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Leopold III of Belgium — EmDee · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

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Leopold III of Belgium

Leopold III was King of the Belgians from 23 February 1934 until his abdication on 16 July 1951. At the outbreak of World War II, Leopold tried to maintain Belgian neutrality, but after the German invasion in May 1940, he surrendered his country, earning him much hostility, both at home and abroad.

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politics · King of the Belgians from 1934 to 1951 · monarch · entomologist · politician · photographer · botanical collector · also Leopold III of Belgium, King Leopold III, S.M. Leopold III, S.A.R. Leopold III, Belgium

Born 3 November 1901 · Died 25 September 1983 · Q12973

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Jun 1938Award
Awarded Sash of the Three Orders (1938).
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Jun 1937Award
Awarded Royal Victorian Chain (1937).
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Jump to2026 1991 1983 1981 1950 1949 1946 1944 1941 1938 1937 1935 1934 1931 1927 1926 1921 1919 1915 1911 1909 1901 1815

2026· 1 entry

Jul 7, 2026Documented record75% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Public attention spiked: 2,731 Wikipedia readers in one day, 3.1× the usual 887, with 0 article edits.

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1991· 1 entry

1991Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Married Léa Wolman, a marriage revealed only seven years later

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1983· 2 entries

Sep 25, 1983Documented record86% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Died 1983-09-25.

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1983Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

In Woluwe-Saint-Lambert (Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe) following emergency heart surgery

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1981· 1 entry

1981Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Lasted 40 days (they were formally divorced in 1985)

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1950· 1 entry

1950Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Nearly caused a civil war, with serious calls for a secessionist republic in Wallonia

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1949· 1 entry

1949Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Churchill's comments about the events of May 1940 were published in Le Soir (12 February 1949)

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1946· 1 entry

1946Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

A commission of inquiry exonerated Leopold of treason

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1944· 1 entry

1944Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Were moved to Germany and then Austria, before being liberated by the Americans, but banned for some years from returning to Belgium, where his brother Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, had been declared regent

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1941· 1 entry

1941Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Was contrary to Belgian law, which stipulates that the civil marriage has to occur before a religious marriage, and she was never permitted the title of queen

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1938· 1 entry

Jun 15, 1938Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Sash of the Three Orders (1938).

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1937· 1 entry

Jun 15, 1937Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Royal Victorian Chain (1937).

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1935· 2 entries

Jun 15, 1935Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Collar of the Order of the White Lion (1935).

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Jun 15, 1935Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Knight of the Garter (1935).

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1934· 2 entries

Jun 15, 1934Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded honorary doctor of the University of Lille (1934).

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Jan 1, 1934Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Career landmark: King of the Belgians (1934–1951).

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1931· 1 entry

Jun 15, 1931Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Order of the Royal House of Chakri (1931).

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1927· 1 entry

Jan 1, 1927Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Career landmark: Senator by Right (1927–1934).

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1926· 3 entries

Jun 15, 1926Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Grand Cross of the Military Order of the Tower and Sword (1926).

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Jun 15, 1926Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Order of the White Eagle (Third Polish Republic) (1926).

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Jun 15, 1926Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Knight of the Seraphim (1926).

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1921· 1 entry

Jun 15, 1921Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Won Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (1921).

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1919· 6 entries

Jun 15, 1919Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Knight grand cross of the order of the crown of Italy (1919).

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Jun 15, 1919Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour (1919).

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Jun 15, 1919Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus (1919).

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Jun 15, 1919Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Knight of the Order of the Most Holy Annunciation (1919).

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Jun 15, 1919Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Knight of the Order of the Elephant (1919).

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1919Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

The Duke of Brabant visited the Old Mission and Saint Anthony Seminary in Santa Barbara, California

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1915· 1 entry

1915Source gives the year onlyDocumented record70% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

With Belgium almost entirely occupied by the Germans, Leopold was sent to attend Eton College, while his father fought on in France

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1911· 1 entry

Jun 15, 1911Documented record84% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Awarded Knight Grand Cross in the Order of the Netherlands Lion (1911).

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1909· 1 entry

1909Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

His father became King of the Belgians, as Albert I, and Prince Leopold became Duke of Brabant

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1901· 1 entry

Nov 3, 1901Documented record86% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Born 1901-11-03.

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1815· 1 entry

1815Source gives the year onlyDocumented record66% confidence

Leopold III of Belgium

Churchill declared, "He is like the Bourbons, he has learned nothing and forgotten nothing

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Jun 1935Award

Awarded Collar of the Order of the White Lion (1935).

84%WikipediaSource Permalink

Jun 1935Award

Awarded Knight of the Garter (1935).

84%WikipediaSource Permalink

Jun 1934Award

Awarded honorary doctor of the University of Lille (1934).

84%WikipediaSource Permalink

Jun 1931Award

Awarded Order of the Royal House of Chakri (1931).

84%WikipediaSource Permalink

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