Sixty years ago today, on 2 July 1959, the Prince of Liège and Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria were married at the Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudula in Brussels. The groom Albert was the son of King Léopold III of the Belgians and the late Queen Astrid (née Sweden). The bride was the daughter of Princess Luisa Ruffo di Calabria (née Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana) and the late Prince Fulco Ruffo di Calabria. Albert and Paola eventually had three children: Philippe, Astrid, and Laurent. Albert II succeeded as King of the Belgians after the death of his older brother Baudouin in 1993. In 2013, King Albert II abdicated in favour of his son Philippe.
