Princess Delphine & Family, News & Events 2; 2023 -

[Linda_26]

Delphine's requests last year were indeed absurd and I was very critical of her letter to the Prime Minister (just see my previous posts in this thread). The problem there is that she clearly enjoys being at the centre of the attention, and doesn't seem to understand that she has, in many respects, a different position than her half-sibilings.
However, even at the time of this controversy, she attacked the government and those in charge of "royal protocol", but not specifically members of her family (see here). I can't comment on the comparison with Harry, as I don't follow the British Royal Family enough to have an opinion, but Delphine has always said, in several interviews since the end of the court case (2020), that she has a good relationship again with her father and at least some members of her family: while they don't see each other frequently, they get along well

As in this post I made a reference to "interviews" Delphine gave recently, I share here a rather long interview (I don't think it was posted before) of just a couple of weeks ago, to Paris Match Belgique:
La princesse Delphine se confie sur son art et sa relation avec son père : "Depuis 1999, j'ai pu évoluer à travers des situations difficiles"

Among other things, she presented her upcoming expo in Knokke, she talked about the controversy surrounding her letter to the Prime Minister (that's the part I'm most sceptical about-I guess we'll hear more about it), and about her relationship with her father.

 

[Hannelore]

As time goes by Laurent & Delphine's oddities are becoming noise in the background. Their problems obviously stemming from a very difficult childhood, parental neglect.
It's become clear to me how much the four royal "children" have taken their places in the limelight already. Last Sunday in Brussels, you could really feel the warmth of the public for the young generation. There's a great confidence in Elisabeth & Gabriel, with Emmanuel and Eléonore still being more unknown.

 

[sunflowers]

In this ‘family’ picture of Delphine & her family with the king, only her and partner appear happy. Albert just sits stiffly, with a serious face. Paola, well, I saw her smiling differently in the past, her eyes, IMO, are sad.

 

[leidi]

In this ‘family’ picture of Delphine & her family with the king, only her and partner appear happy. Albert just sits stiffly, with a serious face. Paola, well, I saw her smiling differently in the past, her eyes, IMO, are sad.

For some strange reason it seems like all four of Albert's children found loving, supportive partners who are quite family oriented and are as unproblematic as it goes.

And I say strange because it feels as if it is a huge stroke of luck that four kids who came up in very disfunctional situations all ended up finding out good people to marry and have kids with.

 

[Linda_26]

In this ‘family’ picture of Delphine & her family with the king, only her and partner appear happy. Albert just sits stiffly, with a serious face. Paola, well, I saw her smiling differently in the past, her eyes, IMO, are sad.

I don't think Paola's eyes are sad, but it's my impression, of course. In any case, she's not somebody who pretends to be happy just for the picture (quite the contrary), so I think that if she smiles, she's indeed at ease. The picture was taken at Belvédère, certainly on 9 June (see Paola's outfit, the same as for the elections): Delphine and her family were almost certainly there to wish Albert a happy birthday

 

[Lady Chiara]

For some strange reason it seems like all four of Albert's children found loving, supportive partners who are quite family oriented and are as unproblematic as it goes.

And I say strange because it feels as if it is a huge stroke of luck that four kids who came up in very disfunctional situations all ended up finding out good people to marry and have kids with.

I'm extremely glad they all seemed to have created for their children what they couldn't have for themselves

 

[Linda_26]

John Patrick O'Hare, Jim O'Hare's father and Princess Delphine's father-in-law, died aged 99 in Houston, Texas, on 12 August 2024. Born in 1925, during WW2 he joined the 30th Infantry division of the US Army, landed in Omaha Beach and took part in the six-day-long Battle of Mortain. He received many decorations for his actions during WW2.
He leaves his wife Gail, his four children (from his first marriage, which ended in divorce many years ago), seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren:

Obituary

HLN article

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Interesting that the first obituary, which reads as being written by the family, refers to Delphine as Jim's spouse. I wonder whether that is because Jim's family is not aware of his exact relationship status, or because Jim and Delphine do consider themselves spouses even though they have chosen not to legally marry (the Belgian press also seems to refer to him as her husband).

 

[Mbruno]

I don't think Paola's eyes are sad, but it's my impression, of course. In any case, she's not somebody who pretends to be happy just for the picture (quite the contrary), so I think that if she smiles, she's indeed at ease. The picture was taken at Belvédère, certainly on 9 June (see Paola's outfit, the same as for the elections): Delphine and her family were almost certainly there to wish Albert a happy birthday

Of course she is Italian, and Italians are not known for faking their feelings.

 

[Linda_26]

Interesting that the first obituary, which reads as being written by the family, refers to Delphine as Jim's spouse. I wonder whether that is because Jim's family is not aware of his exact relationship status, or because Jim and Delphine do consider themselves spouses even though they have chosen not to legally marry (the Belgian press also seems to refer to him as her husband).

Over the years, I've heard Delphine calling Jim both "her partner" and "her husband" in interviews, so they probably consider themselves spouses, even though they aren't legally married.
Also in an earlier obituary, from 2016, of another member of Jim's family (his stepfather, husband of his mother Clarice), Delphine is referred to as his "wife".

 

[Tatiana Maria]

Over the years, I've heard Delphine calling Jim both "her partner" and "her husband" in interviews, so they probably consider themselves spouses, even though they aren't legally married.
Also in an earlier obituary, from 2016, of another member of Jim's family (his stepfather, husband of his mother Clarice), Delphine is referred to as his "wife".

Thank you, Linda_26, you are always well informed.

I wonder why they have chosen not to be legally married (wasn't there an interview where Delphine addressed that?). It is not that they unequivocally need to, but given that they consider themselves spouses and are fine with others considering them spouses, there typically are practical advantages (e.g., regarding finances) to legalizing a marriage. And Delphine herself apparently considered legal relationships to be important when she pressed for a legal acknowledgement of paternity and legal titles even after Albert II's public acknowledgment of her as his daughter.

 

[Marengo]

If they are not married it is likely they have another legal arrangement, such as a registered partnership. Which in Belgium will not be all that different. It does not require an official ceremony and when dissolved the partners do not need to go to a judge. But other than that I don´t think there is much difference these days. Few long term partners with children will not have such a partnership, even though they are not married.

 

[iceflower]

Delphine has a new advertising partnership with Belgian makeup company Couleurs de Noir:

Couleurs de Noir | enriched makeup on Instagram: "We’re thrilled to welcome @delphine_de_saxe_cobourg to the @couleursdenoir community! Her vibrant spirit and commitment to self-expression perfectly align with our brand’s core values. Delphine beli

516 likes, 21 comments - couleursdenoir on September 16, 2024: "We’re thrilled to welcome @delphine_de_saxe_cobourg to the @couleursdenoir community! Her vibrant spirit and commitment to self-expression perfectly align with our brand’s core values. Delphine believes in the transformative power...

www.instagram.com

 

[leidi]

I think at this point, Jim is Delphine's spouse, whether they have made it legal or not, they are for all intents and purposes, life partners and have built a life together and I think their families consider them as such tbh.

 

[Adda]

Delphine will appear at 8:10pm on La Une (RTBF) talking about her love story with Jim O'Hare.