Princess Louise d'Orléans, Queen consort of the Belgians

• Name/Title: Louise Marie Thérèse Charlotte Isabelle d'Orléans Princess of France
• By marriage Queen Consort of Belgium

Links:

• The Peerage
• Geneall
• Find a grave
• Johann The Younger # 1468
• Wikipedia: English Francais

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Louise of Orléans was a French princess who became the first Queen of the Belgians as the second wife of King Leopold I. She was also known as Louise-Marie.

Born in Palermo, Sicily, on 3 April 1812, she was the eldest daughter of the future Louis-Philippe I, King of the French, and of his wife Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies. As a child, she had a religious and bourgeoisie education thanks to the part played by her mother and her aunt, Princess Adélaïde of Orléans to whom she was very close. As a member of the reigning House of Bourbon she was entitled to the rank of a Princess of the Blood Royal.

On 9 August 1832 , the twenty year old Louise married King Leopold I of the Belgians, who was twenty two years her senior. Leopold had been widowed by his wife, Princess Charlotte of Wales after her death in childbirth in 1817. Since Leopold was a Protestant, they had both a Catholic and a Calvinist ceremony.

Louise and Leopold had four children, including Leopold II of Belgium and Empress Carlota of Mexico. Although never faithful to Louise, Leopold respected her and their relationship was a harmonious one.

Prince Louis Philippe, Crown Prince of Belgium (24 July 1833 – 16 May 1834) King Leopold II of the Belgians (9 April 1835 – 17 December 1909) Prince Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders (24 March 1837 – 17 November 1905) His son succeeded Leopold II as Albert I of Belgium; Princess Charlotte of Belgium, (7 June 1840 – 19 January 1927), consort of Emperor Maximilian I of Mexico. Louise was the 298th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa on 10 February 1835. A devoted wife and loving mother , she was of a very shy nature and was often only seen in public when her husband forced her. She soon proved to be very popular at the Belgian court with her famous generosity and beauty.

Queen Louise-Marie died of tuberculosis in the former Royal palace of Ostend on 11 October 1850. Her death was Confirmed in record by Charles Rogier. Her body was brought to Laeken, and a memorial was erected in Oostende. She is buried beside her husband in Royal Crypt of the Church of Our Lady of Laeken.