Prince Charles, Count of Flanders

Prince Charles Count of Flanders; Prince Regent of Belgium File:Mon his charlesregent high.jpg Regency 1944-1950 Names French: Charles Théodore Henri Antoine Meinrad Dutch: Karel Theodoor Hendrik Anton Meinrad House House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha Father Albert I of Belgium Mother Elisabeth of Bavaria

Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, Prince of Belgium (10 October 1903 – 1 June 1983) was the second son of Albert I, King of the Belgians and Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria. Born in Brussels, he reigned in lieu of his older brother Leopold III from 1944 until 1950 as Prince Regent until Leopold could return to the throne. Shortly after however, Leopold abdicated in favour of his Heir Apparent, his son Baudouin I.

Charles was known as General Du Boc during World War II 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.

Regency

Prince Charles was appointed Regent when the German occupation ended in 1944. The role of his brother Leopold III during World War II as well as his marriage to Mary Lilian Baels was questioned and he became too controversial to remain on the throne.

Charles's regency was dominated by the events resulting from the German occupation and the controversy around Léopold III. 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" whereby illegally gained profits during the war were targeted. A social welfare system was introduced and a system of governing labour relations was set up.

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

Furthermore, during his regency Benelux was formed, Belgium became a member of the UN and the NATO treaty was signed.

In 1950, his regency ended when Leopold III could return to the throne by plebiscite. Prince 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 Grand Cross of the Order of the Tower and Sword.

He died on 1 June 1983 in Ostend, predeceasing his elder brother by just a few months.

Alleged marriage

It is believed that Prince Charles, Count of Flanders married in a religious ceremony in Paris on 14 September 1977 Louise Marie Jacqueline Peyrebrune, formerly Mrs. Georges Schaack (La Réole, 16 February 1921 -), a marriage which has always been mentioned in every new edition of the Almanach de Gotha. However L' Allemagne Dynastique on Volume VII, page 385, doubts this assertion, affirming instead that not only did a civil marriage not occur but also neither a religious one (which could not take place before a civil marriage according to the French Law) nor is such a religious marriage registered in the Parish registers of Saint Pierre de Mountrouge, only 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. 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).

Ancestry

Family of Prince Charles, Count of Flanders

16. Francis, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld 8. Leopold I of Belgium 17. Augusta Reuss-Ebersdorf 4. Philip, Count of Flanders 18. Louis-Philippe of France 9. Louise-Marie of France 19. Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies 2. Albert I of Belgium 20. Charles, Prince of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 10. Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern 21. Marie Antoinette Murat 5. Princess Marie of Hohenzollern 22. Karl, Grand Duke of Baden 11. Josephine of Baden 23. Stéphanie de Beauharnais 1. Prince Charles, Count of Flanders 24. Duke Pius August in Bavaria 12. Maximilian Joseph, Duke in Bavaria 25. Princess Amélie Louise of Arenberg 6. Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria 26. Maximilian I of Bavaria 13. Princess Ludovika of Bavaria 27. Princess Karoline of Baden 3. Elisabeth of Bavaria 28. John VI of Portugal 14. Miguel of Portugal 29. Charlotte of Spain 7. Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal 30. Constantine, Hereditary Prince of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg 15. Adelaide of Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg 31. Princess Agnes of Hohenlohe-Langenburg

References

Styles of Prince Charles of Belgium Reference style His Royal Highness Spoken style Your Royal Highness Alternative style Sir

External links

• Royal House of Belgium