A love child of the former King of Belgium will be able to take up her royal title after winning a seven-year legal battle to prove her paternity.
Delphine Boël, the previously unrecognised daughter of King Albert II of Belgium, will be awarded the title of Princess of Belgium, and be addressed as “her royal highness”.
The 52-year-old will also take up the former monarch’s surname, and be known as Delphine Saxe-Cobourg.
The title was bestowed after a Brussels appeal court endorsed the results of a DNA test this week.
Ms Boël had claimed for decades that King Albert was her father. But the royal, now 86, only finally agreed to a DNA test after a court threatened to fine him £4,370 for every day he refused, and after a series of failed appeals.
The new princess’ lawyer, Marc Uyttendaele, told The Telegraph: “The court affirms that King Albert II is her father.
“Her other requests that she be treated on the same footing as her brothers and sister were also granted."
He added: "A judicial victory will never replace a father's love, but it does offer a sense of justice."
The ruling will also see the new royal entitled to a share of the former monarch’s large estate after his death, while her two children, Joséphine and Oscar, will also inherit the titles of princess and prince.
She will not receive funds from the Belgian state, however.
The former monarch, who has abdicated, was ordered to pay £8,250 in court costs.
