Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este

Princess Astrid of Belgium
Archduchess of Austria-Este (more)
Spouse	Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este
Issue
Prince Amedeo Princess Maria Laura Prince Joachim Princess Luisa Maria Princess Laetitia Maria
Full name
Astrid Joséphine-Charlotte Fabrizia Elisabeth Paola Marie
House	House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (patrilineal) House of Austria-Este (by marriage)
Father	Albert II of Belgium
Mother	Paola Ruffo di Calabria
Born	5 June 1962 (1962-06-05) (age 49) Château de Belvédère, Laeken, Belgium

Belgian Royal Family

HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Duke of Brabant HRH The Duchess of Brabant HRH Princess Elisabeth HRH Prince Gabriel HRH Prince Emmanuel HRH Princess Eléonore HI&RH The Archduchess of Austria-Este HI&RH The Archduke of Austria-Este 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 HM Queen Fabiola Extended royal family HRH Princess Léa HRH Princess Marie-Christine HRH Princess Marie-Esméralda

Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (born 5 June 1962) is the daughter and second child of King Albert II of the Belgians and his wife Queen Paola. She is the wife of Prince Lorenz, Archduke of Austria-Este, head of the Austria-Este branch of the House of Habsburg.

1 Biography
- 1.1 Marriage and issue
- 1.2 Belgian Red Cross
2 Titles and styles
3 Honours
4 Arms
5 Ancestry
6 References
7 External links

Biography

Her godparents were her uncle Fabrizio, Prince Ruffo di Calabria-Santapau, 7th Duke di Guardia Lombarda and her aunt Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg. She was born at the Château de Belvédère, near Laeken, and was named for her paternal grandmother, Astrid of Sweden, the popular first wife of Leopold III of Belgium.

Marriage and issue

Princess Astrid married Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, the head of the Archducal House of Austria-Este, on 22 September 1984 at Brussels. Lorenz is the eldest son of the late Robert, Archduke of Austria-Este (1915—1996), and his wife Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta (born in 1930). Her husband was also created Prince of Belgium by Royal Decree of 10 November 1995.

Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz have five children, who bear the surname "of Belgium" (in each of the three official languages) as members of the Belgian royal family:

Astrid is also godmother to Prince Sébastien of Luxembourg and Prince Gaston of Orléans.

Belgian Red Cross

Astrid was formerly President of the Belgian Red Cross, a position which ended on 31 December 2007. She declined to stand again for election to the role in light of internal struggles in the organization in reconciling its French-speaking and Belgian branches, each of which seeks greater autonomy. The princess is also a colonel in the Medical Component of the Belgian Armed Forces. She lives with her family in Laeken (Brussels).

Titles and styles

Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium (1962–present)
Her Imperial and Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este (1984–1996)
Her Imperial and Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium, the Archduchess of Austria-Este (1996–present)

She bears the title "Princess of Belgium" since birth under Belgian law. As wife of the head of the House of Austria-Este, internationally or depending on the situation, she is also accorded the traditional title "Archduchess of Austria-Este" or, more formally, is addressed as HI&RH Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este.

Her children by Archduke Lorenz bear the titles "Prince(ss) of Belgium – by Belgian decree of 2 December 1991, in addition to Austrian titles borne by tradition but not by law, "Archduke/Archduchess of Austria, Prince(ss) Imperial of Austria, Prince(ss) Royal of Hungary"^[1]^[2]

Honours

Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold ^[3]
Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany ^[4]
Hungary: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary, Civilian Class (2008)^[5]
Luxembourg: Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (2007)^[6]
Netherlands: Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown (2006)^[7]
Norway: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit^[8]^[9]
Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Infante Dom Henrique (2005)^[10]^[11]
Spain: Grand Cross of the Order of Civil Merit (2001) ^[12]
Sweden: Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star^[13]

Arms

Gustaaf Janssens, Archivist of the Royal Palace, confirms that HRH Princess Astrid's coat of arms as Princess of Belgium consist of the gold lion on a black background on a lozenge ensigned with the royal crown.

Ancestry

16. Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders

8. Albert I of Belgium

17. Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen

4. Leopold III of Belgium

18. Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria

9. Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria

19. Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal

2. Albert II of Belgium

20. Oscar II of Sweden

10. Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland

21. Princess Sofia of Nassau

5. Princess Astrid of Sweden

22. Frederick VIII of Denmark

11. Princess Ingeborg of Denmark

23. Princess Lovisa of Sweden

1. Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este

24. Don Fulco Ruffo di Calabria

12. Fulco Beniamino Tristano Ruffo di Calabria, 5th Duke di Guardia Lombarda

25. Eleonora Galletti di San Cataldo

6. Fulco, Prince Ruffo di Calabria, 6th Duke di Guardia Lombarda

26. Théodore Mosselman du Chenoy

13. Laura Mosselman du Chenoy

27. Isabelle Coghen

3. Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria

28. Calisto Gazelli, Count di Rossana

14. Augusto Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana

29. Francesca Cotti dei Conti di Ceres

7. Luisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana

30. Félix, Count Rignon

15. Maria dei Conti Rignon

31. Luisa Perrone dei Conti di San Martino

References

^ Enache, Nicolas. La Descendance de Marie-Therese de Habsburg. ICC, Paris, 1996. pp. 44,50. French
^ Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels, Furstlicher Hauser Bande XIV, C.A. Starke Verlag, Ligne, Limburg, 1991, pp. 92–95. German
^ Photo during Prince Frederick of Denmark's wedding from Zimbio website - ribbon :
^ Photo by Seger Press - ribbon :
^ Princess Astrid at the Belgium Hungary state visit gala dinner - website Belga Pictures
^ Princess Astrid wearing the Order of Adolphe of Nassau - website Belga Pictures
^ http://0.t.cdn.belga.be/picture:23475634:preview:watermark Princess Astrid wearing the Order of the Crown] - website Belga Pictures
^ Princess Astrid wearing the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit - website Knowing The Royals
^ [1] - official website of the The Belgian Monarchy
^ Princess Astrid wearing the Order of Prince Henry - website of the Ducal House of Modena
^ Princess Astrid during the state visit of the Hungarian president - website of the The Belgian Monarchy
^ Photo from the website of Belga Picture : Official visit of King Juan Carlos & Queen Sofia to Belgium in 2001 - Ribbon :
^ [2] - website PeriScope

External links

Official Belgian Monarchy Website – Princess Astrid

Styles of Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria

Reference style	Her Imperial and Royal Highness
Spoken style	Your Imperial and Royal Highness
Alternative style	Madame

Belgian royalty
Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Cadet branch of the House of Wettin Born: 5 June 1962
Preceded by Princess Eléonore of Belgium	Line of succession to the Belgian throne 6th position	Succeeded by Prince Amedeo, Archduke of Austria-Este

Belgian princesses

1st generation	Charlotte, Empress of Mexico

2nd generation	Louise Marie, Princess of Kohary · Stéphanie, Crown Princess of Austria · Clémentine, Princess Napoléon · Princess Joséphine Marie · Henriette, Duchess of Vendôme · Joséphine Caroline, Princess Karl Anton of Hohenzollern

3rd generation	Marie José, Queen of Italy

4th generation	Joséphine Charlotte, Grand Duchess of Luxembourg · Princess Marie Christine, Mrs. Jean Paul Gourges · Princess Marie Esméralda, Lady Moncada

5th generation	Princess Astrid, Archduchess of Austria-Este

6th generation	Princess Elisabeth · Princess Eléonore · Princess Maria Laura, Archduchess of Austria-Este* · Princess Luisa Maria, Archduchess of Austria-Este · Princess Laetitia Maria, Archduchess of Austria-Este · Princess Louise

*created princess of Belgium by Royal Decree of 2 December 1991

Austrian archduchesses by marriage

1st generation	Mary, Duchess of Burgundy · Anne, Duchess of Brittany · Bianca Maria Sforza

2nd generation	Joanna of Castile

3rd generation	Infanta Isabella of Portugal · Anne of Bohemia and Hungary

4th generation	Maria Manuela, Princess of Portugal* · Mary I of England* · Infanta Maria of Spain^ · Anne Juliana Gonzaga · Duchess Maria Anna of Bavaria

5th generation	Archduchess Anna of Austria^ · Isabella Clara Eugenia^ · Duchess Maria Anna of Bavaria · Eleonora Gonzaga · Claudia de' Medici

6th generation	Princess Elisabeth of France* · Archduchess Maria Ana of Spain^ · Archduchess Maria Leopoldine of Austria^ · Eleonora Gonzaga · Anna de' Medici · Countess Maria Hedwig of Sulzbach

7th generation	Archduchess Margaret Theresa of Austria^ · Archduchess Claudia Felicitas of Austria^ · Countess Palatine Eleonor Magdalene of Neuburg

8th generation	Princess Wilhelmina Amalia of Brunswick-Lüneburg · Princess Elisabeth Christine of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel

9th generation	none

10th generation	Princess Isabella of Parma · Princess Maria Josepha of Bavaria · Infanta Maria Luisa of Spain · Maria Beatrice d'Este, Duchess of Massa

11th generation	Duchess Elisabeth of Württemberg · Princess Maria Theresa of Naples and Sicily · Princess Luisa of Naples and Sicily · Princess Henrietta of Nassau-Weilburg · Grand Duchess Alexandra Pavlovna of Russia · Princess Hermine of Anhalt-Bernburg-Schaumburg-Hoym · Duchess Maria Dorothea of Württemberg · Princess Elisabeth of Savoy · Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy***

12th generation	Princess Sophie of Bavaria · Princess Maria Anna of Saxony · Princess Hildegard of Bavaria · Archduchess Elisabeth Franziska of Austria^ · Princess Clotilde of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha · Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria*

13th generation	Princess Charlotte of Belgium · Princess Margaretha of Saxony · Princess Maria Annunciata of the Two Sicilies · Infanta Maria Theresa of Portugal · Princess Anna of Saxony · Princess Alice of Parma · Princess Maria Immaculata of the Two Sicilies** · Princess Isabella of Croÿ · Archduchess Maria Theresa of Austria^ · Princess Auguste Maria of Bavaria

14th generation	Princess Stéphanie of Belgium · Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony · Princess Maria Cristina of the Two Sicilies · Princess Blanca of Bourbon · Archduchess Marie Valerie of Austria^** · Princess Anna of Saxony

15th generation	Princess Zita of Parma · Princess Franziska of Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Schillingsfürst · Princess Dorothea of Bavaria · Countess Marie Valerie of Waldburg-Zeil-Hohenems · Princess Ileana of Romania · Princess Rosemary of Salm-Salm · Countess Maria Theresa of Waldburg-Zeil** · Princess Maria of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg · Princess Christina of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg

16th generation	Princess Regina of Saxe-Meiningen · Princess Margherita of Savoy · Princess Anne Eugénie of Arenberg · Princess Yolande of Ligne · Countess Xenia Czernicheva-Besobrasova · Princess Anna Gabriele of Wrede · Countess Helena of Toerring-Jettenbach · Countess Ludmilla of Gallen · Princess Laetitia of Arenberg · Countess Margaret Kálnoky von Köröspatak · Maria Espinosa de los Monteros^^ · Countess Valerie of Podstatzky-Lichtenstein · Freiin Eva Antonia von Hofmann · Princess Anna Amelie of Schönburg-Waldenburg · Countess Hedwig of Lichem-Löwenburg · Freiin Edith von Sternbach · Princess Margaret of Hohenberg · Countess Marie Christine of Hatzfeldt-Dönhoff · Eugenia de Calonge^^ · Freiin Maria Theresia von Gudenus

17th generation	Freiin Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza de Kászon et Impérfalva · Duchess Eilika of Oldenburg · Princess Astrid of Belgium* · Princess Katharina of Isenburg-Birstein* · Bettine Götz^^ · Paola de Temesváry^^ · Baroness Marie Hélène de Villenfagne de Vogelsanck · Princess Marie Astrid of Luxembourg · Princess Alexandra of Wrede · Princess María of the Two Sicilies · Sara Maya Al-Askari^^ · Mayasuni Heath^^ · Countess Katharina of Hardenberg · Ashmita Goswami^^ · Elyssa Edmonstone^^ · Countess Marie Gabrielle of Waldstein

18th generation	Estelle de Saint-Romain^^

*also an infanta of Spain by marriage **also a princess of Tuscany by marriage ***also a princess of Modena by marriage ^also an archduchess of Austria in her own right ^^did not have a royal or noble title by birth

Duchesses of Modena

Eleanor of Naples (1473-1493) · Lucrezia Borgia (1505-1519) · Renée of France (1534-1559) · Lucrezia de' Medici (1559-1562) · Archduchess Barbara of Austria (1565-1572) · Margherita Gonzaga (1579-1597) · Virginia de' Medici (1597-1615) · Maria Caterina Farnese (1631-1646) · Vittoria Farnese (1648-1649) · Lucrezia Barberini (1654-1658) · Laura Martinozzi (1658-1662) · Margherita Maria Farnese (1692-1694) · Duchess Charlotte of Brunswick-Lüneburg (1696-1710) · Charlotte Aglaé d'Orléans (1737-1761) · Maria Teresa Cybo-Malaspina, Duchess of Massa (1780-1790) · Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy (1814-1840) · Princess Adelgunde of Bavaria* (1842-1875) · Princess Zita of Parma* 1916-1917) · Princess Margherita of Savoy* (1953-1996) · Princess Astrid of Belgium* (1996-present)

denotes titular Duchess

Persondata
Name	Astrid Of Belgium
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	5 June 1962
Place of birth	Château de Belvédère, Laeken, Belgium
Date of death
Place of death