Though King Albert II of Belgium will celebrate his 70th birthday on June 6 with a ceremony in the Place des Palais in Brussels, photos taken in honour of the landmark occasion portray the king where he seems to be happiest – surrounded by his growing family.
The Belgian royals gathered at the palace of Laken for the shots, which show the monarch with his wife and eight grandchildren, who range in age from four months to 18 years.
The latest addition to the family is Princess Louise, who was born in February 2004 to Prince Laurent and his British-born wife Princess Claire. Prince Amedeo, the eldest offspring of Princess Astrid and her husband, Archduke Lorenz of Austria, was the king's first grandchild, born in 1986.
It has been a baby boom of sorts for the royal family in recent years, with four new grandchildren – Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Princess Laetitia Maria and Princess Louise – all making their debuts since 2001. |
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