The Royal Palace has posted a photograph on social media of King Albert (90) and Queen Paola (86) sitting on the bench in the garden of their villa in the south of France. The photograph was posted to mark their 65th wedding anniversary that they celebrated on Tuesday.
King Albert and Queen Paola celebrate their blue sapphire anniversary (65 years married) in garden of their French villa Le Romarin
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King Albert and Queen Paola’s villa Le Romarin has views over Cannes Bay. The southern French town of Cannes is best known for its international film festival. Last weekend King Albert and Queen Paola held a party for their family to celebrate their blue sapphire anniversary.
Unlike in 2019 (photo below) when the couple celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary, no family photograph was released of last weekend’s celebrations. The palace said that "It’s a private affair”.
Brought together by art
King Albert met Queen Paola in Rome at a reception given by the then Belgian ambassador. The ambassador was a collector of Flemish Primitive paintings and had a work by the Flemish Primitive artist Dirk Bouts in his collection.
While he was admiring the painting the then Prince Albert saw what he described as “a beautiful apparition” enter the room. This was the woman that would later become his wife.
Paola herself was not so impressed that evening. In an interview with commercial television she said he main concern that night was to go to bed early. However, protocol requires guests to stay at an event until a prince (or other royals) have left). Sadly for her Prince Albert stuck around, rulling out and early night.
Once back in Belgium, Prince Albert sent Paola a postcard and dates followed.
Then the time came for the then young prince to attempt take things to the next level. Prince Albert was very unsure of what the reaction would be.
"I rented a little Italian car. A sky-blue Alfa Romeo. She got behind the wheel. I sat next to her and started explaining that I liked her. And if she agreed, maybe we could go a bit further. She had her 2 hands on the wheel, so she had no choice but to drive on," King jokes.
Paola didn't not say yes, she didn't say no either. She just asked for time for them to get to know each other. This they did by amongst other things staying with Paola's sister in Florence