Princess Astrid of Belgium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Princess Astrid |
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| Archduchess of Austria-Este | |||||
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Princess Astrid in 2022
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| Born | 5 June 1962 Belvédère Château, Laeken, Brussels, Belgium |
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| Spouse |
Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este
(m. 1984) |
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| Issue | Prince Amedeo Princess Maria Laura Prince Joachim Princess Luisa Maria Princess Laetitia Maria |
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| House | Belgium | ||||
| Father | Albert II of Belgium | ||||
| Mother | Paola Ruffo di Calabria | ||||
Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este was born on June 5, 1962. She is the second child and oldest daughter of King Albert II and Queen Paola. She is also the younger sister of the current Belgian monarch, King Philippe. Princess Astrid is married to Prince Lorenz of Belgium, who leads the Austria-Este family branch. She is currently fifth in line to the Belgian throne.
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About Princess Astrid
Princess Astrid was born at the Belvédère Château in Laeken, a part of Brussels. She was named after her grandmother, Astrid of Sweden, who was a popular queen and sadly passed away in a car accident in 1935. Her godparents were her uncle Fabrizio and her aunt Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg.
Princess Astrid's Family
Princess Astrid married Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este on September 22, 1984. Their wedding took place at the Church of Our Lady of Victories at the Sablon in Brussels. Prince Lorenz is the oldest son of Robert, Archduke of Austria-Este, and Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta. In 1995, Prince Lorenz was also given the title of Prince of Belgium.
Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz have five children:
- Prince Amedeo (born February 21, 1986). He married Elisabetta "Lili" Maria Rosboch von Wolkenstein on July 5, 2014, in Rome. They have three children:
- Archduchess Anna Astrid Marie of Austria-Este (born May 17, 2016)
- Archduke Maximilian Joseph Lorenz Ettore Karl Marcus d'Aviano of Austria-Este (born September 6, 2019)
- Archduchess Alix Lorenza Anne Marie Josephine of Austria-Este (born September 2, 2023)
- Princess Maria Laura (born August 26, 1988). She married William Isvy on September 10, 2022, in Brussels. They have one son:
- Albert Isvy (born January 26, 2025)
- Prince Joachim (born December 9, 1991)
- Princess Luisa Maria (born October 11, 1995)
- Princess Laetitia Maria (born April 23, 2003)
Princess Astrid's Royal Duties
Princess Astrid has an important role in Belgium. She used to be the President of the Belgian Red Cross until 2007. She also holds the rank of colonel in the Medical Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. Her official home is the Royal Castle of Laeken near Brussels.
She is also a member of the Honorary Board for the International Paralympic Committee. In April 2015, Princess Astrid took over the Prince Albert Fund from her father, King Albert. This fund helps young Belgian business people.
Working for a Safer World
Princess Astrid has been a strong supporter of rights for people who have been hurt by landmines. She has actively worked with the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Treaty, since Belgium joined it in 1998.
In 2013, Princess Astrid was named a Special Envoy for this convention. She has worked to encourage countries around the world to ban landmines and to protect the rights of landmine survivors. She has attended many meetings at the United Nations to promote this important cause.
In 2019, she traveled to Lebanon to promote the convention there. During her visit to Beirut, she met with President Michel Aoun and the Minister of National Defense, Elias Bou Saab.
Titles and Awards
| Styles of Princess Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este |
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| Reference style | Her Imperial and Royal Highness |
| Spoken style | Your Imperial and Royal Highness |
Titles Held
- June 5, 1962 – September 22, 1984: Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium
- September 22, 1984 – present: Her Imperial and Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este
Honors from Belgium and Other Countries
Princess Astrid has received many honors from Belgium and other countries around the world.
From Belgium
- Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold
From 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
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: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit
Sweden: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star
Special Awards
Peru: Freedom of the City of Lima- 2016: Honorary mayor and The Hidalgo Award of San Antonio, Texas.
Coat of Arms
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Military Ranks
Princess Astrid has held the following ranks in the Belgian Medical Component:
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| 1997 | 2003 |
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See also
In Spanish: Astrid de Bélgica para niños
