In the mid-20th century, the Belgian monarchy faced a delicate task: finding a bride for the young King Baudouin. Two years after his accession to the throne, the monarch remained unmarried, which caused concern both in government and among the public. Baudouin’s reserved character and unremarkable appearance did not make him a highly sought-after suitor in the eyes of European princesses, but his royal status made up for these shortcomings.
The main role in arranging her grandson’s personal life was assumed by his grandmother, Queen Mother Isabel Gabriela de Baviera. Working in cooperation with the Belgian parliament, she initiated the process of selecting suitable candidates. A confidential list was compiled featuring eight young aristocrats of impeccable background. As a pretext for introduction, it was planned to organize a visit for them to the royal Castle of Laeken (castillo real de Laeken), reminiscent of the famous ‘bride cruises’ organized by Greek Queen Frederica for her daughters.
Compiling the list proved to be no easy task. Some European dynasties were excluded due to close family ties with the Belgian royal family. As a result, the secret document presented to the court contained the names of eight potential brides. First on the list was 25-year-old Isabelle of France, daughter of Henri, Count of Paris. Her advantage was being born near Brussels, but the princess herself showed no interest in the Belgian monarch.
Among the other candidates was Margarita of Baden, a cousin of the future Queen Sofia of Spain. Despite having a good relationship with Baudouin, she eventually married Yugoslav prince Tomislav. The list also included Alessandra Torlonia, granddaughter of the Spanish king Alfonso XIII and daughter of Italian prince Alessandro Torlonia and Beatriz de Borbón. In addition, Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta and María de Borbón were considered.
The list of contenders also included virtually unattainable options, such as Princess Margaret, sister of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II, and her cousin Alexandra of Kent, who later married businessman Angus Ogilvy. The last on the list, yet one of the favorites in the eyes of observers, was Princess Astrid of Norway. However, she chose to marry for love, wedding Johan Martin Ferner and giving up her status as first lady of the kingdom.
While the court was engaged in the complicated selection process, King Baudouin made his own choice. In 1960, a year before the Norwegian princess’s wedding, he married Spanish aristocrat Fabiola de Mora y Aragón. His chosen bride was not on any official list of candidates, which came as a surprise to many and put an end to the kingdom’s extensive search for a queen.
