Queen Paola of Belgium

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Paola Ruffo di Calabria Queen of the Belgians Titles HM The Queen of the Belgians (1993-) HRH The Princess of Liège (1959-1993) Princess Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria (1937-1959) Born September 11, 1937 (age 69) Consort August 9, 1993 - present Consort to Albert II Issue Philippe, Astrid, Laurent Father Fulco Ruffo di Calabria Mother Luisa Gazelli di Rossana e di Sebastiano

Belgian Royal Family HM The King HM The Queen HM Queen Fabiola HRH The Duke of Brabant HRH The Duchess of Brabant HRH Princess Elisabeth HRH Prince Gabriel HRH Prince Emmanuel HI&RH Princess Astrid HI&RH Prince Lorenz HI&RH Prince Amedeo HI&RH Princess Maria Laura HI&RH Prince Joachim HI&RH Princess Luisa Maria HI&RH Princess Laetitia Maria HRH Prince Laurent HRH Princess Claire HRH Princess Louise HRH Prince Nicolas HRH Prince Aymeric HRH Prince Alexander HRH Princess Léa HRH Princess Marie-Christine HRH Princess Maria-Esmeralda

Queen Paola, born Princess Donna Paola 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.

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.

[edit] 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)

[edit] See also

• Queen Paola Foundation
• The Queen's Charities

[edit] 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
Image:Roybelg.JPG
Reference style	Her Majesty
Spoken style	Your Majesty
Alternative style	Ma'am