Astrid of Sweden, Astrid Sofia Lovisa Thyra (November
17, 1905 - August 29, 1935) was the Queen consort of King Leopold III of the Belgians. She was the third daughter
of Prince Carl, Duke of
Westrogothia, and his wife Princess Ingeborg
of Denmark.
She married Leopold on November 4, 1926, and became Queen of the Belgians when her father-in-law King Albert I died in 1934.
They had three children:
- Princess Joséphine-Charlotte, later
Grand Duchess of Luxembourg (1927-2005)
- King Baudouin of the Belgians (1930-1993)
- King Albert II of the Belgians (1934-)
Swedish Royalty was far less formal than those of middle Europe and at Stuyvenberg, not far away from the King's
Laeken Palace, Astrid tried to live as ordinary a life as possible, taking care of her children. Criticised by the elite for her
lack of protocol, but loved by the masses, she would often stroll along the Avenue Louise with her children. Her conduct, and her
tragic young death, made her the most popular Queen in the history of Belgium.
On August 29, 1935, while she and her
husband were driving along the winding, narrow roads near their villa at Küssnacht am Rigi, Schwyz, Switzerland on the shores of
Lake Lucerne, Leopold lost control of the vehicle and the car plunged down
a ravine, killing Queen Astrid.
She is interred in the royal vault at the Church of Our Lady in Laeken, Belgium.
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