Prince Gabriel of Belgium, the tree of Belgium
20 August 2003 marks the birth of Gabriel Baudouin Marie Prince of Belgium.
This took place at the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht.
Family
Prince Gabriel is the eldest son and second child of King Philippe and
Queen Mathilde of Belgium. He has an elder sister Elisabeth, a younger
brother Emmanuel and a younger sister Eléonore.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium. He has an elder sister Elisabeth, a younger
brother Emmanuel and a younger sister Eléonore.
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.
summer residences, on 25 October 2003 by Cardinal Godfried Danneels,
the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels.
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.
d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1985); and his paternal second cousin,
Baroness Maria Christina von Freyberg-Eisenberg.
Prince Gabriel is a member of the royal family of Belgium, founded by
King Leopold I (born as a Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)
King Leopold I (born as a Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha)
Prince Gabriel
=> King Philippe
=>King Albert II
=>King Leopold III
=> King Albert I
=> Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders
=> King Leopold I
Names
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.
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.
Education
Gabriel was a student at St John Berchmans College until 2019,
where the instruction is in Dutch, in the Marolles district of Brussels,
the capital of Belgium.
where the instruction is in Dutch, in the Marolles district of Brussels,
the capital of Belgium.
From 2019 to 2021, he finished his secondary education at the
International School of Brussels (ISB), an English-language private
school in Watermael-Boitsfort.
International School of Brussels (ISB), an English-language private
school in Watermael-Boitsfort.
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.
in mathematics, further mathematics, and physics at The National
Mathematics and Science College, a STEM-oriented sixth form
college in Warwickshire, England.
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.
attend the Royal Military Academy of Belgium, studying social
and military sciences in Dutch and will be a part of the
162nd class.
In September 2022, the Prince received his blue beret and trained
under the name "Gabriël van Saksen-Coburg". In 2023 he starts his
2nd. year at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium.
under the name "Gabriël van Saksen-Coburg". In 2023 he starts his
2nd. year at the Royal Military Academy of Belgium.
Gabriel speaks Dutch, French and English.
Duty
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.
to a European Hockey Championship match in Boom, in which
Belgium played (and won) against Germany.
Prince Gabriel read the prayer intentions at his great-aunt
Queen Fabiola's funeral in December 2014.
Queen Fabiola's funeral in December 2014.
With his mother Queen Mathilde and sister Princess Elisabeth he
attended the finals of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
on 12 May 2018.
attended the finals of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition
on 12 May 2018.
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.
over the phone with elderly people in residential care centers
in order to encourage and support them.
In December 2020, Prince Gabriel with his sister Princess Eléonore
volunteered at a convenience store and a warehouse in Ghent.
volunteered at a convenience store and a warehouse in Ghent.
In June 2021, Prince Gabriel accompanied his father King Philippe
on a visit to the 15Wing Air Transport at Military Airport Melsbroek.
on a visit to the 15Wing Air Transport at Military Airport Melsbroek.
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.
to French Guiana, where they witnessed the launch of the Ariane 5
rocket from the Kourou Space Center.
In May 2023, the Prince attended a garden party in honour of his
father's reign's tenth anniversary.
father's reign's tenth anniversary.
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.
students of the Royal Military Academy Belgium to parade during
the Belgian National Day.
He has been involved in the Scouts since he was eight years old
and has become a patrol leader in the last few years.
and has become a patrol leader in the last few years.
Hobby
Prince Gabriel plays the piano. He likes to practice taekwondo,
football, cycling, tennis, swimming, skiing, sailing and hiking.
football, cycling, tennis, swimming, skiing, sailing and hiking.
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.
a Belgian hockey club based in Evere but decided to quit hockey
in 2019 to focus on his school work.
Rumors
The booklets launched rumors that Prince Gabriel would have
"something" with Crown Princess Amalia of the Netherlands.
Of course this is a rumor because little is known about the
private life of this prince.
"something" with Crown Princess Amalia of the Netherlands.
Of course this is a rumor because little is known about the
private life of this prince.
💥 Due to his lenght, Prince Gabriel is often called the tree of
Belgium.
Belgium.
Anyway I'm very curious, how his royal future will be! Happy B-Day!
The pictures of Prince Gabriel were taken by Bjorn Hoex during
the National Day of Belgium of 2023.
coat of arms of Prince Gabriel
Source picture: Wikipedia
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