Widowhood
Baudouin died in 1993 and was succeeded by his younger brother, the Prince of Liège who became Albert II, King of the Belgians. Queen Fabiola moved out of the Royal Palace of Laeken to the more modest Stuyvenbergh Castle and reduced her public appearances in order not to overshadow her sister-in-law, Queen Paola.
Admired for her devout Roman Catholicism and involvement in social causes particularly those related to mental health, children's issues and women's issues in the Third World, Queen Fabiola is a recipient of the 2001 Ceres Medal, in recognition of her work to promote rural women in developing countries. The medal was given by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). She's also honorary president of King Baudouin Foundation.
Guido Derom, an explorer, named a newly-discovered range of Antarctic mountains in her honour in 1961. She also has several varieties of ornamental plants named after her.
Queen Fabiola was hospitalized with pneumonia on 16 January 2009, and spent 15 days there, with her condition being described as "serious". She subsequently made a good recovery and was attending public functions by the following May. In October 2012, Her Majesty appeared at some of the events for the wedding of her great-nephew, the Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg in a wheelchair
Read more about this topic: Queen Fabiola Of Belgium
Famous quotes containing the word widowhood:
“The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife’s spirits.”
—John Gay (1685–1732)
“The comfortable estate of widowhood is the only hope that keeps up a wife’s spirits.”
—John Gay (1685–1732)
“Let me approach at least, and touch thy hand.
[Samson:] Not for thy life, lest fierce remembrance wake
My sudden rage to tear thee joint by joint.
At distance I forgive thee, go with that;
Bewail thy falsehood, and the pious works
It hath brought forth to make thee memorable
Among illustrious women, faithful wives:
Cherish thy hast’n’d widowhood with the gold
Of Matrimonial treason: so farewel.”
—John Milton (1608–1674)