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The love child of former King Albert II of Belgium wore a statement outfit earlier this month when she attended celebrations for her country’s National Day.
Princess Delphine wore a dazzling pink and red suit emblazoned with the word ‘love’ across the back, three years after she was officially named as the former monarch’s daughter.
The 55-year-old artist, formerly known as Delphine Boël, is thought to be the result of an 18-year affair between Albert, now 90, and Belgian aristocrat Sybille de Selys Longchamps, 82, that began in the 1960s.
But Princess Delphine is by no means the only living royal love child.
As we outline below, Captain Mark Phillips fathered a child with a New Zealand art teacher while still married to Princess Anne.
And Prince Albert of Monaco fathered three children before he married Princess Charlene in 2011.
Princess Delphine of Belgium
Princess Delphine, 55, love child of former King Albert II of Belgium wore a statement outfit earlier this month when she attended National Day celebrations
Princess Delphine wore a dazzling pink and red suit emblazoned with the word ‘love’ across the back, three years after she was officially named as the former monarch’s daughter
The former King Albert II of Belgium, who abdicated in 2013 after 20 years on the throne, had been been in regular contact with Delphine throughout her childhood, but began to distance himself when she turned 16.
She only found out that he was actually her father a year later, at the age of 17.
The princes had previously assumed her mother’s husband, Jonkheer Jacques Boël, was her father.
After her successful legal case in 2020, Delphine now has the right to bear the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family.
She has since met her half-siblings, King Philippe, Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent.
Speaking to Tatler last year, Delphine said her father’s rejection when she was young still hurts, but added she doesn’t blame him and holds no ill-will towards him.
She argued that royal life is ‘isolating’ and believed her father had been badly advised at the time. However, she said: ‘You don’t just have a child and kick it.’
Formerly known as Delphine Boël, the artist is pictured (middle) with her half brother (front right) King Philippe of Belgium
Captain Mark Phillips and his daughter
Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips are known for having a close bond, but the pair have a half-sibling who they have reportedly never met.
Princess Anne’s former husband, Captain Mark Phillips, has a less-known daughter – Felicity Tonkin, 38.
She was allegedly conceived after Phillips had a one-night stand with New Zealand art teacher Heather Tonkin in 1984 – while still married to the Princess Royal.
When she fell pregnant, Mark allegedly told her to have an abortion, but Heather kept the baby, and she was told her father was dead.
Princess Anne’s former husband, Captain Mark Phillips, has another daughter – 38-year-old Felicity Tonkin, pictured
It was only when Felicity was eight, and conducting a school project on her family history, that her mother told her the truth.
She showed her a biography of Phillips written by newsreader Angela Rippon.
Phillips paid Heather £6,000 a year – described as ‘equestrian consultancy’ on his accounts – until Felicity was of school age, when the payments reportedly became erratic.
This prompted Heather to engage lawyers, and finally, to speak out in public.
In 1991 a DNA test proved that the former British Army captain was Felicity’s father and a led to a reported settlement of £350,000.
Felicity, who like Zara has a love for horses, is now a specialist equine vet. She is married to accomplished polo player Tristan Wade.
Captain Mark Phillips pictured with Princess Anne on the Buckingham Palace balcony on their wedding day in 1973
It was only when she was completing a school project that Felicity Tonkin learned her father is Captain Mark Phillips. Above: Felicity on her 18th birthday in 2003
Monaco love children
Prince Albert of Monaco has 9-year-old twins Princess Gabriella and Prince Jacques with his wife of 17 years, former Olympian Princess Charlene.
But the 66-year-old prince’s past dalliances have resulted in two other children – who it’s believed he didn’t formally acknowledge until after DNA tests had been completed.
Alexandre Grimaldi, 20, was born in 2003 following his mother’s, Nicole Coste, relationship with Prince Albert, two years before he went on to date Charlene.
The flight attendant turned fashion designer had been with Albert for five years and had even made public appearances with her royal love.
However, Alexandre was only publicly recognised in May 2005 when Nicole revealed in a tell-all interview to Paris Match that her son was Albert’s.
She also said he had been actively involved in his son’s life from the start.
Prince Albert of Monaco (right) with Nicole Coste (left) and son Alexandre Grimaldi
Alexandre Grimaldi, was born in 2003 following his mother’s, Nicole Coste (left), relationship with Prince Albert, two years before he went on to date Charlene
The following year, the monarch had another love child crop up – Jazmin Grace Grimaldi, who was born in 1992.
She was confirmed to be the daughter of Albert in May 2006 following a DNA test and is the result of a holiday affair with her American estate agent mother, Tamara Rotolo.
Jazmin, 32, only met her father when she was 11 years old after her mother took her to California.
Talking about meeting her father for the first time, Jazmin said back in 2015: ‘I wanted that moment to connect with my father, to get to know him, and to have him get to know me.’
‘Not having had that figure around, I missed that. It’s wonderful that it happened when it did, and we’ve been enjoying a great relationship ever since.’
Albert pictured with his other love child, Jazmin Grace Grimaldi (left) in 2018
The Monaco prince pictured with his two other children, Jazmin and Alexandre
A secret Spanish daughter
Former Spanish King Juan Carlos, 86, allegedly has a secret daughter called Alejandra.
According to a book written by two investigative journalists that was published last year, she was born either at the end of the 1970s or start of the 1980s.
She is said to be married with a child and has never talked up her royal credentials despite learning the truth about her real father years ago, the book claims.
Former King Juan Carlos pictured with his son King Felipe VI of Spain, who Juan allegedly had to try and ensure did not ‘fall in love’ with his secret daughter
Juan Carlos is rumoured to have tried to ensure his eldest child Filipe, the current King of Spain, did not ‘fall in love’ with his secret daughter without knowing they were related when they were younger.
He then allegedly told Palace officials after the two became adults.
Her existence is said to be confirmed by an ex-lover of the former King, a long-standing friend and one of her ex-boyfriends.
However, Juan Carlos has denied claims that he is Alejandra’s father.
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