All About Royal Families

From 15 March 1977 till 18 March 1977 King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden and his wife Queen Silvia visited Belgium. This official State Visit was hosted by King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium. State visit King Carl Gustaf XVI of Sweden to Belgium At the Throne Room of the  Royal Palace in Brussels a State Dinner took place. All wore beautiful ball clothes and tiaras, though it's not clear on the picture but I think Queen Fabiola of Belgium wore her tiara of the 9 Provinces. Other attendants of the State Dinner: Prince Albert and Princess Paola (later King Albert II of Belgium and Queen Paola). Some royal history King Baudouin 's mother, the late Queen Astrid of Belgium, was a daughter of Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland. This Prince Carl was the son of King Oscar II of Sweden. Prince Carl also was a brother  of King Gustaf V of Sweden (the great- grand father of the current Swedish King) The current Duke of Västergötland is Prince Daniel o

On the west of the city of Lille, the capital of the Hauts-de France region, a beautiful citadel was constructed to defend the city and even the very important border between France and Belgium. The amazing history of the citadel of Lille went even back till King Louis XIV of France! Citadel of Lille own picture taken in 2018 Some Royal History In 1667, Lille was taken from Spain by French troops and King Louis XIV of France immediately ordered the construction of a fortress. Two building masters proposed plans: Louis Nicolas de Clerville and Vauban . Vauban's plans were chosen by the King. King Louis XIV of France Source picture: Wikipedia Vauban - Source picture: Wikipedia The construction work of the citadel started already in 1668 under the direction of Lille's master mason, Simon Vollant. In 1671, the citadel became operational while Vauban continued to shape the city by constructing, a new neighborhood around the Rue Royale.

During World War II, it were not always Kings, Queens or even generals who did their duties. Most of them where ordinary men, but baron Jean de Selys Longchamps wasn't ordinary at all! Jean de Selys Longchamps was born on 31 May 1912 in Brussels, Belgium. He had lots of noble roots through the family of his father which went back in time till the rule of the Prince Bishops at Liège. Jean de Selys Longchamps held the title of a Baron. His mother, Emilie de Theux de Meylandt and Montjardin was from a noble family too. Jean de Selys Longchamps Little Jean spent his youth at the castle of Longchamps, near Borgloon. After his studies in law, Jean de Selys entered the First Regiment Guides. World War II When World War II began in Belgium at 10 May 1940, he participated in the fights at the Leie near Ghent. After the capitulation of Belgium, on 28 May 1940,  he wanted to go to England to continue the Battle against the nazi's. He went to Dunkirk and reach

Palace of the Prince-Bishops in Liège Liège - a major Walloon city, located in southern Belgium - always has fascinated me. It is grunge, flaming, rocking and rough. Some parts of the city already existed at the times of the Romans. However it became the place-to-be in the dark Middle Ages. In the 15th. century Liège became involved in wars against the Dukes of  Burgundy. * Liège was ruled for decades by a Prince-bishop. A Prince-bishop was a civic ruler of a secular principality and sovereignty. In Liège they were  a part of the Holy Roman Empire * One of  today's main sights of Liège is the Palace of the Prince- Bishops, located on the Place St. Lambert. Palace of the Prince-Bishops of Liège, Belgium Some intersting history Between 980 and 985 the bishops of Liège gained a new status they became Prince Bishops. Their first palace in Liège was built in the 11th. century by bishop Notker, but it was destroyed in the fire of 1185. In the Middle