Prince of Liège

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Prince of Liège was a substantive title awarded by King Leopold III of Belgium to his youngest son, Prince Albert, the present king Albert II, while he was third in line to the throne of Belgium, and used from June 7, 1934, until August 9, 1993. Since he became the King of the Belgians on 1993, Albert II no longer bears the title Prince of Liège. His wife, the present Queen Paola, was known as the Princess of Liège from their marriage in 1959 until 1993.

His elder brother Baudouin, then the heir-apparent of Belgium, was known as the Duke of Brabant, as is Philippe, the current heir apparent.

The title is reminiscent of the Prince-Bishopric of Liège, a noble title of the Holy Roman Empire which ceased to exist in 1795.

King Albert II decided in 2001 to no longer award courtesy titles such as Count of Flanders, Count of Hainaut and Prince of Liège. It is therefore likely that Albert II will have been the only Prince of Liège.

[edit] Princes of Liège (Kingdom of Belgium)