Marriage(s) and Relationships: Married to: Claire Coombs 12 APR 2003
Child:Princess of Belgium Louise Child:Nicolas Casimir Marie Prince of Belgium Child:Prince of BelgienAymeric, Auguste, MarieNotes: Source: Brian Tompsett.
Prince Laurent was born on October 19, 1963 and is the youngest son of
King Albert II and Queen Paola.
After lower secondary education at the Pius X-college in Antwerp, he
began his military training in 1980 at the Royal Cadet High School in
Laeken. Three years later he enrolled at the Royal Military Academy in
Brussels for further education as a naval midshipman. He left the Royal
Military Academy in 1985 with the rank of Ensign and started, like his
father, who is also a naval officer, his naval training on board several
ships of the Belgian Navy, where he trained as a diver and helicopter
pilot. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant in September 1989 and
completed his training as helicopter pilot, eventually receiving his
"wings" from the late King Baudouin. He also qualified as combat diver
and received the insignia from his father. Prince Laurent is now a
Commander in the Belgian Navy.
After his naval training in Belgium, Prince Laurent began a long period
of higher education in the United States. He began at an American
university, then did a year of practical training in the "Environment"
department of a large international consultancy firm, as well as at the
International Monetary Fund, the United Nations Development Programme and
the United Nations Environment Programme.
Prince Laurent's current activities are mainly focused on the environment
and the animal welfare. In 1994, in conjunction with the three Ministers
in charge of environmental matters of the different Belgian Regions, he
established the Royal Institute for the Sustainable Management of Natural
Resources and the Promotion of Clean Technologies and became its
President. This Institute aims at finding original, constructive and
harmonious solutions for the complex problems of the environment.
He is also President of the Prince Laurent Foundation for the Welfare of
Domestic and Wild Animals, created in 1995 to improve relations between
mankind and animals in general.
He is also President of the Euphonia Music Foundation for the promotion
of young talented musicians, Honorary President of the National Orchestra
of Belgium and President of its Management Committee.
December 20, 2002 : This morning the Royal Palace announced the official
engagement of Prince Laurent & Claire Coombs (b. 1974). The wedding will
take place on April 12, 2003. Miss Coombs is the daughter of Nicholas
Coombs and Nicole Mertens.
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