Cathérine Bergeyck
Heir Presumptive
- Joined
- Jan 26, 2003
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Princess Marie Esmeralda of Belgium (° 1956) is the youngest daughter of king Leopold III (1901-1983) and princess Lilian, née Lilian Baels, Leopold's second wife (1916-2002).
When she was born, Leopold had already abdicated and left the throne to his eldest son Baudouin. Therefor he had more time for his youngest children, and Esmeralda, his last child, was a bit his favorite.
Leopold's second family lived at the castle of Argenteuil, where Esmeralda grew up, together with her sister Marie Christine and brother Alexander. In 2002, after her mother's death, this castle was returned to the state, to whom it originally belonged.
Esmeralda studied to be a journalist, and lived for 15 years in Paris, where she also worked a while for the famous French newspaper Le Figaro.
In 1998, she got married to the Honduran born professor Salvador Moncada (° 1944). They have two children: Alexandra Leopoldine Moncada (° 1998), and Leopoldo Daniel Moncada (°2001).
The family lives in London, where Esmeralda leads a very discreet life, very few people know that she's actually a princess of Belgium.
Esmeralda stopped working when she had children, but said she hopes to be able to go to work again when they're a bit older.
In 2002, she wrote a wonderful book about her father, with lots and lots of family pictures in it.
When she was born, Leopold had already abdicated and left the throne to his eldest son Baudouin. Therefor he had more time for his youngest children, and Esmeralda, his last child, was a bit his favorite.
Leopold's second family lived at the castle of Argenteuil, where Esmeralda grew up, together with her sister Marie Christine and brother Alexander. In 2002, after her mother's death, this castle was returned to the state, to whom it originally belonged.
Esmeralda studied to be a journalist, and lived for 15 years in Paris, where she also worked a while for the famous French newspaper Le Figaro.
In 1998, she got married to the Honduran born professor Salvador Moncada (° 1944). They have two children: Alexandra Leopoldine Moncada (° 1998), and Leopoldo Daniel Moncada (°2001).
The family lives in London, where Esmeralda leads a very discreet life, very few people know that she's actually a princess of Belgium.
Esmeralda stopped working when she had children, but said she hopes to be able to go to work again when they're a bit older.
In 2002, she wrote a wonderful book about her father, with lots and lots of family pictures in it.
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