Princess Laurent of Belgium has vowed that his younger half-sister, Princess Delphine, can depend on him.
The Prince spoke to Belgian journalist Wim Dehandschutter on the phone and told him that Delphine could count on him. He told Niewsblad: “Delphine needs to know she can count on me. But she undoubtedly knows that. We have known each other for a long time.”
He also said that he would not comment on his brother, King Philippe’s meeting with Delphine on Friday, 9 October. He added that he’d not contacted his half-sister since the decision of the Court of Appeals to grant her the title of Princess of Belgium with the style of Royal Highness. He explained: “I don’t want to disturb them. She has so much on her back.”
The Belgian Royal Palace revealed today that the King and Princess Delphine met for the first time on Friday at the Palace of Laeken. The siblings issued a press release saying: “On Friday the 9th of October, we met for the first time in the Palace of Laeken. It was a warm meeting. This extensive and special meeting gave us the opportunity to get to know each other. We discussed our own lives and our shared interest. This bond will develop into a familial bond in due time. Philippe & Delphine“
The meeting reportedly lasted for three hours.
Princess Delphine is the illegitimate daughter of King Albert II of Belgium, who abdicated in his son’s favour in 2013, and Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps. She was finally recognised as King Albert’s daughter after a long legal battle in January of 2020. Delphine received the title of Princess of Belgium and the style of Her Royal Highness, which also extends to her son and daughter, just two weeks ago. However, they will not be included in the line of succession.
