Belgium Ex-King Albert II Faces Fine If Refuses DNA Test

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This combination of pictures created on April 26, 2018 shows Belgian artist Delphine Boël (L) on April 26, 2018 arriving for a session at the Appeal Court in Brussels to request the appeal of the case contesting the paternity of her father Jacques Boel and asking for the recognition of the paternity of King Albert II and a file photo taken on July 3, 2013 of King Albert II of Belgium (R) delivering a speech at the royal palace in BrusselsImage copyrightAFP
Image captionBelgian artist Delphine Boël alleges King Albert II is her father
A Belgian appeals court has ruled that former King Albert II is to be fined €5,000 (£4,370) a day if he refuses to undergo a DNA test.
In February, he refused to undergo such a test in a case aimed at proving he fathered a love child in the 1960s.
A court in Brussels ordered the 84-year-old ex-monarch to provide a saliva sample in three months or risk being presumed to be the father of Delphine Boël, 50.
The ex-king denies the paternity claim.
Rumours the king had an illegitimate child first emerged in 1999 in an unauthorised biography about his wife. The allegation prompted a royal scandal and enduring media gossip in Belgium.
Delphine Boël, the alleged illegitimate daughter of King Albert II of Belgium, posing at an exhibitionImage copyrightCORBIS VIA GETTY IMAGES
Image captionDelphine Boël first alleged the king was her biological father in 2005
Ms Boël first alleged on the record that King Albert was her biological father during a 2005 interview.
Her mother, Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps, has claimed the two had an affair between 1966 and 1984 when he was still Prince Albert of Liège.
However, following his older brother's death in 1993 at 62, King Albert unexpectedly came to the throne.
He held the position until July 2013, when he announced his abdication - citing ill health - and was replaced by his son, Philippe. He is said to receive an annual income of about €1m.
Shortly after, Ms Boël opened court proceedings to prove her paternity, provoking speculation the scandal had influenced the move.
1969 archive photograph of Princess Paola of Belgium (later Queen Paola of Belgium) and Prince Alfred of Belgium with their children, Princess Astrid of Belgium (left), Prince Laurent of Belgium (centre), and Prince Philippe of BelgiumImage copyrightGETTY IMAGES
Image captionThe royal couple seen in 1969 alongside their three children Astrid, Laurent and Philippe
Earlier this year, he refused to fulfil a 2018 court order to undergo DNA testing and launched an appeal.
A court had initially set a three-month limit for him to provide a saliva sample for testing - saying that without it, Ms Boël was be assumed to be his daughter and be eligible for any inheritance.
Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.
Presentational grey line

Who is King Albert II ?

  • Born in 1934 as second in line to the throne
  • Got married to Italian wife, Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria, in 1959
  • The couple have two sons and a daughter
  • He became king in August 1993 following the death of his older brother, King Baudouin
  • With his constitutional role, stepped in during country's 2010-2011 political stalemate
  • He served as monarch for two decades until his 2013 abdication
  • Lost his immunity held as king after abdication

BBC

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