Received 29 June 2026

RH066

Her Imperial and Royal Highness Princess Astrid celebrated her 64th birthday this year and I was pleased to send her a birthday greeting. Princess Astrid receives her Imperial title through her marriage to Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, the head of the House of Austria-Este, a cadet branch of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine. Her son, Prince Amadeo, is the heir-apparent to be head of that house.

This response, from the Palais Royal in Belgium, is the only response from the Belgian court which bears any kind of secretarial name or signature. The printed name is that of Ambassador Dirk Wouters, advisor to the Princess. The signature, however, belongs to an assistant. The hand written “P.O.” stands for “per ordinum”, or “by order of”, indicating a subordinate who is authorized to officially sign on his behalf when he is unable.