- Monday, the ex-king of the Belgians Albert II admitted to being the biological father of a girl born out of wedlock, in front of the evidence of a DNA test imposed by the justice.
- The sanctity of royalty is called into question by this denial of several years, when science has shown itself relentless to define the truth.
- Are DNA tests the guillotines of the 21st century, capable of bringing down kings and overthrowing regimes?
Can a DNA test bring down a monarchy? Between science and the crown, Belgium has decided: it will be science that will triumph. The ex-king of the Belgians Albert II admitted on Monday to being the biological father of a girl born out of wedlock almost half a century ago after a DNA test imposed by justice.
Delphine Boël, 41 years old and with royal blood in her veins, therefore won the case. Should the Belgian crown worry about it and snap their knees at the idea of seeing this somewhat unusual family member take power?
A solid policy, a shaken moral
From a purely political point of view, not too much to worry about for our monarchs. Anyone who has studied French history a bit, or watched Game of Thrones , knows that illegitimate children are an integral part of the history of monarchies. And it's been a long time since they have dictated specific laws to counter the desires of power of the brat born out of wedlock. Concretely, “there are rules written with an order of succession, specifies David Feutry, historian specialist in monarchies. Legitimate successors, in other words born in marriage, will always have priority. "
It is rather from a moral point of view that the problems arise. “The monarchy, and a fortiori the royal couple, appear as examples and models, notably family. People are sacred and cannot commit odds, ”notes the historian.
A well-managed situation
But the Belgians love the art of the opposite (and possession), this DNA test could be beneficial to the crown. Martine Dubuisson, deputy head of the political service of the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir and specialist in the monarchy of the flat country, explains: "What most degraded the image of the monarchy was the denial in which the ex-king Albert II. Everyone knew that it was his daughter, suddenly, the DNA test is not a revelation, but the end of an awkward silence. "
Above all, the Belgian monarchy negotiated the coup rather well. The legal case opened in 2013, after the abdication of King Albert II, and, since then, the members of the royal family have been careful not to comment or take a position on the thorny question. Finally, it is the only ex-king who took it for his rank. “When he left the throne, he was extremely popular, he was even a bit of the perfect king. Today, his reputation is severely damaged, ”says the deputy chief.
The unstoppable desacralization
If the worst has been avoided, and the situation has been brought under control, it would be better if such incidents did not happen again. "The monarchy is something totally anachronistic, we talk about parentage by blood, symbolic function ... The only way that it will be lasting is that it remains popular", continues Martine Dubuisson, for whom it would be fashionable not to pull the rope too much.
In any case, a monarchy tarnished by time, and more fragile at the slightest immoral jolt now that its sole function is above all symbolic and that it has great difficulty in keeping up with its times. While there was a time that those under the age of twenty could not know where the image of royal families was extremely rare and consisted of an almost event, today, "there is a wear of the overconsumed image and a peopolization of royalty ”, analyzes David Feutry. A sacred already gnawed well and which should be all the more wary of additional missteps.
And on the desacralization side, Belgium's decision has reached a new milestone. David Feutry: “A DNA test, and above all justice, forced a former king to go back on what he said. The sacred word has faded before the facts. If the sacred can no longer escape reality, it is no longer truly sacred.
World
Belgium: Former King Albert recognizes illegitimate daughter 50 years later
World
Belgium: Ex-King Albert II ends up accepting a paternity test
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