Prince Gabriel of Belgium explained

Prince Gabriel
Full Name:French: Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie
Dutch; Flemish: Gabriël Boudewijn Karel Maria
Birth Date:20 August 2003
Birth Place:Erasmus Hospital, Anderlecht, Brussels, Belgium
Father:Philippe of Belgium
Mother:Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz
House:Belgium

Prince Gabriel of Belgium (French: Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie, Dutch; Flemish: Gabriël Boudewijn Karel Maria; born 20 August 2003) is the elder son and second child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. He is currently second in line to the throne of Belgium after his elder sister, Elisabeth.

Early life

Prince Gabriel was born at 1:15 am CET on 20 August 2003 in the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels. He was christened at Ciergnon Castle, one of the royal family's summer residences, on 25 October 2003 by Cardinal Godfried Danneels, the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels.[1] His godparents are his maternal uncle Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1985); and his paternal second cousin, Baroness Maria Christina von (born 1965). King Philippe stated in an interview that he finds the name Gabriel, which is new in the royal family, not only beautiful, short and powerful, but also the name unites the three major religious traditions. He was named after his great-uncle King Baudouin of Belgium, his maternal uncle and godfather Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz and Virgin Mary (traditional name in Catholic royalty).[2]

Gabriel's older sister, Elisabeth, precedes him in the line of succession following the 1991 adoption of absolute primogeniture. He also has a younger brother, Prince Emmanuel, and a younger sister, Princess Eléonore. He grew up at the Royal Palace of Laeken.

Education and military training

Prince Gabriel was initially educated at the Dutch-language St John Berchmans College, a public school in Marollen from September 2006 until September 2019.[3] [4] In September 2019, Gabriel was transferred to the English-language International School of Brussels, a private school in Watermael-Boitsfort.[4] He finished his secondary education in August 2021.[5] After completing his secondary studies, he took a 1-year preparatory A-Level course in mathematics, further mathematics, and physics at the National Mathematics and Science College, a STEM-oriented sixth form college in Warwickshire, England.

In July 2022, the Belgian Royal Court announced that Gabriel would undertake military training. In August 2022, he entered the Royal Military Academy of Belgium, studying social and military sciences in Dutch language.[6] Among the 162nd promotion, he received his blue beret in September 2022 and was trained under the name "Gabriël van Saksen-Coburg".[7] [8]

Prince Gabriel speaks Dutch, French and English.

Public appearances

In August 2013, Prince Gabriel accompanied his father King Philippe to a European Hockey Championship match in Boom, in which Belgium played (and won) against Germany.[9] Prince Gabriel read the prayer intentions at his great-aunt Queen Fabiola's funeral in December 2014.[10] Gabriel, his mother Queen Mathilde and sister Princess Elisabeth attended the finals of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition on 12 May 2018.[11] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Prince Gabriel had conversations over the phone with elderly people in residential care centers in order to encourage and support them. In December 2020, Prince Gabriel and his sister Princess Eléonore volunteered at a convenience store and a warehouse in Ghent.[12] In June 2021, Prince Gabriel accompanied his father King Philippe on a visit to the 15Wing Air Transport at Military Airport Melsbroek.[13] In April 2023, Prince Gabriel accompanied King Philippe on a visit to French Guiana, where they witnessed the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou Space Center.[14] [15] In May 2023, the Prince attended a garden party in honour of his father's reign's tenth anniversary.[16] On 21 July 2023, he and his sister Elisabeth were among the fellow students of the Royal Military Academy Belgium to parade during the Belgian National Day.[17]

Prince Gabriel has been involved in the Scouts since he was eight years old and has become a patrol leader in the last few years.

Personal life

Prince Gabriel plays the piano. He likes to practice taekwondo, football, cycling, tennis, swimming, skiing, sailing and hiking.[18] He was a member of, a Belgian hockey club based in Evere but decided to quit hockey in 2019 to focus on his school work.[19]

Titles, styles, and arms

Titles and styles

Military ranks

Arms

Notes:As a Prince of Belgium and a descendant of King Leopold I, the Prince is entitled to use a coat of arms which was stipulated in the Royal Decree of King Philippe in 2019.[23]
Year Adopted:12 July 2019
Coronet:Princely crown of Belgium
Escutcheon:Sable, a lion rampant or, armed and langued gules (Belgium), on the shoulder an escutcheon barry of ten sable and or, a crancelin vert (Wettin), overall a bordure or.
Supporters:Two lions guardant proper
Motto:French: L'union fait la force
Dutch; Flemish: Eendracht maakt macht
German: Einigkeit macht stark
Other Elements:The whole is placed on a mantle purpure with ermine lining, fringes and tassels or and ensigned with the Royal crown of Belgium.

References

  1. Web site: Baptême princier pour Gabriel. Princely baptism for Gabriel. 26 October 2003. French. Anne-France. Somers. 7 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507113247/https://www.dhnet.be/actu/belgique/2003/10/26/bapteme-princier-pour-gabriel-5OMFFRMTRNFH3KVW4NVH6IE73U/. dhnet.be. live.
  2. Web site: Dossier over Mathilde bij de Gazet van Antwerpen. https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193412/http://asp.gva.be/dossiers/-m/mathilde/gabriel.asp . File on Mathilde at the Gazet van Antwerpen. Gazet van Antwerpen. 29 October 2013. 9 April 2023. dead.
  3. Web site: Prins Gabriël voor het eerst naar school. Prince Gabriel goes to school for the first time. De Standaard. 1 September 2006. 16 June 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240616041711/https://m.standaard.be/cnt/dmf01092006_018?journeybuilder=nopaywall. 16 June 2024. live. Dutch.
  4. Web site: Belgian Prince Gabriel transfers from public to private school. The Bulletin. 29 August 2019. 22 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220122095450/https://www.thebulletin.be/belgian-prince-gabriel-transfers-public-private-school. 22 January 2022. live.
  5. Web site: Le Prince Gabriel fête ses 18 ans aujourd’hui. Joyeux anniversaire ! .... Prince Gabriel turns 18 today. happy birthday! .... The Belgian Monarchy. X. 20 August 2021. 16 June 2024. https://archive.today/20240616044847/https://x.com/MonarchieBe/status/1428612769885028352. 16 June 2024. live.
  6. Web site: Prince Gabriel to join Royal Military Academy on 22 August. Marta. Mieze. The Brussels Times. 26 July 2022. 27 August 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220826231415/https://www.brusselstimes.com/262085/prince-gabriel-to-join-royal-military-academy-on-22-august. 26 August 2022. live.
  7. Web site: Waarom Elisabeth 'Van België' heette in het leger en Gabriël 'Van Saksen-Coburg' is. Why Elisabeth was called 'Van Belgium' in the army and Gabriel is 'Van Saksen-Coburg'. Dutch. HLN. 30 September 2022. 4 April 2023. https://archive.today/20221101115941/https://www.hln.be/royalty/waarom-elisabeth-van-belgie-heette-in-het-leger-en-gabriel-van-saksen-coburg-is~a352c1d7/. 1 November 2022. live. prins Gabriël (19) is voor zijn legeropleiding ingeschreven als ‘leerling-officier Van Saksen-Coburg’. [Prince Gabriel (19) is registered for his army training as an 'Officer Cadet Van Saksen-Coburg'.].
  8. Web site: Prinz Gabriël erhielt von seinem Vater, König Philippe, das Blaue Barett und ist jetzt ein "echter Soldat". Prince Gabriel received the Blue Beret from his father, King Philippe, and is now a 'real soldier'. German. vrt.be. 1 October 2022. Andreas . Kockartz. 4 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230410034137/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/de/2022/10/01/prinz-gabriel-erhielt-von-seinem-vater-koenig-philippe-das-bla/. 10 April 2023. live.
  9. Web site: Prins Gabriël wordt ook international. Prince Gabriel also becomes international. Dutch. Het Nieuwsblad. 19 August 2013. 4 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507121713/https://m.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20130818_00697499. 7 May 2023. live.
  10. Web site: Death of Queen Fabiola : funeral marked by "simplicity" and "joy". Belga. The Brussels Times. 12 December 2014. 31 May 2023. https://archive.today/20230531144004/https://www.brusselstimes.com/30683/death-of-queen-fabiola-funeral-marked-by-simplicity-and-joy. 31 May 2023. live.
  11. Web site: 13 June 2007. Queen Mathilde Attend The Queen Elisabeth Contest Finals At Bozar In Brussels. 9 April 2023. Getty Images. en. https://archive.today/20230413035249/https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/queen-mathilde-of-belgium-princess-elisabeth-and-prince-news-photo/957752176. 13 April 2023. live.
  12. Web site: Instagram. Vrijwilligerswerk in de buurtwinkel en loods van @krasvzw in Gent. .... Belgian Royal Palace. Volunteer work in the convenience store and warehouse of @krasvzw in Ghent. .... 25 December 2020. 9 April 2023. 9 April 2023. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/instagram/belgianroyalpalace/2472026861283293656. live.
  13. Web site: 23 June 2021. King Philippe of Belgium and Prince Gabriel visits the 15Wing Air Transport at Military Airport Melsbroek. 9 April 2023. Getty Images. en. https://archive.today/20230413035628/https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/king-philippe-of-belgium-and-prince-gabriel-of-belgium-news-photo/1325035868. 13 April 2023. live.
  14. Web site: Le roi Philippe et le prince Gabriel sont arrivés en Guyane: ils assisteront au lancement de la fusée Ariane 5. King Philippe and Prince Gabriel have arrived in Guyana: they will attend the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket. 11 April 2023. 12 April 2023. French. 12 April 2023. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/lYRgU. RTL. live.
  15. Web site: Koning Filip met zoon Gabriël naar Frans-Guyana vertrokken voor de lancering van de Ariane 5-raket. King Philippe and his son Gabriel left for French Guiana for the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket. vrt.be. 11 April 2023. 12 April 2023. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/FwXSP. 12 April 2023. live. Dutch.
  16. Web site: Philippe et Mathilde de Belgique célèbrent leurs 10 ans de règne avec une garden party. Philippe and Mathilde of Belgium celebrate their 10 years of reign with a garden party. 15 May 2023. 31 May 2023. French. 5 July 2023. Victoire. Brunet. https://archive.today/20230705215258/https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/belgique/philippe-et-mathilde-de-belgique-celebrent-leurs-10-ans-de-regne-avec-une-garden-party. Point de Vue. live.
  17. Web site: An emotional day for the king and queen as National Holiday celebrates King Filip's decade on the throne. Michaël. Torfs. Colin . Clapson. vrt.be. 21 July 2023. 21 July 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230801002407/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2023/07/18/national-holiday-celebrates-king-filips-decade-on-the-throne/. 1 August 2023. live.
  18. Web site: Prince Gabriel. The Belgian Monarchy Official Website.. https://web.archive.org/web/20220122094830/https://www.monarchie.be/en/royal-family/prince-gabriel. 22 January 2022. live.
  19. Web site: Prins Gabriël stopt met hockey. Prince Gabriel retires from hockey. Dutch. Het Nieuwsblad. 24 August 2013. 4 April 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507122544/https://m.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20190824_04573789. 7 May 2023. live.
  20. Web site: Koninklijk besluit betreffende de verlening van de titel van Prins of Prinses van België. Royal Decree conferring the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium. Dutch. Moniteur Belge. https://web.archive.org/web/20230531165343/https://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/cgi/article_body.pl?language=nl&pub_date=2015-11-24&numac=2015021075&caller=list. 12 November 2015. 31 May 2023. live. ... de titel van Prins of Prinses van België volgend op hun voornaam en voor zover ze die voeren, hun familienaam en hun dynastieke titel, en voor de andere titels die hun rechtens hun ascendentie toekomen. Hun voornaam wordt voorafgegaan door het predicaat Zijne of Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid. [... the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium following their first name and, insofar as they use it, their family name and their dynastic title, and for the other titles to which they are entitled by right of ascendancy. Their first name is preceded by the predicate His or Her Royal Highness.].
  21. Web site: Belgian Prince Gabriel completes military initiation. Marta. Mieze. The Brussels Times. 1 October 2022. 1 June 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230531171013/https://www.brusselstimes.com/299017/belgian-prince-gabriel-completes-military-initiation. 31 May 2023. live. The training is intended to immerse young future-office for a professional career in the armed forces and provide basic military skills. 190 students ultimately passed the training and received their symbolic blue berets on Friday, which officialises their new title of cadet..
  22. Web site: Gabriel de Belgique, le service pour héritage. Gabriel from Belgium, the inheritance service. Philippe. Delorme. 28 August 2022. 31 May 2023. French. 31 May 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230531171329/https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/belgique/gabriel-de-belgique-le-service-pour-heritage. Point de Vue. live. Deuxième dans l’ordre de succession – qui fait désormais fi de la loi salique –, Gabriel sera donc élève-officier, interne durant une année à l’École royale militaire (ERM),... [Second in the order of succession – which now ignores the Salic law –, Gabriel will therefore be a cadet, an intern for a year at the Royal Military School (ERM), ...].
  23. Philippe, Koning der Belgen . 12 July 2019 . Koninklijk besluit houdende vaststelling van het wapen van het Koninklijk Huis en van zijn leden . Moniteur Belge/ Belgisch Staatsblad . 24 July 2019.

External links

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