Prince Charles, Count of Flanders

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Prince Charles
Elisabeth of Bavaria

Prince Charles, Count of Flanders (

abdicated in favour of his son, Baudouin
.

During the

Second World War Charles was known as General du Boc, in order to hide his identity for security reasons. He had an association with RAF Hullavington where many top officers from Allied nations were based or transported to and from.[1]

Early life

Born in

Wokingham, Berkshire, and in 1917 proceeded to the Royal Naval College, Osborne, and two years later to Dartmouth. In 1926 he received the honorary rank of sub-lieutenant in the British Royal Navy,[2] with promotion to honorary lieutenant the following year.[3]
Later in 1926 he returned to Belgium and began attending the Royal Military School of Brussels.

Regency

Prince Charles was appointed

became a controversial monarch
.

Charles's regency was dominated by the events resulting from the German occupation and the controversies around his brother Leopold. This period had an important impact on events in later decades. During his regency, important economic and political decisions were taken.

Belgium managed to jump-start its national economy with the aid of American assistance provided under the

Marshall plan. The building sector was stimulated by government grants to repair war-damaged buildings and to build social housing. The financial sector was sanitized through the "Operation Gutt" (after its architect, Camille Gutt
), whereby illegally gained profits during the war were targeted. A social welfare system was introduced and a system was set up to govern labour relations.

Furthermore, women obtained the right to vote in parliamentary elections in 1948.

Also during his regency the Benelux customs union was formed, Belgium became a member state of the United Nations, and the North Atlantic Treaty was signed.

In 1950, Charles's regency ended when Leopold III returned to Belgium and resumed his monarchical duties, following a plebiscite. Charles retired from public life, taking up residence in Ostend and becoming involved in artistic pursuits. Having taken up painting, he signed his works: "Karel van Vlaanderen" (Charles of Flanders).

He was the 377th knight

Order of the Tower and Sword
.

Charles had a natural daughter, Isabelle Wybo, born in 1938 as the result of a relationship with Jacqueline Wehrli, the daughter of a Brussels baker. Her existence was largely unknown until a biography of the prince was published in 2003. Wybo made an official appearance with her first cousin-once removed, Prince Laurent in 2012.[4]

He died on 1 June 1983 in Ostend, predeceasing his elder brother by a few months, and was buried at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Brussels.

In his will he left the Empress Josephine's diamond tiara to his sister,

Marie-José.[5]

Alleged marriage

It is reported that Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, married Louise Marie

Saint-Pierre-de-Montrouge, but a mere private blessing eight months after the death of her husband given by Father Marcelino Carrera was registered: "The private blessing uniting before God Charles Theodore Count of Flanders and Louise Marie Jacqueline Peyrebrune was given at Saint Peter's at the altar of the Sacred Heart on 14 September 1977. The mutual consent was received by your humble brother in Christ (Fr. Carrera) in the presence of Father Keller and witnesses (Comtesse Annie de Bergeret and Mme. Marie Jeannette Aurelie Menahes). The statement is also signed by the participants and witnesses." This was confirmed by private correspondence of Jacqueline Peyrebrune.[citation needed
] She published her memoirs in two books: Love in Shadow - The Secret Garden of Prince Charles of Belgium (Editions Tarmeye, 1991) and Carnets Intimes (Editions Tarmeye, 1993).

Honours

National honours

Foreign honours

Ancestry

References

  1. ^ Raymond Welcomme Personal Memories of Two World Wars (January 1987)
  2. ^ "No. 33154". The London Gazette. 23 April 1926. p. 2778.
  3. ^ "No. 33262". The London Gazette. 1 April 1927. p. 2125.
  4. ^ "article, niewablad.be". Archived from the original on 8 October 2012.
  5. ^ "Magnificent antique diamond tiara". Christies.
  6. ^ L'Allemagne Dynastique, volume VII, p. 385
  7. ^ "Z". www.ars-moriendi.be. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2016.

External links

Prince Charles, Count of Flanders
House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
Cadet branch of the House of Wettin
Born: 10 October 1903 Died: 1 June 1983
Belgian royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Philippe of Belgium 		Count of Flanders
31 January 1910 – 1 June 1983 		Vacant
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Prince_Charles,_Count_of_Flanders&oldid=1213522715"