Queen Astrid

This princess from clod climates was a gift from Sweden.
Born on November 17, 1905 in the Royal Castle of Stockholm, she is the daughter of Prince Charles of Sweden, Duke of Westrogothie, himself son of King Oscar II and Princess Ingeborg daughter of Frederik VII of Danemark.

Beautiful with clear eyes and dark hair, Astrid Sophie Thyra Louise was raised following the traditional education of good background girls.
She is quite fond of the tales and legends of her country.
She devours The Wonderful Adventures of Nils Holgersson.
The author, Selma Langerlöf, describes her young reader as “a child as pure and innocent as white snow”.

The civil wedding is celebrated in Stockholm on November 04, 1926.
Astrid is radiant in her gorgeous white dress that ends with a trail of crepe embroidered with rhinestones and pearls.
Her forehead is crowned with Brussels lace, Myrtle (symbol of glory) and Lilly of the Valley.
The Royal couple returns to Belgium on November 08 through the Port of Antwerp which was chosen for its prestige.
The excited crowd is waiting for its snow princess.
From her hat to her shoes, Astrid wears only one colour: the white.
Her beauty and charm exceeded all expectations: Belgium is in love.
Two days later the religious marriage is celebrated in the Saint Gudule Cathedral of Brussels.

Heiress of a country she barley knows, Astrid will slowly set her own style.
Welcome by Leopold, Astrid arrives in the Port of Antwerp.
Behind the young couple, Prince Carl of Sweden and King Albert Through the 1935 crisis, she meets with the mine workers and asks what she could do for them.
Money, food supplies, recommendations are sent out from Laeken to whom ever ask.
Those who suffer during those hard times have the feeling that Astrid does not forget them.

Young parents, young sovereigns since the accidental death of Albert I in 1934, Astrid and Leopold became a role model for youth movements throughout Europe.
Thanks to Astrid, a lot of young Belgians join the Scouts, a real way of life according to Astrid.
On official events, Astrid wears precious fabrics and jewellery but in her everyday life Astrid prefers sober dresses, dark shoes, a cardigan and a loden coat.
This is how she wanders around the Marolles neighbourhood always available and kind.
She was the soul of Belgium and became an icon even if she did not want to.

On her official portrait by Osterman she wears a tiara but does not smile.
Her gaze is quite serious and fatalist and she seemed to accept her fate.
“Ah if life could always remain as it is now” she sometimes sighed.
But life did not want it that way.
Queen Astrid with her daughter Joséphine-Charlotte and her sister Martha of Sweden.
In fact, she died in Switzerland on August 29, 1935 in a car accident.
She left behind 3 young children: Baudouin who succeeded his father from 1950 to 1993, Albert (the actual King) and Joséphine-Charlotte