NEW KING OF THE BELGIANS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXII, Issue 9624, 15 March 1910, Page 3

NEW KING OF THE BELGIANS.

King Albert 1., who succeeds King Leopold 11. ou the Belgian throne, liaa loug beeu considered as the dearest hope of the Belgian niouarchj. Ho was boru at Brussels ou April Bth, 1875. His father was the Count of Flanders, brother of the lato Kiug, nuri his mother, tho Countess of Flaudcrs, is a Hohtuiznileru Princess. Ho married, in 15)00, Princess Elizabeth of Bavaria, and there are throe children, the eldest son and Heir-Apparent being in his eighth year. The now King is very popular. * Many pleasing stories arc related of his private life, in which there is nothing* bnfc plain domestic happiness*. He lives in a munificent mausiou iv the Quartier Leopold, and it has always been his wish to live as eimply and as quietly as possible. King Albert underwent his first training at the Military School at Brussels. Ho was a remarkably clever and patieut student, aud his sivnplo derueauour procured him many friends there. Whou lie had fiuished hie studties, he invited all his comrades to a privato dinner, in tho course of which lie delivered a speech which again won him many hearts. A few days later, cluriug some riots in Brussels, the Board of the Military Sclioul had ordered the officers to hold themselves iv readiness in the precincts of the school. Prince Albert went to the school and obeyed the order, like all the other officers. Ho entered the regular army iv 18'.)2, as sub-lieuteuaut of the Brussels Grenadiers. Tho lato King introduced nis nephew to the whole regiment, and on this occasion his late Majesty delivered a remarkable speech on the duties of an HeirApparent to the Throne:—"! think that we Kings aud Princes must be the first to do our duty; that is why I bring you my nephew." For four years now King Albert has been General in the tfelgiau Army, and a great officer of tho National Order of Leopold. The new Sovereign has always shown himself very much interested iv every problem regarding the economic expansion of Belgium. Above all else, the new Belgian ruler is a studious man. He has travelled much in every country of Europe, aud on his majority lie" made a long trip to the United States. Everywhere he did nothing but study the various economic problems of'the hour. He has often given public lectures in Brussels ou various subjects, aud iv every one he has sliowu a well-balanced judgment ou what he has seen. His Majesty takes great interest in sport. Every year lie travels with his consort to Switzerland, and there does a good deal of climbing. He does plenty of motoring, aud not loug ago he made a flight in a steerable balloon over Auftworo.