During a rare public appearance in Cannes earlier today, the illegitimate daughter of King Albert II of Belgium smiled as she posed with her lover.
Princess Delphine, formerly known as Delphine Bol, is said to be the outcome of an 18-year romance that began in the 1960s between the former king, 86, and Belgian aristocrat Sybille de Selys Longchamps, 79.
Delphine stated her quest to be recognised as a royal was not about money or position after a court formally recognised her as the love child of Belgium’s last king in October 2020.
She wore a beautiful colourful gown as she stood on the pink carpet with her long-term lover James O’Hare earlier today at the Canneseries Festival in France.
‘At that time, I thought, “how horribly disrespectful is this?” she continued.
‘I walked out of the office absolutely heartbroken and weeping after the initial chat with Albert and his lawyers.’
‘They said I was “holding a gun to the head of the monarch” by going to court.’
Albert, 87, abdicated the monarchy only a month after Delphine initiated her formal claim, and the throne was passed to his son Philippe.
It would take seven years for Albert to lose the lawsuit and be obliged to recognise the then-Delphine Boel as his legitimate daughter – before a second court fight granted her the title Princess Delphine of Saxe-Coburg.
‘The first time I saw him and his attorneys, he was quite unpleasant and made me weep,’ Princess Delphine claimed.
‘I never imagined I’d have to go to court.’ But I did it on the basis of a specific principle.
‘I sought confirmation because Albert declared I wasn’t his daughter.’ ‘I had to be certain.’
Delphine’s mother, Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, now 80, began an affair with Albert when he was crown prince in 1966.
Albert married Queen Paola in 1959 and has long denied being Delphine’s father, referring to his connection with her mother as a “crisis,” according to the Times.
Albert stayed in touch with the baroness and Delphine, who was born in 1968.
However, when she turned 16 in 1984, the soon-to-be king – who came to the throne in 1993 – distanced himself from the couple in order to save his marriage.
