View source for Prince Charles, Count of Flanders

{{Short description|Regent of Belgium from 1944 to 1950}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox royalty
| name        = Prince Charles
| caption     = The Count of Flanders {{c.}} 1944
| title       = [[Count of Flanders]]
| succession  = [[Regent|Regent of Belgium]]
| reign       = 20 September 1944 – 20 July 1950
| reign-type  = Regency
| reg-type    = [[List of Belgian monarchs|Monarch]]
| regent      = [[Leopold III of Belgium|Leopold III]]
| full name   = {{langx|fr|Charles Théodore Henri Antoine Meinrad}}<br />{{langx|nl|Karel Theodoor Hendrik Anton Meinrad}}
| image       = Karel van België Charles de Belgique Karl von Belgien.jpg
| image_size  = 230px 
| spouse      = {{marriage|Jacqueline Peyrebrune|14 September 1977}}
| issue       = Isabelle Wybo
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1903|10|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Brussels]], Belgium
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|1983|6|1|1903|10|10|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Raversijde]], Belgium
| burial_place= [[Church of Our Lady of Laeken]]
| signature   = Signature of Prince Charles, Count of Flanders.svg
| house       = [[House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha|Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]] (until 1920)<br />[[House of Belgium]] (1920 onwards)
| father      = [[Albert I of Belgium]]
| mother      = [[Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium|Elisabeth of Bavaria]]}}
'''Prince Charles, Count of Flanders''' ({{Langx|nl|Karel}}, {{Langx|de|Karl}}; 10 October 1903 &ndash; 1 June 1983) was a member of the [[Belgian royal family]] who served as [[regent]] of Belgium from 1944 until 1950, while a judicial commission investigated his elder brother, King [[Leopold III of Belgium]], as to whether he betrayed the [[Allies of World War II]] by an allegedly [[Battle of Belgium|premature surrender in 1940]] and collaboration with the Nazis during the occupation of Belgium. Charles' regency ended when Leopold was allowed to return to Belgium. Shortly after returning and resuming his monarchical duties, Leopold [[abdicated]] in favour of his son, [[Baudouin of Belgium|Baudouin]].

During the [[Second World War]] Charles was known as General du Boc, in order to hide his identity for security reasons. He had an association with [[RAF Hullavington]] in [[Wiltshire]], where many top officers from Allied nations were based or transported to and from.<ref>Raymond Welcomme ''Personal Memories of Two World Wars'' (January 1987)</ref>

==Early life==
Born in [[Brussels]], Charles was the second son of King [[Albert I of Belgium]] and [[Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium|Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria]]. During [[World War I]], the children of the Belgian royal family were sent to the  [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] while King Albert I remained in Belgium behind the [[Yser Front]]. In 1915 Prince Charles began attending [[Wixenford School]] in [[Wokingham, Berkshire]], and in 1917 proceeded to the [[Royal Naval College, Osborne]], and two years later to [[Britannia Royal Naval College|Dartmouth]]. In 1926 he received the honorary rank of sub-lieutenant in the British [[Royal Navy]],<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33154|page=2778|date=23 April 1926}}</ref> with promotion to honorary lieutenant the following year.<ref>{{London Gazette|nolink=y|issue=33262|page=2125|date=1 April 1927}}</ref> Later in 1926 he returned to Belgium and began attending the Royal Military School of Brussels.

==Regency==
Prince Charles was appointed [[Regent]] of Belgium when the [[Nazi Germany|German]] occupation of his country ended in 1944. The role of his elder brother King Leopold III during the [[Second World War]], as well as Leopold's marriage to [[Mary Lilian Baels]], was questioned and he [[Royal Question|became a controversial monarch]].

Charles's regency was dominated by the events resulting from the German occupation and the controversies around his brother Leopold. This period had an important impact on events in later decades. During his regency, important economic and political decisions were taken.

Belgium managed to jump-start its national economy with the aid of American assistance provided under the [[Marshall Plan]]. The building sector was stimulated by government grants to repair war-damaged buildings and to build social housing. The financial sector was sanitized through the "Operation Gutt" (after its architect, [[Camille Gutt]]), whereby illegally gained profits during the war were targeted. A social welfare system was introduced and a system was set up to govern labour relations.

Furthermore, [[Women's suffrage|women obtained the right to vote]] in parliamentary elections in 1948.

Also during his regency the [[Benelux]] customs union was formed, Belgium became a [[Member states of the United Nations|member state of the United Nations]], and the [[North Atlantic Treaty]] was signed.

In 1950, Charles's regency ended when Leopold III returned to Belgium and resumed his monarchical duties, following a [[1950 Belgian monarchy referendum|plebiscite]]. Charles retired from public life, taking up residence in [[Ostend]] and becoming involved in artistic pursuits. Having taken up painting, he signed his works: "Karel van Vlaanderen" (Charles of [[Flanders]]).

He was the 377th knight [[Grand Cross]] of the [[Order of the Tower and Sword]].

Charles had a natural daughter, Isabelle Wybo, born in 1938 as the result of a relationship with [[Jacqueline Wehrli]], the daughter of a Brussels baker. Her existence was largely unknown until a biography of the prince was published in 2003. Wybo made an official appearance with her first cousin-once removed, [[Prince Laurent of Belgium|Prince Laurent]] in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20121005_00324598|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008052129/http://www.nieuwsblad.be/article/detail.aspx?articleid=DMF20121005_00324598|url-status=dead|title=article, niewablad.be|archive-date=8 October 2012}}</ref>

He died on 1 June 1983 in Ostend, predeceasing his elder brother by a few months, and was buried at the [[Church of Our Lady of Laeken]] in Brussels.

In his will he left the Empress Josephine's diamond tiara to his sister, [[Marie Jose of Belgium|Marie-José]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Magnificent antique diamond tiara|url=http://www.christies.com/lotfinder/jewelry/a-magnificent-antique-diamond-tiara-by-4928143-details.aspx?pos=40&intObjectID=4928143&sid=|publisher=Christies}}</ref>

==Alleged marriage==
It was reported that Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, married Louise Marie [[Jacqueline Peyrebrune]] (16 February 1921, in [[La Réole]] &ndash; 15 September 2014, in [[Saint-Hilaire-de-la-Noaille]]), formerly Mrs. Georges Schaack, daughter of Alfred Peyrebrune and Marie Madeleine Triaut, in a religious ceremony in [[Paris]] on 14 September 1977. This marriage has been mentioned in every edition of the revived ''[[Almanach de Gotha#London publication, since 1998|Almanach de Gotha]]''. However ''[[:fr:L'Allemagne dynastique|L'Allemagne Dynastique]]'' doubts this assertion, affirming instead that not only was there no civil marriage but that there was also no religious one (which could not take place before a civil marriage, according to French law).<ref>''L'Allemagne Dynastique'', volume VII, p. 385</ref> No such religious marriage is registered in the [[parish register]]s of [[Saint-Pierre-de-Montrouge]], but a mere private blessing eight months after the death of her husband given by Father Marcelino Carrera was registered: "''The private blessing uniting before God Charles Theodore Count of Flanders and Louise Marie Jacqueline Peyrebrune was given at Saint Peter's at the altar of the Sacred Heart on 14 September 1977. The mutual consent was received by your humble brother in Christ (Fr. Carrera) in the presence of Father Keller and witnesses (Comtesse Annie de Bergeret and Mme. Marie Jeannette Aurelie Menahes). The statement is also signed by the participants and witnesses.''" This was confirmed by private correspondence of Jacqueline Peyrebrune.{{citation needed|date=June 2020}} She published her memoirs in two books: ''Love in Shadow - The Secret Garden of Prince Charles of Belgium'' (Editions Tarmeye, 1991) and ''Carnets Intimes'' (Editions Tarmeye, 1993).

== Honours ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Country
!Appointment
!Ribbon
!Post Nominal Titles
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{flag|Belgium}}
|Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Z |url=http://www.ars-moriendi.be/LEOPOLD_3.HTM |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523092715/http://www.ars-moriendi.be/LEOPOLD_3.HTM |archive-date=23 May 2021 |access-date=12 November 2016 |website=www.ars-moriendi.be}}</ref>
|[[File:BEL - Order of Leopold - Grand Cordon bar.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|Grand Cross of the [[Order of the African Star]]
|[[File:BEL Order of the African Star - Grand Cross BAR.png|98x98px]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Republic of China}}
|Grand Cordon of the [[Order of the Cloud and Banner]]
|[[File:Order of Resplendent Banner with Grand Cordon ribbon.png|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{Flagcountry|French Third Republic}}
|Grand Cross of the [[Legion of Honour|National Order of the Legion of Honour]]
|[[File:Legion Honneur GC ribbon-1.jpg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Greece|royal}}
|Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Redeemer]]
|[[File:GRE Order Redeemer 1Class.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{Flag|Holy See}}
|Knight Grand Cross in the [[Order of the Holy Sepulchre (Catholic)|Order of the Holy Sepulchre]]
|[[File:OESSG Cavaliere di Gran Croce BAR.jpg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Kingdom of Italy|name=Italy}}
|Knight of the [[Supreme Order of the Most Holy Annunciation]]
|[[File:Order of the Most Holy Annunciation BAR.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{flag|Luxembourg}}
|Knight of the [[Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau]]
|[[File:Order of the Golden Lion of Nassau Ribbon bar.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{Flag|Netherlands}}
|Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
|[[File:Order of the Netherlands Lion ribbon - Knight Grand Cross.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{Flag|Norway}}
|Grand Cross of the [[Order of Saint Olav]]
|[[File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg|94x94px]]
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |{{Flag|Portugal}}
|Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Tower and Sword|Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword]]
|[[File:PRT Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword - Grand Cross BAR.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|Grand Cross of the [[Order of Christ (Portugal)|Military Order of Christ]]
|[[File:PRT Order of Christ - Grand Cross BAR.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{Flag|Kingdom of Romania|name=Romania}}
|Grand Cross of the [[Order of Carol I]]
|[[File:OrderofCarolI.ribbon.gif|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{Flag|Sovereign Military Order of Malta}}
|Grand Cross of the [[Order pro merito melitensi]]
|[[File:MelitensiCivili.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{Flag|Spain}}
|Collar of the [[Order of Charles III]]
|[[File:Order of Charles III - Sash of Collar.svg|100x100px]]
|
|-
|{{Flag|Sweden}}
|Knight of the [[Royal Order of the Seraphim]]
|[[File:Order of the Seraphim - Ribbon bar.svg|100x100px]]
|RSerafO
|-
|{{flag|United Kingdom}}
|Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the [[Royal Victorian Order]]
|[[File:UK Royal Victorian Order honorary member ribbon.svg|100x100px]]
|GCVO
|-
|{{Flag|United States}}
|Chief Commander of the [[Legion of Merit]]
|[[File:US Legion of Merit Chief Commander ribbon.png|100x100px]]
|
|}

==Ancestry==
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center
|boxstyle_1= background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2= background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3= background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4= background-color: #bfc;
|1= 1. '''Prince Charles, Count of Flanders'''
|2= 2. [[Albert I of Belgium]]
|3= 3. [[Elisabeth of Bavaria, Queen of Belgium|Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria]]
|4= 4. [[Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders]]
|5= 5. [[Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen]]
|6= 6. [[Duke Karl Theodor in Bavaria]]
|7= 7. [[Infanta Maria José of Portugal]]
|8= 8. [[Leopold I of Belgium]]
|9= 9. [[Louise of Orléans|Princess Louise of Orléans]]
|10= 10. [[Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern (died 1885)|Karl Anton, Prince of Hohenzollern]]
|11= 11. [[Princess Josephine of Baden]]
|12= 12. [[Duke Maximilian Joseph in Bavaria]]
|13= 13. [[Princess Ludovika of Bavaria]]
|14= 14. [[Miguel I of Portugal]]
|15= 15. [[Adelaide of Löwenstein|Princess Adelaide of Löwenstein]] <!-- in full Löwenstein-Wertheim-Rosenberg -->
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commonscatinline}}
* [https://www.monarchie.be/en/royal-family/history/prince-regent-charles Official biography from the Belgian Royal Family website]

{{S-start}}
{{S-hou|[[House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha]]|10 October|1903|1 June|1983|[[House of Wettin]]}}
{{S-roy|be}}
{{S-break}}
{{S-vac|last   = [[Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders|Philippe of Belgium]]}}
{{S-ttl|title  = [[Count of Flanders]]|years=31 January 1910 – 1 June 1983}}
{{S-vac}}
{{S-end}}

{{Belgian monarchs}}
{{Belgian royal princes}}
{{Princes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Charles Of Flanders, Count, Prince}}
[[Category:1903 births]]
[[Category:1983 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Belgian painters]]
[[Category:20th-century regents]]
[[Category:20th-century counts of Flanders]]
[[Category:Nobility from Brussels]]
[[Category:Regents of Belgium]]
[[Category:House of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Belgium)]]
[[Category:House of Belgium]]
[[Category:Princes of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha]]
[[Category:People educated at Wixenford School]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich]]
[[Category:Burials at the Church of Our Lady of Laeken]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
[[Category:Grand Crosses of the Order of Christ (Portugal)]]
[[Category:Honorary Knights Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order]]
[[Category:Knights of Malta]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre]]
[[Category:Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour]]
[[Category:Sons of kings]]