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.

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's 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 House of Austria-Este, on 22 September 1984 at the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon in Brussels. Lorenz is the eldest son of Robert, Archduke of Austria-Este (1915–1996) and Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta (1930–2022). Her husband was also created Belgian Prince by Royal Decree on 27 November 1995.

Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz have five children:

Royal role

Astrid was formerly President of the Belgian Red Cross, 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 Belgian Medical Service of the Belgian Armed Forces. Her official residence is the Royal Castle of Laeken on the edge of Brussels.

She is a member of the Honorary Board of the International Paralympic Committee.

In April 2015, the Princess took over the Prince Albert Fund from her father King Albert.

Special Envoy

Princess Astrid has been for many years an 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, and has promoted the acceptance of a global ban on landmines and promoted the rights of survivors in various UN meetings.

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

Titles, styles and honours

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

Honours

National

Foreign

Awards

Other

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

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. 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

19972003
23 May 1997 – 26 December 2003: Belgian Medical Component, Lieutenant-colonel 26 December 2003 –: Belgian Medical Component, Colonel

Ancestry

Ancestors of Princess Astrid of Belgium
8. Albert I of Belgium4. Leopold III of Belgium9. Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria2. Albert II of Belgium10. Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland5. Princess Astrid of Sweden11. Princess Ingeborg of Denmark1. Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este12. Fulco VII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria6. Fulco VIII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria13. Laura Mosselman du Chenoy3. Donna Paola dei Principi Ruffo di Calabria14. Augusto Gazelli, Conte di Rossana e di Sebastiano7. Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana15. Maria Cristina dei Conti Rignon
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

External links

Belgian royalty
Princess Astrid of BelgiumHouse of BelgiumBorn: 5 June 1962
Preceded byPrincess Eléonore of BelgiumLine of succession to the Belgian throne 5th positionSucceeded byPrince Amedeo of Belgium
Titles in pretence
Preceded byPrincess 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 ItalyIncumbent