I discovered yesterday that the King of the Belgians, Albert II, has not only the problems of a country splitting at the seam and without a government for several months – though looking at some Belgian politicians such as van Rompuy, HM may count this as a blessing – but has also a difficult younger son, Prince Laurent. According to the article in yesterday’s FAZ this lad has now been forbidden to set foot in his father’s palace. Prince Laurent recently went to the former Belgian Congo, now the DRC, because of his concern for the environment there. His hotel bill was settled by a Congolese businessman, because apparently not one of the prince’s party had a suitable credit card about his person. This has caused disapproval in Belgium. The prince had already raised eyebrows when he turned up at the National Day parade last year in a lounge suit instead of his naval uniform. He explained that his old uniform had shrunk in the wash and the replacement wasn’t ready on time. It is apparently true that Prince Laurent has recently put on some weight. A former tutor has been quoted describing him as not very bright, but he has shown a certain facility for numbers, as when he reportedly offered pictures of his newborn twin sons for sale for 150,000 euros.
I don’t know if the King and Queen of the Belgians are invited to the royal wedding. If they are, they will have at least one subject of conversation with HM and Prince Philip. I do feel, however, that Laurent makes our Prince Andrew look almost a perfect son. I hope you like this, Janus and other anti-royalists. Sorry I can’t put up a link since this article has now disappeared behind the FAZ’s paywall. But I do feel sorry for Belgium and its monarch. Not all the chocolate in the world can help.
Boadicea's Chariot 
It’s a shame Belgium has got its collective bowels in an uproar and may split in two. MrsOMG used to spend a lot of time in De Haan before the euro went into orbit compared to the pound and we like the country, especially the coast and the people. As for wayward kids, well I guess some grow up and some don’t, looks like poor old Albert is stuck with the latter.
Yes, omg, I do feel sorry for the Belgians, whether Flemish or Walloon. I have to say it seems to be coping quite well without a government. I’ve just booked our hotel in Dinant. Perhaps there will be an extra border crossing.
Now it’s the head of the Roman Catholic church in Belgium in trouble. He has been attacked with cream tarts by a group of bakers who disapprove of his line on homosexuality, AIDS, abortion, etc. This is the second such attack by this group “Le Gloupier”.
http://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2011/04/06/97001-20110406FILWWW00510-le-chef-de-l-eglise-catholique-belge-entarte.php
Ce-ci n’est pas un pays. I’ve always had a fondness for the Netherlands, even at a very tender age. Luxembourg, despite their confused stance toward the EU, is a wonderful country which balances the best of Germany and France leaving out much of the worst of both… Belgium just struck me as a poor man’s Netherlands and France.
Great place for battles though. And the only country in teh world that has its entire motorway illuminated at night.
Don’t forget Hercule Poirot, waffles and a footballer named Bosman.
Poor Belgians, no government AND a royal family worse than ours. Time for a UN resolution, or something equally useless
😀