The Princess in the Asylum: Louise of Belgium

A story of love, hate, betrayal, and one of the world’s largest inheritances.

Princess Louise of Belgium was the eldest daughter of King Leopold II and Queen Marie Henriette. Her disastrous marriage to Prince Philipp of Saxe-Coburg und Gotha took her from being a sheltered sixteen-year-old child to a Real Housewife of Imperial Vienna. Her adventures as she searched for love and happiness made her world-famous...or maybe I should say "infamous." Those adventures took her from a palace to an asylum, and from the south of France to a simple inn in Poland. This is a riches-to-rags story that left Louise without the money to bury her one true love. I hope you enjoy meeting her. Whether you think she was her own worst enemy or the victim of a misogynist culture, you're absolutely right. ;)

I have no idea why this story isn't a movie yet. History is so awesome.

#history #womeninhistory #royalty

Sources
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Aronson, Theo. The Coburgs of Belgium. London: Cassel and Company, 1968.

Defrance, Olivier. Louise de Saxe-Cobourg: Amours, argent, proces. Brussels: Editions Racine, 2001.

Hochschild, Adam. King Leopold’s Ghost. New York: Mariner Books, 2020.

Newspapers: The New York Times, Yorkshire Evening Press, Honolulu Independent

ABOUT THE GIRL IN THE TIARA
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I tell stories about tiaras and the fascinating royal women who wore them. Join me as I follow these tiaras across generations and countries, through wars and revolutions and—sometimes—into darkness and disappearance and destruction.

This isn't the kind of history your professor lectured about. Instead, think of this as conversational history, like a mash-up of Drunk History and The Crown. Yes, there's a little swearing. There's also humor and heart and a boatload of compassion for these amazing royal women.

ABOUT ME
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I never intended to start a channel or a website about tiaras and royal history. But a midlife crisis forced me to re-examine my life. I gave up fiction writing after self-publishing 9 of the 10 books I'd written and earning next to nothing.

Instead of the misery of marketing books, I turned to my first love...royal history. So here I am, a 40-something burnout, trying to start over by recapturing her love of history, royal women, and their jewels.

FIND ME ONLINE
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[karenblack]

Louise's life should DEFINITELY become a NetFlix series! Unbelievable. Another great story! Brava

[silverstuff]

This needs to be a movie. I'm surprised it hasn't been done. The romance of the century.

[ruthlynnmitchell]

This was very interesting, but a truly sad story. The poor woman didn't stand a chance. A perfect example of how life can be extremely cruel, no matter who you are and what your standing is.

[saibliss]

She was ahead of her time and abused for it. What person wouldn't feel controlled in a situation like that. Nicely done video 👌

[gentillydanny]

Poor Louise. Her mother, who she loved, apparently never went to see her in the asylum.
An excellent biography. I enjoyed it and I've subscribed.

[alicejackson]

The narrator has a beautiful voice and tells the story so well. (Well, I think so!)

[Belgisch_Monarchist]

I find it stupid that in belgium we never learn about our royal family asspecialy people like princess louise great vid i enjoyed it very much greetings from belgium

[SaucyMuffins]

I think Princess Louise was a victim of the period she grew up in and the culture. It's not wonder she turned out the way she did. Plus, add on the fact she was a woman in a time when women didn't have any real rights to themselves - it's a wonder she didn't go further in her rebellion.

[theresareynolds]

She’s a lovely looking woman, her husband and father were monsters, I’m so glad I wasn’t born during these times.

[amanielwolde]

You made Princess Louise justice, at last ! Thank you. Her story was heartbreaking, you have the talent to story telling with such finesse that it's a true pleasure to listen to every word.

Aristocracy had always be tough on women, the loveless unions being the beginning of a long agony and endless abuse.

My godmother, an Italian countess with English/French roots, cousin of Savoia Royal household, told me about relatives sent in to priestehood or in monastery since their teenagers years, because the family wanted to préserve their wealth and not loose their fortune in weedings. Clustered, voiceless, one of her anchestors commited suicide while being a young monk ! The family spoke of him as very sick to avoid scandal and embarassement in society.

Your French prononciation is perfect, Parfaite !

Best Regards from Paris

[Jesseful]

What a telling statement that Louise " could not recall her Parents ever exchanging one endearment." Poor child to have such a memory !
Royalty leaves a lot to be desired. Thank you for this amazing account of her life. Well done

[storm_delany]

Lord.... That's a sad story... She was still clutching his photo when he died 🥺 jeez. Love her resilience though. She's sat out 7 years in the sanitarium because she wouldn't yield. That's some mental strength.

[UrsulaPainter]

Thank you for presenting Louise's troubled life sympathetically. It's hard to live a decent life among uncaring people.

[richardvillanueva]

I agree this history needs to be made into a movie .

[DebbieGould-egyb]

Fascinating! An amazing story about a woman who was determined to live life on her own terms.

[gerrymccartney]

Another facinating tale well told. She may have been a far happier person were it not for the fact that her father was one of the most dispicable persons of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[rociomiranda]

Only two bathrooms? That's a shabby palace.

[annnottingham]

The sister of Princess Stephanie, whose marriage to Rudolf of Austria was equally disastrous. It could be argued that bad marriages contributed to WWI

[ardiffley-zipkin]

I enjoyed the presentation. The speaker has a pleasant voice. Pictures of the key players were shown and dates referenced for easy comprehension for the listener. I subscribed to the channel and will select another topic. Nicely done !

[kitthornton]

"Whether you think she was her own worst enemy or the victim of a misogynist culture, you're absolutely right. ;)"

Well said, and true of most of us, truth be told...