Former Belgian king undergoes paternity test
The former Belgian king Albert II has provided a DNA sample following allegations as to whether he is the father of sculptor Delphine Boel.
The former Belgian king bowed to pressure in order to avoid daily fines of €5000.
Boel launched proceedings in 2013 to have Albert’s fatherhood recognized but these allegations have always been denied by the former Monarch, who reigned for 20 years from 1993. Albert abdicated shortly after the accusations were made due to health reasons.
Delphine Boel, who was born in 1968, asserts she is the extramarital daughter of the then prince as a result of an affair with her mother, Sibylle de Selys Longchamps.
The one time King has been married to Italian Paola Ruffo di Calabria since 1959, whom he met the previous year at a reception at the Belgian Embassy.
In October 2018, the Brussels Court of Appeal ordered Albert II to submit a genetic sample.
Until now, the 84-year-old had refused any such test, but has subsequently relented in the face of the aforementioned financial penalties.
Via Reuters
