Queen Paola of Belgium

Queen Consort of the Belgians

Paola (born Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria;[1] born 11 September 1937) is a member of the Belgian royal family. She was Queen of the Belgians from 1993 to 2013. She is the wife of the King Albert II.

Paola
Paola in 2008
Queen consort of the Belgians
Tenure9 August 1993 – 21 July 2013
BornDonna Paola Margherita Giuseppina Maria Antonia Consiglia Ruffo di Calabria
(1937-09-11) 11 September 1937 (age 86)
Villa Claudia, Forte dei Marmi, Kingdom of Italy
Spouse
Issue
HouseRuffo di Calabria
FatherFulco, Prince Ruffo di Calabria
MotherLuisa Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana
ReligionRoman Catholicism

Titles and Styles

11 September 1937-2 July 1959:Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria

2 July 1959-9 August 1993: Her Royal Highness The Princess of Liege

9 August 1993-21 July 2013: Her Majesty The Queen of the Belgians

21 July 2013-present: Her Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium

References change

  1. Although The Belgian Monarchy website attributes the title of "Princess" to Queen Paola prior to marriage, Burke's Peerage 1973, The Descendants of Louis XIII 1999, Genealogisches Handbuch des Adels 2001, La Descendance de Marie-Thérèse de Habsburg 1996, and Le Petit Gotha 2002 among others, accord only the noble prefix of Donna to her and her sisters, reserving the title Principessa for the wife of the head of the family

Other websites change

Queen Paola of Belgium
Born: 11 September 1937
Belgian royalty
Preceded by
Fabiola de Mora y Aragón
Queen consort of the Belgians
1993–2013
Succeeded by
Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz