Prince Laurent of Belgium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prince Laurent |
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Prince Laurent in 2021
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| Born | 19 October 1963 Belvédère Château, Laeken, Brussels, Belgium |
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| Spouse |
Claire Coombs
(m. 2003) |
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| House | Belgium | ||||
| Father | Albert II of Belgium | ||||
| Mother | Paola Ruffo di Calabria | ||||
Prince Laurent of Belgium was born on 19 October 1963. His full name is Laurent Benoît Baudouin Marie de Saxe-Cobourg. He is the second son and youngest child of King Albert II and Queen Paola. He is also the younger brother of King Philippe, who is the current King of Belgium.
Prince Laurent is currently 14th in the line to become King or Queen of Belgium. He used to be higher in line, but the rules changed in 1991. This change meant that girls and boys have an equal right to become king or queen. Because of this, his older sister, Princess Astrid, and her children are now ahead of him in the line of succession.
Prince Laurent cares a lot about animal welfare and the environment. People in the Belgian news sometimes call him the eco-blunderer. This nickname comes from his strong interest in nature and sometimes doing things that are a bit unexpected for a royal.
Contents
Early Life and School
Prince Laurent was born in Laeken, a part of northern Brussels, at the Belvédère Château. This happened on 19 October 1963. For his education, he attended the Royal Cadet High School. Later, he studied at the Royal Military Academy.
Marriage and Children
Prince Laurent married Claire Louise Coombs on 12 April 2003. Their wedding took place in Brussels. When she married the Prince, Claire also received the title of Princess of Belgium.
Prince Laurent and Princess Claire have three children together:
- Princess Louise, born on 6 February 2004.
- Prince Nicolas, born on 13 December 2005. He is a twin with Aymeric.
- Prince Aymeric, born on 13 December 2005. He is a twin with Nicolas.
Their children are also in the line of succession to the Belgian throne. The family lives in a home called Villa Clementine, which is located in Tervuren.
Health Updates
In March 2014, Prince Laurent was admitted to the hospital. He was treated for pneumonia and also for depression. For a short time, from March 25 to March 27, he was put into a special sleep by doctors to help him recover. On April 4, his mother, Queen Paola, shared that he was getting better. She also mentioned that she felt he was the most sensitive of her three children.
Titles and Special Awards
| Styles of Prince Laurent of Belgium |
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| Reference style | His Royal Highness |
Prince Laurent is known as His Royal Highness Prince Laurent of Belgium. Unlike some princes in the past, he does not have an extra special title like "Count of Flanders."
Awards from Belgium
Belgium:
He has received the Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold. This is a very important award in Belgium.
Awards from Other Countries
Prince Laurent has also received special awards from many other countries:
Germany:
Grand Cross 1st Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Hungary:
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary
Sovereign Military Order of Malta:
Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
Luxembourg:
Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau
Netherlands:
Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown
Norway:
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit
Portugal:
Grand Cross of the Order of Prince Henry
Spain:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit
Sweden:
Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star
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Military Ranks
Prince Laurent has also served in the military and holds several ranks in the Belgian Navy.
- 1983–1986: He attended the Royal Military Academy.
- September 1985 – September 1989: He was an Ensign 2nd class in the Belgian Navy. He took his officer oath in October 1985. He became a combat diver and helicopter pilot.
- September 1989 – 15 November 1994: He was a ship-of-the-line lieutenant.
- 15 November 1994 – 26 June 2004: He became a frigate captain.
- 26 June 2004 – Present: He holds the rank of ship-of-the-line captain in the Belgian Navy.
Coat of Arms
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Prince Laurent has his own special coat of arms. This design was set by King Philippe in 2019. It shows a black shield with a golden lion, which is a symbol of Belgium. The motto on the arms means "Unity makes strength" in French, Dutch, and German.
Images for kids
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See also
In Spanish: Lorenzo de Bélgica para niños
