Queen Paola, born Princess Donna Paola Margherita Maria Antonia Consiglia dei Principi Ruffo di Calabria (born September 11, 1937, Forte dei Marmi) is the queen consort of Albert II of Belgium. She is the youngest daughter of Prince Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria, 6th Duke of Guardia Lombarda (1884-1946), and his wife, the former Countess Luisa Gazelli di Rossana e di Sebastiano (1896-1989). She is of Italian and Belgian ancestry and was hailed as one of the leading beauties of Europe in her youth.
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Princess Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria married HRH Prince Albert, Prince of Liège, in Brussels, Belgium, on July 2, 1959. The couple has three children:
- Philippe, Duke of Brabant who married Jonkvrouw Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz, a Belgian noblewoman who was created Princess of Belgium prior to her marriage;
- Astrid who married Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este, created Prince of Belgium;
- Laurent, who married Claire Louise Coombs, an Anglo-Belgian former real estate agent, who was created Princess of Belgium prior to her marriage.
Queen Paola speaks fluent French, Italian, English and German. Some people criticize her inability to speak Dutch which is the mother tongue of nearly 60% of all Belgians.
Titles
- Princess Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria (1937 - 1959)
- Her Royal Highness The Princess of Liège (1959 - 1993)
- Her Majesty The Queen of The Belgians (Since 1993)
See also
External links
- Her Majesty's official homepage (In English).
- Her Majesty's paternal ancestry: Ruffo di Scilla (in Italian).
| Styles of Queen Paola of the Belgians | |
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| File:Roybelg.JPG | |
| Reference style | Her Majesty |
| Spoken style | Your Majesty |
| Alternative style | Ma'am |
