by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024
Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Brussels, Belgium; By Trougnouf (Benoit Brummer) – Own work, CC BY 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=74138159
On or around February 17 each year, a Mass commemorating deceased members of the Belgian royal family is celebrated at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium.
King Albert I mountain climbing; Credit – Wikipedia
Albert I, King of the Belgians was an avid mountain climber. On February 17, 1934, while climbing alone on the Roche de Vieux Bon Dieu at Marche-les-Dames, in the Ardennes region of Belgium, 58-year-old Albert I fell to his death. A year later, on February 17, 1935, a Mass was celebrated in commemoration of the death of Albert I.
Queen Astrid and King Leopold III; Credit – Wikipedia
In August 1935, Albert I’s son and successor, Leopold III, King of the Belgians (reigned 1934 – 1951, abdicated), his wife Queen Astrid (born a Princess of Sweden), and their three children (the future Baudouin, King of the Belgians, the future Albert II, King of the Belgians, and Princess Joséphine Charlotte of Belgium, who married Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg) were on holiday in Switzerland. On August 29, 1935, having sent the children ahead, Leopold II and Astrid decided to take one last outing before returning to Belgium. On a drive in the mountains near Lake Lucerne, Leopold III was driving and Astrid was beside him. Leopold III was distracted by something Astrid pointed out and lost control of the car. The convertible went off the road and down a steep slope, crashing into a tree. Both were thrown out of the car. Leopold III was not seriously injured, however, 29-year-old Astrid was thrown into another tree and died from her injuries.
Interior of the Church of Our Lady of Laeken; Photo © Susan Flantzer
After the death of Queen Astrid, it was decided to commemorate all deceased members of the Belgian royal family. On or around February 17 each year, Belgian royal family members and extended family attend a Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Laeken, Brussels, Belgium, the burial site of the Belgian Royal Family.
Queen Mathilde, Princess Delphine, King Philippe, Princess Claire, former King Albert II, Prince Laurent, and former Queen Paola attend the annual Mass in memory of deceased members of the Belgian Royal Family at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken on February 20, 2024
After the Mass, the family visits the Royal Crypt in the Church of Our Lady of Laeken where past monarchs, consorts, and other royal family members are interred.
Entrance to the Royal Crypt; Photo © Susan Flantzer
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Works Cited
- Flantzer, Susan. (2020). Royal Deaths from Car Accidents. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/royal-deaths-from-car-accidents/
- Important Dates. The Belgian Monarchy. (n.d.-b). https://www.monarchie.be/en/monarchy/events-linked-monarchy
- Mehl, Scott. (2015). King Albert I of the Belgians. Unofficial Royalty. https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/king-albert-i-of-belgium/
- Mehl, Scott. (2015). Queen Astrid of the Belgians. Unofficial Royalty.
- https://www.unofficialroyalty.com/queen-astrid-of-belgium/
- Memorial Service to Honor the Deceased Belgium Royals. (2023). https://gertsroyals.blogspot.com/2023/02/memorial-service-to-honor-deceased.html