Claire and Laurent are no longer “from Belgium”. From now on, the name “of Belgium” can only be used administratively by King Albert II, Queen Paola, King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and Crown Princess Elisabeth. A change that does not delight Prince Laurent, however. Questioned by our colleagues from the Nieuwsblad, the brother of King Philippe reacted strongly to this news.
Prince Laurent and Princess Astrid are no longer called “de Belgique”. This change of name follows an administrative decision. They are now called “Saxe-Coburg” on official documents. According to “Histoires royales”, the Belgian administration has asked members of the royal family to modify their official documents so that “their ‘real’ surname” is mentioned therein.
Thus, at the beginning of last year, the princes and princesses of Belgium had to go to their municipal administration to have their identity papers changed. Their new identity card and passport now show the “real” family name of “Saxe-Coburg.
“I am very angry”
A change that does not seem to please Prince Laurent. “It was in March 2022 that we had to change our identity cards. We had no choice. Only Philippe, Mathilde and their children can still be called ‘from Belgium’”, he explained to our colleagues from the Nieuwsblad.
“Claire, our children and I are now called from Saxe-Cobourg. And I am very angry,” said King Philip’s brother. What makes him angry? In Dutch, “from Saxe-Coburg is van Saksen-Coburg. And yet: We are called von Saksen-Coburg and not ‘van’. But hey, it’s not that on our identity cards”.
To make his idea understood, the prince finally takes an example: “What would you think if you were called Solis instead of Selis? My sister Astrid is now called ‘van Habsburg’ (Editor’s note: from the name of her husband, Prince Lorenz) and not ‘von Habsburg’”, he concluded.
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