Queen Fabiola: Pious Princess in a Fleeting World

When Fabiola became our Belgian queen in 1960, through her marriage to King Baudouin, it symbolised the beginning of a golden age of economic prosperity and rapid development. The Belgian population quickly noticed that their 'Roi triste' had found his ideal partner: a woman who complemented him and supported him in good times and bad. Over the years, Baudouin and Fabiola became increasingly respected and loved by all levels of society. When the nation learned of the sudden death of King Baudouin on 31 July 1993, a shock wave went through the country. Dressed completely in white, Queen Fabiola carried her cross with her head held high at Baudouin's solemn state funeral. She accepted her widow's role, unwanted but with dignity. Even after that, despite her painful grief, she continued to trust in her love courageously and doggedly. Her devout attitude and her pious religious conviction make her a striking figure. She is a strong woman, who maintains a vision and attitude towards life that stands in stark contrast to many facets of this all too fleeting and hectic world. On the occasion of her eightieth birthday, Ralf de Jonge wants to pay tribute to our fifth queen, who, through her special role, experienced many major social events in Belgian history at close range, using testimonies, photo fragments and archive documents.