Fabiola of Belgium

Palacio de Zurbano 01

Luncheon honoring King Baudouin I and Queen Fabiola of Belgium - NARA - 194630

Bundesarchiv B 145 Bild-F033774-0003A, München, Staatsbesuch König von Belgien

Reine Fabiola & Chev. Jacques Beruck

Solemn Funeral 2014 56

Royal Monogram of Queen Fabiola of Belgium

Fabiola of Belgium (11 June 1928 – 5 December 2014) was Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Baudouin of Belgium. She was born Doña Fabiola Fernanda María-de-las-Victorias Antonia Adelaida de Mora y Aragón in Madrid, Spain, to an aristocratic Spanish family.

Early Life[edit | edit source]

Fabiola was the sixth of seven children born to Gonzalo de Mora y Fernández, Riera y del Olmo, 4th Marqués de Casa Riera, and his wife, Blanca de Aragón y Carrillo de Albornoz, Barroeta-Aldamar y Elío. She was educated in Spain and became a nurse, working in a hospital in Madrid.

Marriage to King Baudouin[edit | edit source]

Fabiola married King Baudouin of Belgium on 15 December 1960 at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels. The marriage was a significant event in Belgium, and Fabiola quickly became a beloved figure in the country. Despite their strong marriage, the couple had no children, as Fabiola suffered five miscarriages.

Role as Queen[edit | edit source]

As Queen, Fabiola was known for her charitable work and her support of various social causes. She was particularly involved in issues related to health care, women's rights, and the welfare of children. Fabiola was also a devout Roman Catholic and was known for her deep faith.

Later Life and Death[edit | edit source]

After the death of King Baudouin in 1993, Fabiola withdrew from public life but continued her charitable work. She lived in the Stuyvenberg Castle in Laeken, Brussels, until her death on 5 December 2014.

Legacy[edit | edit source]

Queen Fabiola is remembered for her compassion, dedication to social causes, and her role in modernizing the Belgian monarchy. Her legacy continues through the various foundations and charities she supported during her lifetime.