2021 was a year of many firsts for the Belgian Royal Family.
King Albert and Queen Paola were among the first royals, at least in Europe, that we saw in line at a COVID-19 vaccination centre, waiting with other vulnerable citizens to receive their shots.
This had undoubtedly given them peace of mind when, just last month, they came in close contact with a member of the government who subsequently tested positive. Thankfully, the retired royals tested negative throughout their voluntary isolation.
Unfortunately, the same could not be said for King Philippe’s family; when one of the younger members of their family contracted the virus, the King and Queen were forced to cancel events on their agenda and go into voluntary quarantine for seven days.
But it was also a devastating first in modern history concerning the floods that hit central Europe in July, battering Belgium’s Liege province, where King Philippe and Queen Mathilde repeatedly visited in the days immediately following the events to bring comfort to the shocked population.
The last visit that we know of was made on the 21st of July when the country celebrates its National Day: to finish the day’s sober festivities, the entire family (minus Princess Elisabeth, who was already back in her barracks for the last few weeks of military training) paid a visit to an elderly care centre that was housing people that had to be displaced from other facilities affected by the floods.
And speaking of the National Day, the day saw other two “firsts.” It was the first time that the Duchess of Brabant did not take part in the celebrations next to her family but in the line of military personnel parading in front of the King.
Queen Mathilde was visibly moved at the sight of her eldest child in her gala uniform, with the rest of her class of cadets, and the Princess carried out her parade duties splendidly.
But the National Day parade also saw another first: Princess Délphine attended the day’s celebrations as a member of the Royal Family for the first time, after being recognised as King Albert’s daughter and being subsequently granted the title of Princess in October of 2020.
Shortly after her parade, Princess Elisabeth finished her military training brilliantly, and it was announced that the Duchess of Brabant would soon leave Belgium to study History and Politics at the University of Oxford, residing in the famous Lincoln College. She began her life as a university student in October, shortly before turning 20.
Prince Gabriel, the royal couple’s second child, had left Belgium in September, also headed to the UK, where he is enrolled in a STEM program at The National Mathematics and Science College in Warwickshire, England.
Widening the sight on the extended family, Princess Astrid was forced to pull out of an economic mission to the United Stated scheduled in September following a vertebral fracture during exercising.
And Princess Claire, Prince Laurent’s wife, reappeared in public in October after almost two years out of the public’s eye; in March of 2020, she had been diagnosed with coronavirus, and the family seemed concerned about the potential outcome, since, about six months before that, she had been diagnosed with a “lingering illness,” according to her husband. He also stated on that occasion that the treatment for that illness was over, and the entire family was praying for a good outcome and a full recovery. So it was a relief to see her smiling and standing while handing out scientific prizes in the presence of King Albert and Queen Paola.
So, all in all, 2021 was a year of highs and lows for the Belgian Royal Family, as it has been for every other family. Health has occupied a central spot in the conversation, but it still left a place to celebrate educational successes and milestones, especially for younger members of the family.
