The inheritance of Queen Fabiola of Belgium has been settled. Queen Fabiola died on 5 December 2014 after a widowhood of 21 years. Her husband had reigned as King Baudouin of the Belgians from 1951 until his sudden death in 1993. The couple had no children and Queen Fabiola spoke of her five miscarriages in 2008, with the words ‘
Her husband had reigned as King Baudouin of the Belgians from 1951 until his sudden death in 1993. The couple had no children and Queen Fabiola spoke of her five miscarriages in 2008, with the words ‘You know, I myself lost five children. You learn something from that experience. I had problems with all my pregnancies, but you know, in the end I think life is beautiful’.
 King Baudouin was succeeded by his brother King Albert II, who abdicated in favour of his son Philippe in 2013.
As Queen Fabiola and King Baudouin had no children she had willed all her possessions to the charity Aid Fund of the Queen, which helps Belgians in need and is currently chaired by Queen Mathilde. The inheritance is estimated to be around € 100 million (around £75 million).
Though it certainly is charitable, approximately 37 Spanish nephews and nieces will not receive a single penny. One anonymous nephew complained to a Spanish newspaper and has hinted that they are considering legal action to retrieve art that used to belong to the de Mora family. He doubts that Queen Fabiola truly wished to leave everything to the charity as he claims she said to him that she would support them her whole life.
Items included in the inheritance are letters of King Baudouin, furniture and pieces of jewelry. The aid fund can decide to auction the items, transfer them to the use of the Belgian royal family or even keep them in a vault hidden from public view. However, no intentions have made public.
Queen Fabiola was interred in the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in the same tomb as King Baudouin on 12 December 2014.
Photocredit: Tomb at Laeken by Moniek Bloks
So is it settled or are the nieces and nephews planning on suing? Also, I just needed to add my many thanks to all those who contribute to this amazing site. I LOVE Royal Central!
La Tour d’Auvergne is the name of my FRENCH ROYAL FAMILY, orginally from village of Latour in Auvergne, dating from 10th century; in divided into several branches, including Comtes de Auvergne, Ducs de Bouillon and Al’bert, and Vicomtes de Turenne; see BOUILLON and TURENNE. Madeleine de La Tour d’Auvergne (d. 1519) married Lorenzo de’ Medici, Duc de Urbino; mother of Queen Catherine de Medicis who married Henri de Valois, duc d’Orlens, later would be Henri II de Valois, King of France
The Duchy of Bouillon
The small town of Bouillon is in Belgium, province of Luxembourg, close to the French border. Its population was 5,577 in 1994.
Built as a fortress in the early 11th c., it was ceded by the famous crusader Godefroy de Bouillon to the bishops of Liége, who owned it until 1678. From 1678 to 1795, it was an independent and sovereign territory under the La Tour family. Annexed by France in 1795, it seemed to be on the verge of reappearing in 1814 with an English admiral as duke, but the congress of Vienna gave it to the Netherlands.
…and how is your undoubtedly noble genealogy relevant to the article about Queen Fabiola’s estate?