1959-09-26 — Page 6

Princess in Pillory

TWO ON HOLIDAY—Leopold and Liliane

THE service in the little Belgian church was over. The congregation prepared to leave. They would walk quickly and quietly through the streets under the watchful eyes of the German troops on patrol. One Sunday in enemy-occupied Belgium was much like another.

But this Sunday, in December 1941, did turn out to be different. The priest was climbing to the pulpit for a second time. He had an announcement to make. It was a message from Cardinal Archbishop Van Roey, Primate of Belgium. This was the primate's pronouncement :----

{

"My Vera Dray Brethren: 1 an authorized to make

PATRIC

known

to you an important event; his Majesty King Leopold has contracted

eith Mademoiselle Liliane Barts

of tr esanteṛwomen, a member of most honoured family in Weat Flandra

"i ¿ The homung and pleasure of blessing this may- ripe in Septeratur 11 fast, in the presence of velutis, DI the chupet ut the Chatran of Lacken.

گرده

the

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1969.

BEGINNING THE STORY OF PRINCESS LILIANE DE RETHY

Could this

end a

How much longer can the Belgian throno fast?

That question must have been in tho minds of many of the guests who gathered in Brussels a few month ago for tho glittering royal wedding. As they pondered over it, many of them may have looked at one woman-Princoss Liliane de Rothy.

Ever since hor marriage to ox-King Leopold in 1941 the power of the Belgian throne has diminished. Because of that marriage, Leopold was forced to abdicate in favour of his son. Now thore is talk that Baudouin too will have to abdicate because of the influence his stepmother holds over him.

A

•

WHO is this woman who has racked monarchy? How did she como into Leopold's Bfo? Why do so many Bolgiant hate her? Here, for the first time, is the full story of Liliane Baols and hor love for a king. The author is a former diplomat ac credited to the Bolgian court.

PART ONE OF A KING'S LOVE STORY

had died in 2c-

So serious

Park-on November 28, 1917. to write Rebut Crown Prines ful Queen Astrid, She was child No. 305 m the Leopold.

las arms after a meloring "I am authorized to add register for that day.

It was a kind of "hato- cident. that this worringe CORETTAS

Her father. Henty Baels, was worship" für Leopold was n t- lawyer. At the beginning of the object for adoration. the private and family life of

The First World War he had i I the king

1033 he seemed hardly practice in Ostend, but when more than a boy, tail, blond, So Leopold was not o "Ray" authentic drerre

the country was overitin by the slim, impeccably dressed, re- young man, He devoted him- Sovereign RUN establish t

Germans, he transferred the markably handsome, with clear self to work and planning with that the rount bride practice Landon. He went grey eyes and

serkius eat energy, seldom relaxed, renouters, the title of

In the expression. His photograph was

and seldom smiled. 1930's holt varaus Government to be seen everywhere. and Crown pusi Minister

Every girl in Belgium admited province of West Flanders. Liliane and the others was that the Interio and Governor of him. The difference between

in time she married him.

queen, back after the war and

King's friend

In these duties he won the lifetime friendship of King Al- bert. Meanwhile Liliane was ut school, at the Sacre-Coeur Ostend..

Woman

monarchy?

WOMAN IN THE BACKGROUND: Liliane watches as Leopold welcomes home King Baudouin after his U.S. trip.

could enjoy her first good look But he was uniting furward to at the king, she did not drive the Grand Prix, the principal away again as SOOD as her Ostend, as he drove over there horse race of the year at mother had left the car.

on July 21, 1938.

First talk

a condition which she her. self made to her warriage, She will bear the title of Prin cran de Rethy By the sam decree the king declares that

But that wes years ahead. any children of this marriage

Lane's parents felt that their

When the ruces began Gov- aldil enjoy

hereditary

daughter's education was still ernor Henry Bacls sat on the right to the Crowa,"

incomplete.

A few moments later Leopold They sent her to king's right,

The king

about tooker in her direction, stopped asked The news summed its hearers,

England, to become the Perfect

in the middle of a sentence, and Young Lady. This perfection Madame Baels, suggesting that pincess Was There were questions... all

entrusted to the she might like to join thein. The inquired: "Who is that beauti- in Mudame kinds of questions: Why hadn'!

fashionable Roman Catholic governor had the message tele- ful young woman It was there that a prophetic finishing school of the Holy phoned 10 the news iven in the papers"

her at the family's Bacis's car?" If the king, a prisetier in his event occurred in Liliane's life. Child in Cvendish Square, villa

nearby Le Zoute.

That was the first meeting of palace at Lacken. land Been ter class was ordered to write a Marylebone.

Madame Biels quickly got ready Liliane and Leopnid. The con- Parried in September, why had romposition. Each girl

In 1938, Leopold had already and asked her daughter to drive versation was pleasant but short, been King of the Belgians for her to the Ostend they wanted R now

ไป choose her

racetrack, with a number of people listen- four difficult years. His father Liliane made good time in their ing. announce 17

Some giris wrote on intellee harf died in a mountain-climb- amari-looking open car. Liliane Barist

"Do you

speak French Liliane Baels was Lorn

in tual subjects, some about their ing neeident in 1934. Only

Finding that her errand had Flemish, mademoiselle?" London-at

New holidays or peis. Liliane chose year later his wife, the beauti- brought her to a spot where she "I speak both, sire,

To allowed And who WAS subject.

5 Highbury

in

WAS

OWN

Could it be Roundworms?

Microscopic roundworm eggs are everywhere. In

vegetables, fruit, water. Even in the best ordered

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LEVER WHAT LEVER?? OH YEP) SEI IT-PULU KET, YOU SAY, GRAY,

"Do you play golf?" And sand people were waiting.... about science or art or evca then an invitation to a game at The courtship" might very golf, the king found that he Le Zoute the following day.

and was talking about the personal well havn ended there The meeting on the Boks was almost did Months went by. life of Liliane Baels and a rather stuffy occasion.

It was not until one day In that he wanted to know more

1940 that the There wasn't much sparkling March

king about her. convention. All the same i decided he would go to Le was a good enough game to call Zoute for a day of relaxation

another

almost twe und again be played golf for

with Liliane. years later.

Their third meeting did not take place on the links but on the rolling lawns in front of the palace at Laeken. This was in June 1939, when Queen Wilhel mina of Holland was on a state visit to Beiglum.

Invitation

the

It was only a fów days late that Liliane received an invita- don to luncheon al Lacken. It was given by Queen Mother Elisabeth at her house; Les Palmlers, in the grounds of Lacken.

This time

conversation There were just the three of was much less strained.

The them. Liliane instantly mode king learned that since their lost an impression on her hostess.

had but 25 golf game Liliane

been This Juncheon having accident kki-ing in serious

there would such a "success,"

But Austrla, “and had spent three. have been others.

soon afterwards, on May 10, 1940, months convalescing.

Nothing is more personal than Nazi hordes poured across the

(Continued on Page 7) that... a thou- an Injury. So instead of talking

Leopold gave a reception for her, to which the Buels family was invited,

Liliane and changed their no more than

GOLDERN IT JUST LOOK AT THẤT NOW. AIN'T THAT CLEVER

the king few words,

ex-

bul

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