Prince Baudouin of Belgium

Prince Baudouin of Belgium ("Baudouin Léopold Philippe Marie Charles Antoine Joseph Louis" (French) or "Boudewijn Leopold Filips Marie Karel Antoon Jozef Lodewijk" (Dutch), 3 June, 1869- 23 January, 1891), born in Brussels, was the first child and eldest son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

Baudouin was the nephew of Leopold II of Belgium. Upon the death of his eldest son, Leopold, Duke of Brabant in the January before Baudouin's birth, the king was left with only one heir – his younger brother, the Count of Flanders. Baudouin's birth that June was celebrated throughout the country. He was second in line to the throne at the time of his birth. King Leopold would have only one more child, another daughter, Clémentine. Baudouin was thus groomed to eventually succeed his uncle as king.

Death

Baudouin died in Brussels on 23 January, 1891, a day after the anniversary of his cousin Léopold's death. Baudouin had been visiting his sick sister, Henriette. The prince, who had been suffering a bout of influenza, insisted on staying with his sister. After taking a drive, he caught a fresh cold, and fell ill, dying shortly afterwards. Rumours circulated after his death that foul play had been involved, including a suggestion that Baudouin's death was copy of the suicide of Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria; Rudolf was the husband of Baudouin's cousin, Stéphanie. Baudouin was, at the time of his death, soon to be betrothed to his cousin, Clémentine. [ [http://query.nytimes.com/mem/archive-free/pdf?_r=1&res=9806E6DD1F3BE533A25757C2A9679C94609ED7CF&oref=slogin Belgium in Mouring; Death of Prince Bandouin -- the heir to the throne] , "New York Times"] Upon the death of Prince Baudouin, the Belgian Parliament was adjourned and theatres and public institutions were closed until after the funeral. Baudouin's body was interred at the royal vault at the Church of Our Lady, Laeken Cemetery in Brussels.

After Baudouin's death, his younger brother, Albert, became heir presumptive, and later succeeded their uncle Leopold as Albert I of Belgium.

Titles

* "His Royal Highness" Prince Baudouin of Belgium, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (1869-1891)

References

External links

* [http://pages.prodigy.net/ptheroff/gotha/belgium.html Royal House of Belgium]