Prince Baudouin of Belgium

Who was Prince Baudouin of Belgium?

Prince Baudouin of Belgium, 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 person in the line of succession – 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.