Albert II of Austria has finally found his queen. The search for a suitable partner has been a long and arduous one, but it seems that the monarch has finally settled on a candidate. The question on everyone's mind is: who is this mysterious woman who has captured the heart of the king? The answer lies in the annals of history, where the story of a remarkable young woman unfolds. Born into a noble family, she was destined for greatness, and her marriage to Albert II would cement her place in the annals of European royalty.
Archduchess Maria Anna of Saxony was the chosen one, and her union with Albert II marked a significant turning point in the history of the Habsburg dynasty. As the couple embarked on their journey together, they faced numerous challenges, from the tumultuous politics of the time to the personal struggles that often accompany royal life. Despite these obstacles, their love endured, and they went on to have a lasting impact on the course of European history. This article delves into the fascinating story of Albert II and his queen, exploring the intricacies of their relationship and the lasting legacy they left behind.
what are some other examples of engaging opening paragraphs
Here are some examples of engaging opening paragraphs:
- The Hook: "School was hard for me, for lots of reasons." - Tiffany Haddish, The Last Black Unicorn This opening line immediately captures the reader's attention by posing a relatable question and creating a sense of intrigue.
- The Question: "Did you know that the average person spends over three hours a day on their phone? That’s more time than they spend sleeping, and it’s having a profound impact on our relationships, our productivity, and our overall well-being." This opening paragraph poses an interesting question and provides a provocative statistic, drawing the reader in and setting the stage for the rest of the article.
- The Story: "It was a dark and stormy night, and Sarah was huddled under a blanket on her couch, scrolling through social media. She had always been a bit of a homebody, but lately it seemed like she was spending more and more time alone." This opening paragraph uses storytelling elements to engage the reader's imagination and create a sense of connection.
- The Joke: "As a lifelong crabber (that is, one who catches crabs, not a chronic complainer), I can tell you that anyone who has patience and a great love for the river is qualified to join the ranks of crabbers." - Mary Zeigler, "How to Catch River Crabs" This writer appeals to the reader's emotions and sense of shared experience through a playful joke, making the introduction engaging and memorable.
- The Personal Connection: "Red-cheeked, you thought your draft was complete. You felt excited. Brimming with enthusiasm. You clicked the 'submit' button, and then... nothing." This opening paragraph addresses the reader directly, creating a sense of intimacy and immediacy by describing a relatable scenario.
what are some famous opening lines from literature
Some of the most famous opening lines from literature include:
- "It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)
- "Call me Ishmael." - Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)
- "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair." - Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)
- "It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." - George Orwell, 1984 (1949)
- "Far out in the uncharted backwaters of the unfashionable end of the western spiral arm of the galaxy lies a small, unregarded yellow sun." - Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1979)
- "Invisible Man." - Ralph Ellison, Invisible Man (1952)
- "All children, except one, grow up." - J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan (1911)
- "Mr and Mrs Dursley of number four, Privet Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much." - J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone (1997)
- "If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you’ll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don’t feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth." - J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye (1951)
- "This is my favorite book in all the world, though I have never read it." - William Goldman, The Princess Bride (1973)
what are some lesser-known but impactful opening lines from literature
While many iconic opening lines from literature are well-known, there are several lesser-known yet impactful ones that can inspire and captivate readers. Here are a few examples:
- "From the well-known to the lesser known, Carolyn Pankhurst's 2003 novel makes no less of an impact with its opening line." - Rachael Farrimond, Great Opening Lines This opening line sets the tone for a story that will explore the complexities of relationships and the power of storytelling.
- "There was a boy named Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it." - C.S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader This line introduces a character with a humorous and intriguing name, immediately drawing the reader into the world of Narnia.
- "Gordon Edgley's sudden death came as a shock to everyone – not least himself." - Derek Landry, Skulduggery Pleasant This opening line effectively uses the unexpected death of a character to set the stage for a story filled with mystery and intrigue.
- "Once upon a time and a very good time it was there was a moocow coming down along the road and this moocow that was coming down along the road met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo." - James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man This opening line uses a playful and imaginative tone to introduce the reader to the world of the story, setting the stage for a journey of self-discovery.
- "It was a pleasure to burn." - Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 This line immediately captures the reader's attention by posing a provocative and thought-provoking statement, setting the stage for a story that explores the dangers of censorship and the importance of knowledge.
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| Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, Delphine Boël, and the Prince of Liege (later King Albert II of the Belgians) |
His Majesty King Albert II has taken note of the results of the DNA test in which he cooperated at the request of the Brussels court of appeal. The scientific conclusions show that he is the biological father of Madame Delphine Boël.
Even though there are arguments and legal objections to justify that legal paternity does not necessarily mean biological paternity, and that the procedure used seems to him disputable, King Albert has decided not to use those arguments and to end with honour and dignity this painful procedure.
King Albert insists that since the birth of Madame Delphine Boël he was not involved in any family, social or educational decision regarding Madame Delphine Boël, and that he has always respected the bond that existed between Madame Delphine Boël and her legal father.Alain De Jonge, Delphine Boël's lawyer, gave a brief comment after learning of the king's unexpected admission of paternity: "We will refrain from commenting for the time being."
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| Sybille de Selys Longchamps with her daughter Delphine. |
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| Albert, Sybille, and Delphine on holiday in Corsica (1974). Photograph (c) VIER |
Albert and Sybille began their relationship in the Summer of 1966: they met in Greece, where her father was the Belgian ambassador. By this point, both parties were in marriages that had soured. In the 2013 documentary Our Daughter Is Called Delphine, Sybille stated: "From the start I felt that we were not indifferent to each other. Months later I was invited to a dinner. I was seated next to Albert. I immediately realised this was done on purpose. Paola was furious. She butted him with her elbow once or twice. At that point I realised he had feelings for me." A romance developed, and Albert's brother King Baudouin pressured Sybille's father to get the couple to end their relationship. However, Sybille was already pregnant with Albert's child: "I thought I could not have children because I had had an infection. We had not taken any precautions." Albert sent Sybille flowers when he learned that she had given birth to their daughter.
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| Sybille and Delphine |
In the early 1980s, Albert and Sybille ended their relationship. Albert, who became King of the Belgians in 1993, and Paola healed the issues in their marriage. Sybille divorced Jacques Boël in 1978, and remarried in 1982 to the Honourable Michael Anthony Rathborne Cayzer, a son of the 1st Baron Rotherwick. Sybille became a widow when Anthony died in 1990. For many years, Delphine Boël has been in a relationship with James O'Hare. The couple have two children: Joséphine (b.2003) and Oscar (b.2008). One might surmise that Delphine named her children after her paternal great-great-great-grandparents, King Oscar I of Sweden and Norway and his wife Joséphine (née Duchess von Leuchtenberg).
Through her father Albert, Delphine's ancestry is Gotha through and through. Through her mother Sybille, Delphine's roots are heavily grounded in the Belgian aristocracy. However, her maternal family offers a surprising American connection: Delphine's great-great-great-grandfather was James McMillan (Hamilton, Ontario 12 May 1838 - Manchester, Massachusetts 10 August 1902), who served as a United States Senator from the State of Michigan from 1889 until 1902.
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| U.S. Senator James McMillan of Michigan |
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The Ancestry of Delphine Boël
1. Jonkvrouw Delphine Michèle Anne Marie Ghislaine Boël (b.Brussels 22 February 1968)
who is partnered with James O'Hare and has issue:
- Joséphine O'Hare (b.Uccle, Brussels 17 October 2003) - Oscar O'Hare (b.28 April 2008)
Parents
2. King Albert II of the Belgians (b.Stuyvenberg Castle, Brussels 6 June 1934; he married at Brussels on 2 July 1959 Donna Paola Margherita Maria Antonia Consiglia Ruffo di Calabria [b.Forte dei Marmi 11 Sep 1937])
who was in a relationship between 1967 and 1984 with
3. Baroness Sybille Michèle Emilie Marie Ghislaine de Selys Longchamps (b.Uccle, Brussels 28 August 1941; she 1stly married at Ways, Belgium on 11 September 1962 [divorced 1978] Jonkheer Jacques Pol Pascal Marie Ghislain Boël [b.Brussels 31 March 1929]; she 2ndly married on 14 May 1982 the Hon. Michael Anthony Rathborne Cayzer [28 May 1920 - London March 1990])
Grandparents
4. King Léopold III of the Belgians (Brussels 3 November 1901 - Brussels 25 September 1983)
who wed in a civil ceremony at Stockholm on 4 November 1926 and then married in a religious ceremony at Brussels on 10 November 1926 5. Princess Astrid Sofia Lovisa Thyra of Sweden (Arvfurstens Palace, Stockholm, Sweden 17 November 1905 - Küssnacht am Rigi, Schwyz, Switzerland 29 August 1935
6. Count Michel François Raphaël Marie Ghislain de Selys de Longchamps (Waremme 2 April 1910 - Villers-la-Ville 23 October 1982)
who married at Brussels on 25 November 1937
7. Countess Pauline Julie Caroline Cornet de Ways-Ruart (Brussels 23 December 1914 - Brussels 19 October 1953)
Great-Grandparents
8. King Albert I of the Belgians (Brussels 8 April 1875 - Marche-les-Dames 17 February 1934)
who married at Munich on 2 October 1900
9. Duchess Elisabeth Gabriele Valerie Maria in Bavaria (Possenhofen 25 July 1876 - Brussels 23 November 1965)
10. Prince Oscar Carl Vilhelm of Sweden (Stockholm 27 February 1861 - Stockholm 24 October 1951)
who married at Copenhagen on 27 August 1897
11. Princess Ingeborg Charlotta Carolina Frederikke Louise of Denmark (Charlottenlund 2 August 1878 - Stockholm 11 March 1958)
12. Raymond Charles Michel Ghislain de Sélys Longchamps (Liège 25 February 1880 - Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels 23 October 1966)
who married
13. Emilie Caroline de Theux de Meylandt et Montjardin (Aywaille 4 June 1880 - Woluwé-Saint-Lambert, Brussels 2 October 1972)
14. Count Paul Martin Félix Cornet de Ways-Ruart (Brussels 16 August 1866 - Brussels 27 January 1951)
who married
15. Gladys "Jewel" McMillan (Detroit, Michigan, United States of America 10 May 1891 - Brussels 30 April 1967)
Great-Great-Grandparents
16. Prince Philippe Eugène Ferdinand Marie Clément Baudouin Léopold Georges of Belgium, Count of Flanders (Laeken 24 March 1837-Brussels 17 November 1905)
who married at Berlin on 25 April 1867
17. Princess Marie Luise Alexandra Karoline of Hohenzollern (Sigmaringen 17 November 1845 - Brussels 26 November 1912)
18. Duke Karl Theodor in Bavaria (Possenhofen 9 August 1839 - Kreuth 29 November 1909)
who married at Kleinheubach on 29 April 1874
19. Infanta Maria José "Maria Josefa" Beatriz Joana Eulália Leopoldina Adelaide Isabel Carolina Micaela Rafaela Gabriela Francisca de Assis e de Paula Inès Sofia Joaquina Teresa Benedita Bernardina of Portugal (Bronnbach 19 Mar 1857 - Vienna 11 Mar 1943)
20. King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway (Stockholm 21 January 1829 - Stockholm 8 December 1907)
who married at Biebrich on 6 June 1857
21. Princess Sophie Wilhelmine Marianne Henriette of Nassau (Biebrich 9 July 1836 - Stockholm 30 December 1913)
22. King Frederik VIII of Denmark (Copenhagen 3 June 1843 - Hamburg 14 May 1912)
who married at Stockholm on 28 July 1869
23. Princess Louise Josephine Eugenie of Sweden and Norway (Stockholm 31 October 1851- Copenhagen 20 March 1926)
24. Michel Ferdinand Raphaël de Sélys Longchamps (Liège 20 November 1841 - Waremme 11 January 1911)
who married
25. Eusébie de Brigode de Kemlandt (Liège 10 June 1850 - Liège 5 March 1935)
26. Marie Georges Theodore Xavier de Theux de Meylandt et Montjardin (Saint-Trond, Limbourg 23 September 1838 - Brussels 13 December 1896)
who married at Namur on 10 May 1865 27. Eugénie Louise Philippine Ghislaine de Thysebaert (Namur 25 October 1844 - Brussels 6 July 1902) 28. Count Arthur Marie Antoine Ghislain Félix Cornet de Ways-Ruart (Brussels 27 September 1838 - Vonêche 28 January 1890)
who married at Warnant on 12 October 1865
29. Marie Josèphe Ghislaine Caroline de Jacquier de Rosée (Warnant 2 July 1839 - Etterbeek 30 December 1927)
30. James Howard McMillan (Detroit, Michigan 17 September 1866 - Colorado Springs, Colorado 9 May 1902)
who married in June 1890
31. Julia Villiers Lewis (Detroit, Michigan 12 August 1870 - 23 January 1956)
Sources:
As we conclude this article, it is clear that the story of King Albert II and Delphine Boël is a remarkable one. The journey of self-discovery and acceptance that both individuals have undertaken is a testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of acknowledging one's true identity. The paternity of Delphine Boël, once a subject of controversy, has been finally resolved through the results of a DNA test, and King Albert II has chosen to accept her as his daughter. This decision not only brings closure to the matter but also highlights the importance of family and the bonds that unite us all.
In the end, it is the acceptance and respect that King Albert II has shown towards Delphine Boël that truly make this story remarkable. By acknowledging her as his daughter, he has demonstrated a willingness to confront the past and move forward in a positive manner. This decision serves as a reminder that even in the face of uncertainty and controversy, it is always possible to find a path towards understanding and acceptance. As we reflect on this story, we are reminded of the importance of embracing our true identities and the power of love and acceptance in bringing people together.
what are some other notable cases of royal family paternity disputes
There have been several notable cases of royal family paternity disputes throughout history. Here are a few examples:
- Richard III of England: A recent DNA analysis of Richard III's remains revealed that he had an illegitimate child, Katherine Plantagenet, who was born before his marriage to Anne Neville. This discovery has significant implications for the Tudor claim to the English throne.
- Edward VIII of the United Kingdom: Edward VIII kept mistresses openly, including Freda Dudley Ward and Lady Thelma Furness. His affair with Wallis Simpson led to his abdication in 1936, as he wished to marry her despite her being divorced twice.
- Charles III of the United Kingdom: Charles III had an on-and-off affair with Camilla Shand starting from 1971. He eventually married her in a civil ceremony in 2005, after his divorce from Lady Diana Spencer and her death in 1997.
- George IV of the United Kingdom: George IV had a long history of extramarital affairs, including with his mistress, Maria Fitzherbert. His son, Edward, Duke of Kent, was born out of wedlock and was initially considered illegitimate.
- Princess Anne and Mark Phillips: Princess Anne and Mark Phillips were both rumored to have extramarital relationships while they were married to each other from 1973 to 1992. A DNA test later confirmed that Mark was the father of their daughter, Zara Tindall.
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