Delphine Boël
Encyclopedia
Delphine Michèle Anne Marie Ghislaine Boël (Uccle
22 February 1968) is a Belgian
artist who specializes in papier maché sculpture. She is alleged to be the illegitimate daughter of Albert II of Belgium
. Sometimes in the media Delphine is incorrectly titled as a Baroness, because of her mother's title. She belongs to the Belgian nobility through her legal father, but with no other title than the title of 'Ecuyère' (in Dutch: Jonkvrouw
) of which the English equivalent could be 'Esquire'.
(°1941), whose husband was Jacques Boël (°1929), scion of a family of industrialists. Her parents divorced in 1978 and her mother married again in 1982 with the Honorable Michael-Anthony Rathmore Cayzer (of the Barons Rotherwick of Tylney) (1929–1990). Mother and daughter moved to London and to the large estate of the new husband, in Rotherwick. Her father remarried in 2001 with the divorcee Diane de Woot de Trixhe de Jannée (°1943)
Delphine attended an international boarding school in Switzerland and studied at the Chelsea School of Art and Design in London
, where she obtained a B.A. fine arts in 1990.
Delphine and her Irish-American partner, James O'Hare, have a daughter, Joséphine (born on 17 October 2003), and a son, Oscar (born on 28 April 2008).
, Paola, van 'la dolce vita' tot koningin (Paola, from 'la dolce vita' to Queen). The book contained a statement referring to the existence of a daughter born out of wedlock to King Albert. The Belgian press seized upon this statement and made investigations into the identity of this daughter, tracing Delphine Boël. At first, both Delphine and her mother refused to comment on the matter, and the Palace dismissed Danneels' book as gossip
and rumours
.
The main element considered by the Belgian press as acknowledgment that Delphine is the King's daughter is a short extract from the King's 1999 Christmas speech:
The press interpret this to refer to the King's affair with Sybille de Sélys Longchamps.
Delphine gave an interview on 15 May 2005, to the France 3
presenter Marc-Olivier Fogiel in the broadcast "On ne peut pas plaire à tout le monde" in which she said that she is indeed the daughter of the King. She said she made a telephone call to King Albert II in order to receive help for her mother who was being harassed by journalists. According to her statement, the King replied "Leave me alone with that story. You are not my daughter." which she said was hurtful. She said she felt the absence of contact from him, especially since she is a mother herself. In the same interview, she alleged that when she and her mother moved to England when she was 9, the then Crown Prince Albert wished to divorce Princess Paola and join them. Her mother apparently opposed this because of the political consequences for prince Albert. Delphine added that her "parents" kept in touch by telephone for some years, but that this stopped some time before she was 16 (1984). She said her mother told her "the truth" about her parentage when she turned 18, in 1986.
Although King Albert does not acknowledge that he is her father, Delphine's paternity link with the King is often considered as a fact by the press and by the Belgian people. She is sometimes compared with Mazarine Pingeot
, the illegitimate daughter of former French President François Mitterrand
. She is said to be in touch with Prince Laurent of Belgium, who never denied formally allegations from the newspaper De Morgen re. his father either.
There has been no formal proof of Delphine Boël's claim, as a paternity test has not been carried out. However, some people have pointed out that in their view there is a striking resemblance between Delphine Boël and Queen Astrid
, Albert II's mother, but much less with Prince Laurent.
Uccle
Uccle or Ukkel is one of the nineteen municipalities located in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium.Uccle is known for its well-to-do areas, its green spots and its high rental rates.-History:...
22 February 1968) is a Belgian
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
artist who specializes in papier maché sculpture. She is alleged to be the illegitimate daughter of Albert II of Belgium
Albert II of Belgium
Albert II is the current reigning King of the Belgians, a constitutional monarch. He is a member of the royal house "of Belgium"; formerly this house was named Saxe-Coburg-Gotha...
. Sometimes in the media Delphine is incorrectly titled as a Baroness, because of her mother's title. She belongs to the Belgian nobility through her legal father, but with no other title than the title of 'Ecuyère' (in Dutch: Jonkvrouw
Jonkheer
Jonkheer is a Dutch honorific of nobility.-Honorific of nobility:"Jonkheer" or "Jonkvrouw" is literally translated as "young lord" or "young lady". In medieval times such a person was a young and unmarried son or daughter of a high ranking knight or nobleman...
) of which the English equivalent could be 'Esquire'.
Biography
She is the daughter of Sybille, Baroness de Selys LongchampsSybille de Selys Longchamps
Sybille, Baroness de Selys Longchamps is a Belgian aristocrat. She is known as the mother of Delphine Boël, supposedly the illegitimate daughter of Albert II of Belgium, current King of the Belgians....
(°1941), whose husband was Jacques Boël (°1929), scion of a family of industrialists. Her parents divorced in 1978 and her mother married again in 1982 with the Honorable Michael-Anthony Rathmore Cayzer (of the Barons Rotherwick of Tylney) (1929–1990). Mother and daughter moved to London and to the large estate of the new husband, in Rotherwick. Her father remarried in 2001 with the divorcee Diane de Woot de Trixhe de Jannée (°1943)
Delphine attended an international boarding school in Switzerland and studied at the Chelsea School of Art and Design in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where she obtained a B.A. fine arts in 1990.
Delphine and her Irish-American partner, James O'Hare, have a daughter, Joséphine (born on 17 October 2003), and a son, Oscar (born on 28 April 2008).
Paternity allegations
On 19 October 1999, an 18-year-old Flemish schoolboy, Mario Danneels , published his unauthorised biography of Queen PaolaQueen Paola of Belgium
Paola, Queen of the Belgians , is the queen consort of Albert II of Belgium....
, Paola, van 'la dolce vita' tot koningin (Paola, from 'la dolce vita' to Queen). The book contained a statement referring to the existence of a daughter born out of wedlock to King Albert. The Belgian press seized upon this statement and made investigations into the identity of this daughter, tracing Delphine Boël. At first, both Delphine and her mother refused to comment on the matter, and the Palace dismissed Danneels' book as gossip
Gossip
Gossip is idle talk or rumour, especially about the personal or private affairs of others, It is one of the oldest and most common means of sharing facts and views, but also has a reputation for the introduction of errors and variations into the information transmitted...
and rumours
Rumours
Rumours is the eleventh studio album by British-American rock band Fleetwood Mac. Largely recorded in California during 1976, it was produced by the band with Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut and was released on 4 February 1977 by Warner Bros. Records. The record peaked at the top of both the...
.
The main element considered by the Belgian press as acknowledgment that Delphine is the King's daughter is a short extract from the King's 1999 Christmas speech:
This Christmas feast is also the occasion for each of us to think to one's own family, to one's happy periods but also to one's difficult moments. The Queen and I have remembered very happy periods but also the crisis that our couple have experienced more than 30 years ago. Together we could, very longtime ago already, surpass those difficulties and find back a deep understanding and love. This period have been recalled to us short ago. We don't wish to dwell ("nous apesantir" in French) on that subject which belongs to our private lives. But, if certain people who meet today similar problems could get some reasons to hope from our lived experience, we would be so happy.
The press interpret this to refer to the King's affair with Sybille de Sélys Longchamps.
Delphine gave an interview on 15 May 2005, to the France 3
France 3
France 3 is the second largest French public television channel and part of the France Télévisions group, which also includes France 2, France 4, France 5, and France Ô....
presenter Marc-Olivier Fogiel in the broadcast "On ne peut pas plaire à tout le monde" in which she said that she is indeed the daughter of the King. She said she made a telephone call to King Albert II in order to receive help for her mother who was being harassed by journalists. According to her statement, the King replied "Leave me alone with that story. You are not my daughter." which she said was hurtful. She said she felt the absence of contact from him, especially since she is a mother herself. In the same interview, she alleged that when she and her mother moved to England when she was 9, the then Crown Prince Albert wished to divorce Princess Paola and join them. Her mother apparently opposed this because of the political consequences for prince Albert. Delphine added that her "parents" kept in touch by telephone for some years, but that this stopped some time before she was 16 (1984). She said her mother told her "the truth" about her parentage when she turned 18, in 1986.
Although King Albert does not acknowledge that he is her father, Delphine's paternity link with the King is often considered as a fact by the press and by the Belgian people. She is sometimes compared with Mazarine Pingeot
Mazarine Pingeot
Mazarine Marie Pingeot , who changed her name to Mazarine Marie Pingeot-Mitterrand in 2005, is a writer, journalist and professor.-Life:...
, the illegitimate daughter of former French President François Mitterrand
François Mitterrand
François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand was the 21st President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serving from 1981 until 1995. He is the longest-serving President of France and, as leader of the Socialist Party, the only figure from the left so far elected President...
. She is said to be in touch with Prince Laurent of Belgium, who never denied formally allegations from the newspaper De Morgen re. his father either.
There has been no formal proof of Delphine Boël's claim, as a paternity test has not been carried out. However, some people have pointed out that in their view there is a striking resemblance between Delphine Boël and Queen Astrid
Astrid of Sweden
Astrid of Sweden was Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Leopold III.-Early life:Princess Astrid of Sweden was born in Stockholm on 17 November 1905...
, Albert II's mother, but much less with Prince Laurent.
External links
- Fogiel's interview reported on 19 May 2005 by Michel Bouffioux.
- Interview with Sybille de Selys Longchamps by Michel Bouffioux, June 2005.