THE
THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1959.
CONTINUING THE STORY OF EUROPE'S MOST HATED, MOST CONTROVERSIAL ROYAL FIGURE..
Liliane becomes
becomes a king's
bride-in secret
THE marriage of King Leopold and Liliane Baels was probably the strangest royal wedding on record.
Cardinal van Roey, who years earlier had married Crown Prince Leopold and Princess Astrid in the Cathedral of Saint Gudule, in a ceremony of pomp and magnificence, received once more the Yows of marriage and pronounced his benediction on the king but this time in complete secrecy, with the minimum number of witnesses. Liliane's mother was not pre- sent. She did not even know her daughter was marry- ing the king until after the ceremony was over. -
The chief reason for keeping the marringe a secret was that in this way Leopold could marry Liliane without the knowledge of the
Germany
! The ceremony took place on
September 11, 1941 in the little chapel of the Bateau of Lacken, piin n whe white walls are completely unadorned except for the Stations of the Cross.
The Bowers were white resus, picked in the grounds of the chates by
Elisabeth, Queen
the kizz's miner. The king WIN 521 enilin clothes,, ană. after the evreniny Liliane, now He Princess de Rethy, changed
a tailored stal
Where was a small funcheon. For a wedding feast it was more sober then jubilant.
The six people scaled around
the table shared a
secret, bu were
wondrous
little bit
alarmed by the magnitude of it.
Gay-and sad
Liliane's mood was most com- plicated. At times she hardly
know whether to laugh or cry.
She darted looks
at Leopold
PRINCESS IN PILLORY: Part 2
Liliane Baels won the love of King Leopold and the hatred of many of his subjects. Controversy rages round her role in the Belgian monarchy. Now, after 18 years, comes the truth about.
a romance that rocked a throne, The author is a former diplomat accredited to the Belgian Court
ELDEST DAUGHTER of the Princess de Rethy is Maries Christine. Among her other name is Astrid that of Leopold's first wife,
and whenever her eyes felt ou him her happiness appeared in perind of habnubbing with them. She seemed, as a bride king. should.
his house.
MOTE of this incolence! Tel Muller, hypnotised by the hint it he is still king it is king's air of authority, landed
the 1 have been patient! him beemuse
letter. As Leopold Belgiin hus not been laid began to read it he rehearsed in waste, it is because i have been his mind the phrases in which patient! But am losing my he would administer the ordered patience!
have I will
alm brow-beating. imprisoned in Germany! Make him realise that we won't stand for this sort of thing! And don't listen to any excuses! Put m in his place, give him this letter. and accept no apologies!**
Cold stare
Armed with these instructions, General Muller artived at Laeken and asked to be receivedi by the king. Leopold hud him shown in
"Majestat," Miller thundered, "the Futurer wishes ine to Say
Leopold transfixed him with one of his coldest stares.
You have a letter for me?" he Interrupted.
"Yes, Majestall The Fuhrer
rays..
"I shall be able to see what the German the Fuhrer says from his teller.
But since Give it to me."
commander of quard at Lacken. The apprentice sides-de-camp the Gestapo insisted on having | even ynger than her quickly became disillusioned on its own men at important points. youthful 24.
finding that the king treated there was also an 3.5. captain Her natural gatety asserted
them rather as if they were within the grounds, represent- self from
time to time; but stray dogs who had slipped into ing Himmler. His name was then the would reall the
Bunting. ilc
R WIS
formuer responsibility she had assumed
policeman, mah with 210 marrying Inv King. and
bul considering education; remember the circumstances in
what he was, not fundamentally which they had been married,
bad-hearted. Kiewitz,
sensitive bis man. attempted to make presence as little onerous to the He kept aul king as possible.
**
and for moment she would
becne almost sad,
The choice
Finally
a
more 11
the High Command If the queen mother was the decided that instead of assign leading advocate of Leopold's ing whoever presented himself marriage 10 Liliane, it was to this ticklishi job, it might be mainly because she wanted her advisable to give some thought of sight when he did not have son to have the moral support to picking a man really qualifed something to communicate, and indeed he saw Leopold mast of a good wife. But there was to handle it.
also another reason: Leopold's children
protest
The choice Brally fell on often when the king had sent Colonel Werner Kiewitz, who by for him to hand him The king had three children training was a diplomat rather of one kind or another.
Smooth- For the king's offcial duties by Queen Astrid. They were that a military man. still small and unquestionably faced and rather handsome in were now very largely reduced needed more looking after than spite
toukt give them.
of a snub-nose, he was Leupold; preoccupied as he was, more elegant than athletic-n "homme du monde." He spoke Leopold's excellent French of proposal to Liliane, the eldest Josephine Charlotte,
At the time
1 was 13;
Baudouin, heir to the throne, was 10; and Albert was seven.
Protests
to that. Some of his protests were on general subjects, such
is against the restricted rations
of the Belglans; but much more often they were attempts to bring pressure to bear in indivi- ! dual cases.
And indeed Leopold's prestige certain influence
Lion did not meet the two With ali his qualifications, did retain
resentment which
princes until the day of the however, Kiewitz did not get off over the Germans, in spite of snairinge. Josephine-Charlotte to a very good start in this job. the personal she had met shortly before, at This is how he later described a private 1m showing in his Arst
Lecken.
Leopold war xious from the first that they should call her "Maman." Liliane. replied that she would rather the children receive instructions did not about this.
:
Conference
king-
encounter with
Hitler
(elt toward ium for the refusing proposals of collabora-
tion.
"King Leopold received me extremely slimy, with a mast forbidding expression,
Furious
Leopold's
most
"He looked as I was to see him look, so often thereafter, at
violently which mes sald to myself: worded protest was one which The king has slammed down he addressed to Hitler himsel
through the Red Crois, since the curtain again today.
doubtless "It was an impenetrable gaze Klewitz
would no
that could stop you short at six have been able to accept it. This It dki that to me. I was in December 1042, when Within a few hours of the yards.
of young Bel- marriage, when they had just stopped six yards from the king, the deportation
glans for forced labour in Ger- met Liliane for the first time, saluted, and introduced myself. the children. held a conference The king sald to me in a rigid many began.
Colonel, you are the
Leopold's and at evening voice:
When he received her, about
Germon
Je aide-de-camp letter, Hier won furious, -they went in a deputation of ninth
himself to prepared an answer to it, and who has presented three to see-their father.
un- me. Josephine - Charlotte,
Are you the Inst?!"
then sent for a general named Kiewitz replied: HI by the fact that her
co Muller to hend him the letter impressed Ittle brother Baudouin was the assure your majesty that I am personally,
Which, in fuel, was "General," he reared, "you heir-apparent, acted as spokes- the last."
true.
are to give this letter to King Colonel Kiewitz represented Leopold yourself and make him the German Army and was understand that we want no
man.
"Papa," she said. "there something we would like to ask
you....
"Yes?" the king
her.
encouraged
"Well, we were wandering what in call the princESS
your wife, I mean.
call her Maman'?"
May
ԱՐ
Queen Elisabeth, who bull!
the "Bungalow in the grounds
of Lerken as a studio, turned it over
to the newly-weds. Il offered the young couple their only chance of seclusion. Ear and the Germans had now occupied the right wing of the palace.
The Germans, in their cun fusion at finding that the king had stayed behind in Belgium, had been able to think of
TALKING
POINTS
The impossibility of yesterday becomes a luxury today a necessity tomorrow,
MANON.
There is a dummy streak in all of us-and-thlúis what -DEN HECHT. TV is exploiting.
Democracy is the recurrant suspicion thatʼmoro’thun nothing betler than loading half the people are right more than half the time.
"E. "B. WHITE;
Possimist—one who builds dungoons in the air.
him up in his own palode at
Larken. They next do decide who would be Leopold's "keeper."
10 · · · · The overseer was described 'romewhat ironically as
the kinge uide-de-camp.
ANON.
"Next to the dog, the wastepaper-basket Is man's bort
·~ANON.
A mumber of German officers friend.
at mee put themselves forward-
for this job. It.seemed a nicely
abeltered one, and besides they. load-forward to an agreeable
It is absurd to divide poople into good and bod.. People
are either charming ar tedious.
OBCAR-WILDE. MELondon”. Expreen (Keruten),
POP-Getting Wound Up
BETTER SET
THE ALARM FOR SEVEN-NO MAKE IT SIX "THIRTY, POP
COME
GETAN Hip
WITH THAT
CEMENT,
This is what Leopold read:-
Majestat,
1
the
I would appear that
considerate trediment which you have received has made you forget that you are in captivity. The assertiona contained I WONT letter of December 17 are so monstrous, that it is difficult to find words strong enough to correct them. lu referring to the obliga- tory work programme as "cruel ordeal," and in speak- ing of forced labour and deportations," you the the most alarming "incomprehens sion of the historie, universal duty to combat Bolshevism. Your comprehension poses also a threat for your country!.,
You scem not to understand that the most elementary low af self-preservation requires Belgium to furnish, form of a working force as
AND TURU
THE CLONE V
TWENTY.
MINUTES AHEAD
in the
PRINCESS ON A PILLION: Leopold and Lillane on holiday an the Tyrol. The mutor
bleyele was a birthday present to Leopold from his wife.
the
His reading finished, Leopold the returned
letter to its
and
-handed it to
ural European mission which has been conferred German people...........
On
in
envelope
Tell your Puheur there is no
held, and turned. answer." and left the room.
I expect. Majestat, that is Mufler future, you will carefully aroid simittar who
unpardonable cidents, and that you will con- duct yourself as
befits your present situation.
as possible, a mullest Large contribution to the struggle for the destiny of Ewrope.
The tone of your letter con- stitutes, above all, a scurrilous insult to the Germans, are working and struggling for the future of Europe. ... It is inconceivable that any- DNC
#3 'dc- could deauribe portees"
the those who, in interest of Belgium, are con- tributing by their labour to the accomplishment of the
DO THE
SAME WITH
ALARM
If you act contrary to this expectation, I shall be abilged to change your residence to a place outside of Belgium." Adolf Hitler.
-By Gog
SO ILL BE SURE VÜ TS GET'DO ATD0% SIX FIFTEEN, IN CASE (OVERSLEER
A LITTLE LAFTER IT
GOES
FOUR 'D. JONES
THE BRICKS ARE UNLOADED, AND THE BUILDING OF THE GREAT WALL TO KEEP OUT HOSTILE CHINESE COW SWIDING INDIANS
COMMENCES......
"LAINT WORKED SO HARD, SINCE THE ESUILDING OF THE EMPIRE MATE
by MADDOCKS
MEANWHILE, BACK IN EGYPT, THE FINISHING TOVOHES ARE MADE TO THE GREAT PYRAUD, ALTHOUGH THERS IS AN ACUTE SHORTAGE OF BRICKS.
WELL, THATO WHAT 15% SUPPOSED TO LOOK LIKË WHEN IT'S PINISHED MATE. BUT SOMEHOW, THE LIVE DOT MY
(FLIPPIN' DOUBTS)
PLAN OF PYL
PYRAMID
ANCE SOCARE INLOCK OR BAKH UP THE BASANT MAKE A BOOD JOB OFF HERE'S A GOOD CHAR!. TOURS PHAXAGN
LAPOSE OF
FERDINAND
BRICK BRADFORD
INSTRUMENTS. CHECKED! FRE
· AWAY, CAPTAIN P
WE'RE ON OUR WAY.BLAST-OFF ELEMENTS: ARE ENERGIZED!.
FIRE ROARS FROM THE SPACESHUR KICKING UP THE MOON-BUST WHICH NEARLY, CONCEALS THE CRAFT-
By Mik
120
By Paul Norris
SLOWLY THE GREAT SPÄCE VEHICLE RESES OUT OF THE BUST-AND BRICK AND PAM ARE ON THEIR WAY TO PUBLE TRAL POR
MURDER....
Muller stared dumbfounded at the retreating back of the king. A moment later a palace servant stepped up to him and touched his arm
(Continued on Page 7)
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