All About Royal Families

When Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany asked King Albert I of Belgium a free passage to France in 1914 the Belgian King refused based on a neutrality principle. King Albert I of Belgium -  Source picture: Wikipedia On August 4th. 1914, the soldiers of the German Empire invaded Belgium. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany - Source picture: Wikipedia This tragic event is commemorated today. A lot of European Royals and Heads of State will be present in Mons and Liège. Inter alia the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will attend the ceremonies.

Archduke Albrecht of Austria was born on August 3rd. 1817 in Vienna. Archduke Albrecht of Austria, Duke of Teschen - Source picture: Wikipedia His father Archduke Charles of Austria, Duke of Teschen (who defeated Napoleon @ Aspern), was a son of Emperor Leopold II.   Albrecht's mother was Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg. From an early age, Albrecht entered the army where Joseph Radetzky was a military governor. The young archduke distinguished himself in several battles. He recieved some medals inter alia one from King William (Willem) III of The Netherlands. On May 1st. 1844 he married Princess Hildegard of Bavaria (daughter of King Ludwig I of Bavaria and Therese of Saxe-Hildburghausen). They had 3 children, 2 of them died very young. Archduke Albrecht died on February 18th. 1895 in Arco. He received a state funeral. In Vienna there is a statue of him in front of his former palace Albertina. Albertina in Vienna - own p