Beautiful pictures of the couple! I love the way they look at each other in the first one.
Here's the nice interview to Wim Dehandschutter, published today (archived
here):
EXCLUSIEF. “Na 40 jaar doe je me nog steeds blozen”: thuis bij prinses Astrid en prins Lorenz, nog even verliefd als op hun huwelijk
Astrid about Lorenz: "My husband has many qualities. He's intellgent, sensitive, he's really unique. And he has a great sense of humour, just like my father. I felt honoured that he was interested in me when we first met". Lorenz: "After 40 years, you still make me blush!"
They recall their wedding day, 22 September 1984, which was "marvelous", even if there were a few obstacles along the way. Astrid: "My beloved uncle King Baudouin had mumps that day, but he came anyway. And my dear father had a nasty fall from his motorbike just days before our wedding. It was terrible, he was really suffering as he had several fractures. He had his arm in a sling when he walked me down the aisle".
They then talk about their children and grandchildren. Astrid always wanted a large family and already at around 10 years old she knew she wanted five children. She says that the one who takes most after her in character is the youngest, Laetitia, who is "sensitive and perfectionist as I am".
Their grandchildren are lively and curious, and they call their grandparents
Nonno and
Ninou. Lorenz is called Nonno as a reference to the children's Italian origins, while Astrid explains that her nickname Ninou is a nod to both her parents. "My children called my mother Paola-their grandmother-
Nouni when they were little, and it was also the name used by my father for his own maternal grandmother (Princess Ingeborg, Queen Astid's mother), so I just changed the syllables and I became Ninou".
They have already celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, with a holiday to Sicily which was a gift from their children. "We couldn't have asked for a better wedding anniversary", they say.