threats seriously.”

However, security is expected to be high this year for the Belgian royals, following the Queen’s Day attack in neighboring Holland in April.

Spanish-born Fabiola was Belgium’s Queen Consort from 1960 to 1993.

Queen Fabiola Leaves Hospital

BELGIUM ROYALS

After spending over a month being treated for bronchial pneumonia, Belgium’s Queen Fabiola was released from the Saint John’s Hospital in Brussels on Friday.

Having gone in originally on January 16th, the 80 year-old widow of King Baudouin, was in the intensive care unit until February 9th.

But according to the Palace, the Queen is doing much better, and is continuing her recovery at home.

The Spanish born Fabiola married King Baudouin in 1960. From then until 1993, she was Belgium’s Queen.

After the death of her husband, she is known as the Dowager Queen.

Queen Fabiola Out of Intensive Care

queen-fabiola2 Belgium’s Queen Fabiola was taken out of intensive care at the hospital where she has been for nearly a month.

The 80 year old Queen was sent to St John Hospital on January 16th to undergo treatment for severe lung infection and throat problems.

Just a week earlier, she had surgery to correct a thyroid issue.

During this recent hospital stay, members of the Belgian royal family and her Spanish kin visited her. There was speculation that Fabiola was at death’s door.

But palace officials have confirmed the queen’s health is improving.

“The condition of her health has improved slightly. She is in a serious but stable condition.”

The widow of King Baudouin was erroneously reported dead by a Belgian television station’s website earlier this month. The website apologized, saying the report was due to a “publishing error.”

Queen Fabiola was Belgium’s consort from 1960 till Baudouin’s death in 1993.

Queen Fabiola Hospitalized for 2nd Time

Belgium Queen Fabiola

Belgium’s Queen Fabiola has been admitted to the hospital for the second time this month. She is being treated for bronchial pneumonia, according to the palace.

The 80 year old widow of King Baudoin underwent surgery last week for thyroid problems in a hospital in Liege.

She is now staying at St John’s Hospital in Brussels.

Queen Fabiola is a Spanish born aristocrat who married King Baudoin in 1960. She was Belgium’s Queen Consort from that moment on till 1993, when Baudoin died. Her brother in law, Albert became King afterwards. However, Fabiola maintained her title as Queen.

Belgium’s Queen Fabiola Goes Under Surgery

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The widow of King Baudoin underwent surgery, and is expected to stay at the hospital recuperating for a couple of days.

“Queen Fabiola is at the Liege University Hospital Centre where she underwent a planned benign operation,” royal spokesman Pierre-Emmanuel De Bauw told AFP.

French-speaking private RTL-TVI television said Fabiola was operated on her thyroid gland on Thursday.

The thyroid regulates the body’s metabolism.

Fabiola was Belgium’s Queen Consort from 1960 to 1993. She is the sister-in-law to the current King Albert II.

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