Posted by Johan on December 29, 2012, 5:45 am, in reply to "Re: to Henri M"
In Belgium the facts were simple. Much of the palaces were decorated with state owned pieces from the three palaces allready decorated under Willem I (Royal Palace in Brussels, the castle of Laeken and the Palace in Antwerp). The collections Leopold I and Leopold II gathered were part of Leopold II grand donation to the State. In this way he assured his successor would have the apropriate trappings of state and he also disinherited his daughters (two of them he felt betrayed him with their behaviour).
The tension between Fabiola and Lilian was clear and remained until Lilians death. This stunning beauty was not the easiest of people to get along with. Her only son even hid his own marriage to a very classy lady for a number of years from her.
Im not sure the stealing of art and furniture was the reason for the break between the two couples but it is clear the animosity remained. It was only lifted for one event: the funeral of Leopold III.
--Previous Message-- : Yes, I know the rumours but it is a very long : time ago and time to get over it, in my : humble opinion. : : It is also not clear to whom the properties : belonged. It is not automatically the : reigning King. In my own country it was : still Princess Juliana, and not Queen : Beatrix, whom owned the bulk of the : Orange-Nassau fortune. It was only after the : deaths of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard : that the fortune came in hands of their : heirs, amongst these a daughter whom was : already Queen of the Netherlands for 24 : years in 2004. : : King Baudouin might have become the bearer : of the Crown, possibly this did not mean (in : the eye of his father) that he was also : entitled to properties. It is not uncommon : that there are 'fights' about this. : : --Previous Message-- : Do you know that King Baudouin and Queen : Fabiola had to shorten their honeymoon : because of troubles in Belgium. : When they came Laeken they noticed that most : of the glorious furnitures , paintings etc.. : had been moved from Laeken to Leopold III : and Princess Lilian 's Castle of Argenteuil. : This was the starting of the bad : relationship between them. : : --Previous Message-- : Whatever Queen Fabiola might have resented : in : Princess Lilian, it is such a long time ago : and as a devout Catholic she must know the : concept of forgiving and the soothening of : mildness. : : I can not imagine that Queen Fabiola still : does not wear jewels because Princess Lilian : once wore these. After all she has worn : jewels which were worn by her mother-in-law: : the Empire Diadem comes to mind. : : : : : :
on December 29, 2012, 5:45 am, in reply to "