Baudouin (1930–1993)

King of the Belgians 1951–93. In 1950 his father, Leopold III, abdicated and Baudouin was known until his succession in 1951 as Le Prince Royal. During his reign he succeeded in holding together a country divided by religion and language, while presiding over the dismemberment of Belgium's imperial past. In 1960 he married Fabiola de Mora y Aragón (1928– ), member of a Spanish noble family. They were unable to have any children, and he was succeeded by his brother, Albert, in 1993.

A staunch Catholic and a man of high principles, Baudouin abdicated for one day 1990 rather than sign a government bill legalizing abortion.

Part of his childhood was spent under German occupation. His father, seen by some as a Nazi appeaser, abdicated in favour of his son, but was still widely believed to be the power behind the throne.

Naturally self-effacing and living much of his life in the shadow of his much-criticized father, Baudouin was a reluctant monarch who would have preferred a private existence, but who eventually won his people's trust and affection through his transparent honesty and integrity.