Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Today in Brussels

Photo: Belga / AFP
Like every year in February, a a special mass to commemorate the deceased members of the Belgian Royal Family was held at the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwekerk, or Église Notre-Dame, in the Brussels' suburb of Laeken. Grand Duke Henri's sisters, Princess Marie-Astrid and Princess Margaretha, have often attended the event in the past and this year was no different, at least for one of the sisters. Princess Margaretha can be seen sitting in the church just behind her first cousin Prince Laurent of Belgium. 

The prince's father, King Albert II, is the brother of the late Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, Princess Margaretha's mother who was a born princess of Belgium. The church in Laeken includes the royal crypt, the burial place of all reigning Belgian Sovereigns and their wives, as well as members of the Belgian Royal Family. Also buried in the crypt is Princess Margaretha's oldest son, Prince Leopold-Emanuel, who died five hours after his birth.

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