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The long-running royal scandal that has fascinated Belgium and damaged those involved reached a new milestone when former King Albert II reunited with the daughter he fathered out of wedlock more than half a century ago.
Albert II sat between his wife, Queen Paola, and the former Delphine Boel, who has been recognized as Her Royal Highness Princess Delphine after a bitter two-decade paternity struggle.
“After the tumult, suffering and pain, it is time for forgiveness, healing and reconciliation,” the three said in a joint statement released by the palace on Tuesday, two days after the meeting.
“Together, we decided to take this new path. It will take patience and effort, but we are determined ”, they said.
Last month, a Belgian court ruled in favor of Princess Delphine and officially recognized her as Albert’s daughter, something the aging monarch had struggled to avoid since the paternity rumors became public in 1998.
Princess Delphine, 52, is an artist known for her quirky, sometimes outrageous statues. Albert, 86, was king until 2013.
Sunday’s meeting was followed by a warm meeting with his half brother, the reigning King Philip, at the palace.
Rumors about Albert’s mother and Princess Delphine, the aristocratic wife of a wealthy industrialist, had been circulating for years, but Albert for a long time refused to acknowledge her.
Princess Delphine said that going to court was about gaining recognition from the family and the love of a father who had taken her coldly and quarreled with her at court. He said it made his life “more painful.”
The photo from Sunday’s meeting showed the three of them in front of a fireplace with untouched cookies on the table. The three of them sat apart and their smiles weren’t exuberant, yet it was a watershed moment for the royal house of Belgium.
“During our meeting at Belvedere Castle, each of us, with empathy and serenity, was able to express their feelings and experiences,” the statement said. “A new chapter had opened, rich in emotions, tranquility, understanding and hope.”
