Principessa
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According to news of a Belgian newspaper "Home" Laurent and his wife have been separated since last Christmas. She left their home with her children and has been living with her parents. The palace does not comment. It has been expected that they will show up together at National Day to show that the rumours are not true. Obviously they haven't. https://adelswelt.de/prin...laire-heimliche-trennung/Wow, I was always surprised how supportive and all she was all these years of Laurent. |
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Future Crayon
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"Near catastrophic"
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That's a shame. I liked Claire (and I liked Claire's National Day hats)
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Cool your jets, everyone
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Principessa
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Principessa
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Already in 2010 there were rumours of a separation / divorce: https://www.demorgen.be/n...3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2FLoosely translated as: "Prince Laurent and Claire are not the smartest"
The weekly magazine Story this week follows up on the rumors about an imminent divorce between Prince Laurent and Princess Claire. A "friend of the couple" describes Laurent and Claire as not very intelligent, simple people. The initiate calls it exaggerated that the two would be separating. The crux of the problem, according to the princely house friend, is the fact that Laurent has no purpose in life, has never known what studying is and is left with nothing to do with it.
February 16, 2010, 7:06 PM
First: Story does not reveal who that "good friend" is, but there is a good chance that she can now call herself an ex-girlfriend.
His childhood
In the interview, the woman in question immediately turns out to be an occasional psychologist. According to her, the turbulent marriage of the prince is largely due to his childhood.
"His parents didn't set the ideal example. Albert and Paola did love him, each in their own way, but as a couple they swam through so many waters themselves. When their marriage was finally back on track, it was too late to to give Laurent a warm home."
"They have locked Laurent within four walls. He has given up a lot of his father's affair, with Delphine Boël's mother. He was pulled back and forth between his mother and his father. At one point Albert and Paola even knew each other can't tolerate being in the same room. No, that certainly wasn't pleasant for Laurent."
aimless
But there is more to it. As is known, Laurent suffers from mood swings and is prone to depression. According to the "good friend", this would be due to his position between his sister and brother.
"Laurent has no purpose in his life. He will never become king. As a child, Filip had that too, until it became clear when he was twelve that he would one day become king. When the Salic law was abolished, he then objected for a while. his sister Astrid had to fight. But Filip then made a very intelligent move by marrying Mathilde. Filip had his business. Astrid also has enough to do with her five children. Only Laurent is running for bacon and beans."
No spine, no intelligence
Can't he make himself a little useful then? Isn't he committed to nature, can't he do anything with it?
The "good friend" is pertinent in that regard: "Laurent knows nothing about it. He has no spine, no intelligence to delve into it. Laurent does not know what that is: studying. He can't sit behind a desk. boy has finished his high school diploma with a vengeance. How many schools has he not mopped up? He feels that he cannot enter into a discussion about nature conservation. He does not know enough about that. He does not know what that is, a file read".
Darede to each other
Hopefully that will be compensated by Claire, who made it to surveyor after all. But no, the "good friend" doesn't rate the princess's intelligence highly.
"I don't think Claire is intelligent. She is a good professional. A surveyor should be skilled, not intelligent. If you have mastered a number of techniques and can apply them, you are there. In terms of intelligence, Laurent and Claire are evenly matched ".
Pretentious and sickly timid
The lady in question has nothing good to say about Claire. "She's not sympathetic and Laurent has to take that on board. She's easily oblivious. If you don't know her, she comes across as very pretentious. On the other hand, like Laurent, she is sickly timid. They both actually dare no people to speak to. So they are at ease when the gates of Villa Clémentine are closed".
There are three children around, and Claire is described as "one in a million" but Laurent's paternal qualities are reportedly nothing to write home about.
"He sees that there are children, but I'm not sure he realizes he has to take on the part of daddy. He waits until his boys are big enough to romp with them. Laurent has never seen it at home that his parents sat down next to him to read a story. Why would he do it himself now?"
simple people
The "good friend" contradicts that the close bond Claire has with her mother points to an imminent divorce.
"Claire also gets along well with Queen Paola. You can't say that, but Paola is also 'très jolie mais très bête'. Why did Albert look at someone else, do you think? The basis of the relationship between Laurent and Claire is good, but they are -excusez-moi le mot - simple people. That's why every fight looks like a divorce. Moreover, Paola went out with Claire this week and she wouldn't do that if it really went that bad. If Claire and Laurent divorce, I don't think Paola will want to be seen with her son's ex-wife again."
Laurent knows nothing about nature conservation. He has no backbone, no intelligence to delve into that. Laurent doesn't know what that is: studying. That boy got his diploma from the humanities with his heels over the ditch. He doesn't know what that is, reading a file
Claire also gets on well with Queen Paola. You may not say that, but Paola is also 'très jolie mais très bête'. Why did Albert start looking at someone else, do you think? |
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kbart
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I am sorry to read this. It seems as if Laurent missed out on key stages in his early life due to a lack of parental care - this happened to a distant relative of mine who had a broken childhood. He has shown he has empathy and I do admire his work for the homeless and animals and he seems to get on well with his children. Back in the day he and QMathilde were sometimes seen having a laugh and smile together in public. It's a shame.
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Cordelia Fitzgerald
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Woo, that was a savage read. It makes sense that he'd be struggling with no purpose or direction...on the teeny-tiniest of scales, I find myself falling into that trap during summer vacation (I'm a teacher) when I have no schedule and several weeks at home. I just kind of...do nothing on some days; no real reading, no cleaning, no learning, nothing. So, I can see how a LIFETIME of no purpose or direction would easily slip into a lifetime of no real accomplishments or goals. And once you slip into inertia, it is so hard to break out of it. I'm not excusing him, by any means, and I really know very little about him. But I feel like I can see where he's coming from.
I have a vague recollection of him tearing up while watching one of his children (a daughter) perform or read something, maybe at a funeral? Am I making this up completely?
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Future Crayon
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"Near catastrophic"
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Woo, that was a savage read. It makes sense that he'd be struggling with no purpose or direction...on the teeny-tiniest of scales, I find myself falling into that trap during summer vacation (I'm a teacher) when I have no schedule and several weeks at home. I just kind of...do nothing on some days; no real reading, no cleaning, no learning, nothing. So, I can see how a LIFETIME of no purpose or direction would easily slip into a lifetime of no real accomplishments or goals. And once you slip into inertia, it is so hard to break out of it. I'm not excusing him, by any means, and I really know very little about him. But I feel like I can see where he's coming from.
I have a vague recollection of him tearing up while watching one of his children (a daughter) perform or read something, maybe at a funeral? Am I making this up completely?
At Queen Fabiola's funeral, *I think* And there are horrible stories about the childhood of Phil, Lauren and Astrid which go beyond wonky parenting and into outright neglect. Hes clearly a damaged and vulnerable man. But Laurent has done some stupid things. The Chinese Army event, visiting the Congo, trying to seek exile in Libya(!), then calling it a human rights abuse when Phil tried to reign him in a bit. |
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Cool your jets, everyone
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Cordelia Fitzgerald
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Woo, that was a savage read. It makes sense that he'd be struggling with no purpose or direction...on the teeny-tiniest of scales, I find myself falling into that trap during summer vacation (I'm a teacher) when I have no schedule and several weeks at home. I just kind of...do nothing on some days; no real reading, no cleaning, no learning, nothing. So, I can see how a LIFETIME of no purpose or direction would easily slip into a lifetime of no real accomplishments or goals. And once you slip into inertia, it is so hard to break out of it. I'm not excusing him, by any means, and I really know very little about him. But I feel like I can see where he's coming from.
I have a vague recollection of him tearing up while watching one of his children (a daughter) perform or read something, maybe at a funeral? Am I making this up completely?
At Queen Fabiola's funeral, *I think* And there are horrible stories about the childhood of Phil, Lauren and Astrid which go beyond wonky parenting and into outright neglect. Hes clearly a damaged and vulnerable man. But Laurent has done some stupid things. The Chinese Army event, visiting the Congo, trying to seek exile in Libya(!), then calling it a human rights abuse when Phil tried to reign him in a bit. That may have been it! It was a very tender moment. It's so difficult to know how much slack to cut people for terrible childhoods, you know? You feel such sympathy for what they go through, but you wonder when people need to get to a point where they make a decision to rise beyond that, especially when they have all the help in the world available to them, and no worries about keeping a roof over their head/feeding their children/providing for their own retirement/etc. I look at my own dad's childhood...abusive and dysfunctional in so many ways, and at some point he just decided he was going to break that cycle and he was the best dad you could ask for. But I don't want to sound judgmental, honestly, because I just don't know. It just seems like you get to a point where you're sorry for what someone went through, and you wish they'd take ownership of their own choices anyway. |
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LadyBunion
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the younger Belgians and Luxembourg Royals were doing readings and prayers in multiple languages, some not used to speaking in public - Princess Louise spoke in English and her father looked very proud and gave her thumbs up sign, also a little emotional. It was a lovely sign of support and encouragement to her
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anastasia beaverhausen
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According to news of a Belgian newspaper "Home" Laurent and his wife have been separated since last Christmas. She left their home with her children and has been living with her parents. The palace does not comment. It has been expected that they will show up together at National Day to show that the rumours are not true. Obviously they haven't. https://adelswelt.de/prin...laire-heimliche-trennung/I guess that is not very surprising but it’s very sad. Laurent seems like a good person with a lot of demons, and it can’t have been easy for Claire. |
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Gemsheal
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From the description of Laurent from that 2010 article Principessa put up, I wonder if he has AdHD? This condition (along with his neglectful parents) may have caused many of his mishaps. He certainly seems, impulsive, and the inability to sit quietly and apply one's attention to studying is a major red flag ...
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"What would life be without art? Science prolongs life. To consist of what - eating, drinking, and sleeping? What is the good of living longer if it is only a matter of satisfying the requirements that sustain life? All this is nothing without the charm of art."
~ Sarah Bernhardt
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Cordelia Fitzgerald
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From the description of Laurent from that 2010 article Principessa put up, I wonder if he has AdHD? This condition (along with his neglectful parents) may have caused many of his mishaps. He certainly seems, impulsive, and the inability to sit quietly and apply one's attention to studying is a major red flag ...
That's a very good point, Gem! Also congrats on your 1000!!   |
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Dresstoimpress
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I very highly doubt their marriage is over. Claire has always been a fierce supporter of Laurent and has always had his back. Her not being present at some official events is not new. It has happened before. Lets also not forget she has had or may still have health issues. The road of their relationship may be rocky but nonetheless a fun ride. Just my 2 cents  |
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