Word: baudouin
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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Belgium's young King Baudouin was wearily sitting it out while post-office officials debated whether the first issue of Belgian postage stamps to picture him should show him with or without his heavy horn-rimmed glasses...
Belgium's constitution is hard on the King's ministers. It specifically states that the ministers shall be held wholly responsible for the King's actions, good or bad. Two weeks ago, 21-year-old King Baudouin announced that he would snub the funeral of Britain's King George VI, and would send his younger brother, Prince Albert, to London in his stead. Why? Well, Baudouin is his father's son, and his memory still smarts at the British attitude towards his father Leopold over Belgium's surrender to Germany...
...Belgians are independent cusses. At Baudouin's announcement, there were angry protests. After all, Belgium had been born with Britain's help, and with Britain's help twice liberated from the Germans. Besides, said Belgians, Baudouin was just being rude. Premier Jean van Houtte's government suppressed the announcement of the King's refusal while it tried to talk...
Next day, Belgium's real King, Baudouin I, 21, asked that no charges be brought against the pranksters. Said the young pretender (who looks strikingly like Baudouin): "I have lived the most wonderful half hour of my life...
...Swedish Red Cross (1903-45), brother of Sweden's late King Gustaf V, uncle of King Gustaf VI, father of Norway's Princess Martha and of Belgium's late Queen Astrid (who died in an automobile smashup in 1935), grandfather of Belgium's King Baudouin; of a heart attack; in Stockholm...