Belgian king’s hidden daughter Delphine Boel wins fight to be princess
- Court grants title to artist after seven-year battle to prove former monarch Albert II is her father
- Her two children will also receive royal titles and right to be referred to as his or her royal highness
A Belgian artist who has fought a seven-year legal battle to prove that Belgium’s former king Albert II is her father secured a crowning success – literally – in court on Thursday when she officially became a princess.
Belgium’s appeal court granted Delphine Boel the title “Princess of Belgium” after the former monarch’s DNA test proved that he was her father, Boel’s lawyers said in a statement, adding Boel was “fully satisfied” with the ruling.
The DNA test revealed in January that Albert II is the biological father of Boel, putting an end to Boel’s long-running paternity claim.
Albert, who abdicated six years ago in favour of his son Philippe, had long contested Boel’s claim.
As well as being recognised as a princess, Boel will change her surname to her father’s, Saxe-Cobourg.
