Thursday, February 11, 2010

A Belgian marriage crisis?


The Belgian magazine Story has a report about alleged marital difficulties between Prince Laurent, the youngest child of King Albert II and Queen Paola, and his wife, the former Claire Coombs. (Princess Claire has a British father and a Belgian mother.)
The magazine states that the couple, who were married in April 2003, will announce shortly that they are separating. Princess Claire is said to be "overwhelmed" by Laurent's depression and mood swings. It is also alleged that the princess cannot abide her husband's lack of involvement in family life, and carrying out limited royal duties.
This is not the first time that the Belgian press has speculated on Prince Laurent's marriage. Rumors about marital trouble first surface in November when Princess Claire did not attend the annual King's Day celebration. She said that she had been unable to find a nanny to take care of the couple's three children, Princess Louise, 6, and the 5-year-old twins, Prince Nicolas and Prince Aymeric.
Father Guy Gilbert, the priest who married the couple, has said that there are no marital problems.
The Royal Palace has neither confirmed nor denied the article in Story magazine. Queen Paola and Princess Claire carried out together an official engagement on Thursday, perhaps to show that the Queen certainly is fond of her younger son's wife.

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