Prince Gabriel of Belgium

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Prince Gabriel
Prince Gabriel on National Day, 2023
Born (2003-08-20) 20 August 2003 (age 20)
Erasmus Hospital, Anderlecht, Brussels, Belgium
Names
French: Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie
Dutch: Gabriël Boudewijn Karel Maria
HouseBelgium
FatherPhilippe of Belgium
MotherMathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz

Prince Gabriel of Belgium (French: Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie, Dutch: Gabriël Boudewijn Karel Maria; born 20 August 2003) is the elder son and second child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. He is currently second in line to the throne of Belgium after his elder sister, Elisabeth.[1]

Life

Prince Gabriel was born at 1:15 am CET on 20 August 2003 in the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels.[2] He was christened at Ciergnon Castle, one of the royal family's summer residences, on 25 October 2003 by Cardinal Godfried Danneels, the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels.[3] His godparents are his maternal uncle Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1985); and his paternal second cousin, Baroness Maria Christina von Freyberg-Eisenberg [de] (born 1965). King Philippe stated in an interview that he finds the name Gabriel, which is new in the royal family, not only beautiful, short and powerful, but also the name unites the three major religious traditions. He was named after his great-uncle King Baudouin of Belgium, his maternal uncle and godfather Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz and Virgin Mary (traditional name in Catholic royalty).[2]

Gabriel's older sister, Elisabeth, precedes him in the line of succession following the 1991 adoption of absolute primogeniture. He also has a younger brother, Prince Emmanuel, and a younger sister, Princess Eléonore. He lives with his parents and siblings at the Royal Palace of Laeken.[1]

Gabriel was a student at St John Berchmans College until 2019,[4] where the instruction is in Dutch, in the Marolles district of Brussels, the capital of Belgium.[1] From 2019 to 2021, he finished his secondary education at the International School of Brussels (ISB), an English-language private school in Watermael-Boitsfort.[4] From September 2021, he is taking a 1-year preparatory A-Level course in mathematics, further mathematics, and physics at The National Mathematics and Science College, a STEM-oriented sixth form college in Warwickshire, England.[1] In August 2022, the royal family announced that Gabriel will attend the Royal Military Academy of Belgium, studying social and military sciences in Dutch and will be a part of the 162nd class.[5] In September 2022, the Prince received his blue beret and trained under the name "Gabriël van Saksen-Coburg".[6][7] Gabriel speaks Dutch, French and English.[1]

In August 2013, Prince Gabriel accompanied his father King Philippe to a European Hockey Championship match in Boom, in which Belgium played (and won) against Germany.[8] Prince Gabriel read the prayer intentions at his great-aunt Queen Fabiola's funeral in December 2014.[9] He with his mother Queen Mathilde and sister Princess Elisabeth attended the finals of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition on 12 May 2018.[10] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prince Gabriel had conversations over the phone with elderly people in residential care centers in order to encourage and support them.[1] In December 2020, Prince Gabriel with his sister Princess Eléonore volunteered at a convenience store and a warehouse in Ghent.[11] In June 2021, Prince Gabriel accompanied his father King Philippe on a visit to the 15Wing Air Transport at Military Airport Melsbroek.[12] In April 2023, Prince Gabriel accompanied King Philippe on a visit to French Guiana, where they witnessed the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou Space Center.[13][14] In May 2023, the Prince attended a garden party in honour of his father's reign's tenth anniversary.[15] On 21 July 2023, he and his sister Elisabeth were among the fellow students of the Royal Military Academy Belgium to parade during the Belgian National Day.[16] He has been involved in the Scouts since he was eight years old and has become a patrol leader in the last few years.[1]

Prince Gabriel plays the piano. He likes to practice taekwondo, football, cycling, tennis, swimming, skiing, sailing and hiking.[1] He was a member of Royal Evere White Star Hockey Club [nl], a Belgian hockey club based in Evere but decided to quit hockey in 2019 to focus on his school work.[17]

Titles, styles, and arms

Titles and styles

  • 20 August 2003 – present: His Royal Highness Prince Gabriel of Belgium.[18]

Military ranks

Arms

Coat of arms of Prince Gabriel of Belgium
Notes
As a Prince of Belgium and a descendant of King Leopold I, the Prince is entitled to use a coat of arms which was stipulated in the Royal Decree of King Philippe in 2019.[21]
Adopted
12 July 2019
Coronet
Princely crown of Belgium
Escutcheon
Sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued gules (Belgium), on the shoulder an escutcheon barry of ten sable and or, a crancelin vert (Wettin), overall a bordure or.
Supporters
Two lions guardant proper
Motto
French: L'union fait la force
Dutch: Eendracht maakt macht
German: Einigkeit macht stark
Other elements
The whole is placed on a mantle purpure with ermine lining, fringes and tassels or and ensigned with the Royal crown of Belgium.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "Prince Gabriel". The Belgian Monarchy Official Website. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Dossier over Mathilde bij de Gazet van Antwerpen" [File on Mathilde at the Gazet van Antwerpen]. Gazet van Antwerpen. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  3. ^ Somers, Anne-France (26 October 2003). "Baptême princier pour Gabriel" [Princely baptism for Gabriel]. dhnet.be (in French). Archived from the original on 7 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b "Belgian Prince Gabriel transfers from public to private school". The Bulletin. 29 August 2019. Archived from the original on 22 January 2022. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
  5. ^ Mieze, Marta (26 July 2022). "Prince Gabriel to join Royal Military Academy on 22 August". The Brussels Times. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Waarom Elisabeth 'Van België' heette in het leger en Gabriël 'Van Saksen-Coburg' is" [Why Elisabeth was called 'Van Belgium' in the army and Gabriel is 'Van Saksen-Coburg']. HLN (in Dutch). 30 September 2022. Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023. prins Gabriël (19) is voor zijn legeropleiding ingeschreven als 'leerling-officier Van Saksen-Coburg'. [Prince Gabriel (19) is registered for his army training as an 'Officer Cadet Van Saksen-Coburg'.]
  7. ^ Kockartz, Andreas (1 October 2022). "Prinz Gabriël erhielt von seinem Vater, König Philippe, das Blaue Barett und ist jetzt ein "echter Soldat"" [Prince Gabriel received the Blue Beret from his father, King Philippe, and is now a 'real soldier']. vrt.be (in German). Archived from the original on 10 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  8. ^ "Prins Gabriël wordt ook international" [Prince Gabriel also becomes international]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 19 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  9. ^ Belga (12 December 2014). "Death of Queen Fabiola : funeral marked by "simplicity" and "joy"". The Brussels Times. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Queen Mathilde Attend The Queen Elisabeth Contest Finals At Bozar In Brussels". Getty Images. 13 June 2007. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  11. ^ Belgian Royal Palace (25 December 2020). "Vrijwilligerswerk in de buurtwinkel en loods van @krasvzw in Gent. ..." [Volunteer work in the convenience store and warehouse of @krasvzw in Ghent. ...]. Instagram. Archived from the original on 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  12. ^ "King Philippe of Belgium and Prince Gabriel visits the 15Wing Air Transport at Military Airport Melsbroek". Getty Images. 23 June 2021. Archived from the original on 13 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  13. ^ "Le roi Philippe et le prince Gabriel sont arrivés en Guyane: ils assisteront au lancement de la fusée Ariane 5" [King Philippe and Prince Gabriel have arrived in Guyana: they will attend the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket]. RTL (in French). 11 April 2023. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Koning Filip met zoon Gabriël naar Frans-Guyana vertrokken voor de lancering van de Ariane 5-raket" [King Philippe and his son Gabriel left for French Guiana for the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket]. vrt.be (in Dutch). 11 April 2023. Archived from the original on 12 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  15. ^ Brunet, Victoire (15 May 2023). "Philippe et Mathilde de Belgique célèbrent leurs 10 ans de règne avec une garden party" [Philippe and Mathilde of Belgium celebrate their 10 years of reign with a garden party]. Point de Vue (in French). Archived from the original on 5 July 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  16. ^ Torfs, Michaël; Clapson, Colin (21 July 2023). "An emotional day for the king and queen as National Holiday celebrates King Filip's decade on the throne". vrt.be. Archived from the original on 1 August 2023. Retrieved 21 July 2023.
  17. ^ "Prins Gabriël stopt met hockey" [Prince Gabriel retires from hockey]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 24 August 2013. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  18. ^ "Koninklijk besluit betreffende de verlening van de titel van Prins of Prinses van België" [Royal Decree conferring the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium] (in Dutch). Moniteur Belge. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. ... de titel van Prins of Prinses van België volgend op hun voornaam en voor zover ze die voeren, hun familienaam en hun dynastieke titel, en voor de andere titels die hun rechtens hun ascendentie toekomen. Hun voornaam wordt voorafgegaan door het predicaat Zijne of Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid. [... the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium following their first name and, insofar as they use it, their family name and their dynastic title, and for the other titles to which they are entitled by right of ascendancy. Their first name is preceded by the predicate His or Her Royal Highness.]
  19. ^ Mieze, Marta (1 October 2022). "Belgian Prince Gabriel completes military initiation". The Brussels Times. Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023. The training is intended to immerse young future-office for a professional career in the armed forces and provide basic military skills. 190 students ultimately passed the training and received their symbolic blue berets on Friday, which officialises their new title of cadet.
  20. ^ Delorme, Philippe (28 August 2022). "Gabriel de Belgique, le service pour héritage" [Gabriel from Belgium, the inheritance service]. Point de Vue (in French). Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023. Deuxième dans l'ordre de succession – qui fait désormais fi de la loi salique –, Gabriel sera donc élève-officier, interne durant une année à l'École royale militaire (ERM),... [Second in the order of succession – which now ignores the Salic law –, Gabriel will therefore be a cadet, an intern for a year at the Royal Military School (ERM), ...]
  21. ^ Philippe, Koning der Belgen (12 July 2019). "Koninklijk besluit houdende vaststelling van het wapen van het Koninklijk Huis en van zijn leden" (PDF). Moniteur Belge/ Belgisch Staatsblad. Retrieved 24 July 2019.

External links

Prince Gabriel of Belgium
Born: 20 August 2003
Lines of succession
Preceded by Line of succession to the Belgian throne
2nd position
Succeeded by