Just two weeks after ringing in his 71st birthday, Belgium's King Albert basked in both the summer sunshine and the love of his growing family during a royal photo shoot at the Castle of Laeken near Brussels.
All three of the king's children – Crown Prince Philippe, Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent – took part in the special session with their respective spouses, Crown Princess Mathilde , Prince Lorenz and Princess Claire.
But surely what made the event a truly heartwarming, and perhaps unpredictable, occasion was the presence of King Albert and Queen Paola's beloved grandchildren. All eight of the royal offspring, ranging in age from 16-month-old Princess Louise, daughter of Laurent and Claire, to 19-year-old Prince Amadeo, the eldest son of Astrid and her husband Lorenz, were on hand.
And there promises to be more joy in store for the proud grandparents. The crown prince and princess are expecting their third child – a sibling for future queen and current toddler Princess Elisabeth and her younger brother Prince Gabriel – in October.
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