All About Royal Families

Princess Charlotte of Belgium – The Solitary Lady of Bouchout Castle Princess Marie Charlotte Amélie Augustine Victoire Clémentine Léopoldine of Belgium (1840 – 1927) was the only daughter of King Leopold I and Queen Louise of Orléans. She grew up charming everyone around her with her intelligence and elegance. In 1857, she married Archduke Maximilian of Austria, younger brother of Emperor Franz Joseph. This made Charlotte the sister-in-law of both Franz Joseph and his world-famous wife, Empress Elisabeth – “Sisi.” Princess Charlotte of Belgium as a child - Exhibition Louise Marie of Orléans in Namur In 1864, the couple sailed to Mexico, where they were crowned Emperor and Empress. For a brief time, life sparkled with ceremony and grandeur. But it all ended tragically: in 1867 Maximilian was executed, and Charlotte, heartbroken, suffered a deep mental collapse. She lived for a while in Italy and at Tervueren, but after a fire destroyed her residence there, she moved in 1879 to Bouchout...

Just north of Brussels, Plantentuin Meise unfolds across 92 hectares of breathtaking landscape, surrounding the elegant Bouchout Castle. The castle once served as the secluded residence of Princess Charlotte of Belgium , later Empress of Mexico, sister-in-law of Sisi and sister to King Leopold II . But Plantentuin Meise is not only a place of royal memory. It is also a living archive of botanical science. One of the garden’s remarkable achievements was the relocation of the Balat Greenhouse in the 1930s. Originally designed by royal architect Alphonse Balat , mentor to the great Victor Horta, the structure once stood near the Royal Palace in Brussels. Its careful reconstruction in Meise stands as a tribute to Belgium’s botanical heritage and architectural legacy. The Greenhouse Alphonse Balat Today, the garden is home to over 18,000 plant species, an extensive herbarium with more than 4 million specimens, and the spectacular Plant Palace, where 13 interconnected glasshouses allow visit...

As summer reaches its peak, August brings a mix of tradition, elegance, and renewal across Europe's royal households. From serene summer retreats and national celebrations to poignant anniversaries and modern royal engagements, monarchies around the globe continue to capture attention with their enduring presence and evolving roles. In this edition of Royal Highlights, we take you through the most memorable royal moments of August 2025. Prince Gabriel of Belgium and his brother Prince Emmanuel Picture: Bjorn Hoex Sail Amsterdam 20-24 August This year, Amsterdam (The Netherlands) celebrates its 750th. B-day and the 10th. edition of Sail Amsterdam. Reason enough to visit the capital of The Netherlands. More about this event on this link .   Pictures of Amsterdam Sail made by Cat Colnot In the Dutch Magazine Vorsten, this time, there is a very nice Interview with Prince Maurits of Orange-Nassau, who is the patron of Sail Amsterdam. Before King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands ...