The Belgian Royal Family is nowhere near as famous or as popular as the British one, but the lives of the King, the Queen and their family members – legitimate or otherwise – are still well-documented by the Belgian press.
A few months ago, it seemed like the entire (online) world was obsessed with what was going on with Kate Middleton and why she had been absent from official events for a prolonged period of time. (Until it was revealed that she was undergoing cancer treatment and social media platforms were flooded by messages of people feeling bad for her.)
While the Belgian Crown Princess Elisabeth (or rather, her clothing style) has previously been compared to Middleton, that does seem to be where the similarities end.
However, that doesn't mean that the Belgian Royal Family is free of intrigues, drama or scandal – especially Princess Delphine, who is former King Albert II's extramarital daughter, has been the topic of discussion in many a household.
Even though Delphine is the spitting image of her father, Albert refused to admit that she was his daughter for decades – until many years of court proceedings and a court-ordered DNA test put an end to his denials and she was officially and publicly recognised as a Princess of Belgium.
Recently, however, the Royal Family have been rather scandal-free. The King and Queen appear at official events and generally do what is expected of them, while their eldest daughter – and heir to the throne – Elisabeth is stealing the show.
Since the speech she gave at the celebrations for her 18th birthday in 2019 – in which she very eloquently said that she would do everything she could to serve the nation when she becomes Queen – she captured the hearts of many Belgians.
When she succeeds her father, Elisabeth will be the first woman to become Head of State in Belgium. Do you want to know who is who in the Royal Family? Read the full article here.
Let @Maajtee know your thoughts.
Belgium in Brief is a free daily roundup of the top stories to get you through your coffee break conversations. To receive it straight to your inbox every day, sign up below:
1. Whit Monday: What is it, and what is open in Belgium today?
For many people across Belgium, Whit Monday or Pentecost Monday means a day off work. But what does this religious holiday actually signify? Read more.
2. Do you know your Belgian Royal family?

While the popularity of the Belgian Royals is a far cry from that of their British counterparts, Belgium's Palace is also home to its fair share of intrigue, drama and scandal. Read more.
3. Six in ten workers in Belgium tell colleagues how much they earn
An increasing number of companies in Belgium communicate openly about pay, while more discussions surrounding salary are also taking place among colleagues, new research by HR expert Acerta Consult shows. Read more.
4. Two people injured in shooting in centre of Brussels
Two people were shot on Sunday night near a café in the centre of Brussels, leaving one of the victims seriously injured. The two perpetrators reportedly fled the scene. Read more.
5. Thousands of demonstrators march in Brussels for a ceasefire in Gaza
Thousands gathered in Brussels on Sunday to protest ongoing violence in Gaza. The campaigners demand an immediate ceasefire and a just resolution for the Palestinian people. Read more.
6. Brussels Pride drew 200,000 people
Approximately 200,000 people marched through the capital on Saturday afternoon during Brussels Pride, an annual highlight for Belgium’s LGBTQIA+ community. Read more.
7. Prestigious gentleman's club in Brussels welcomes first female members
Members of prestigious gentleman's club Cercle Gaulois grudgingly agreed to allow women to enter its ranks at its General Assembly this week. Read more.

