When Delphine Boel decided it was time to become part of the Belgian Royal Family, she thought it would be easy enough. All she needed was a court order for a DNA test, something routinely granted in cases like hers in Belgian courts. Her misadventure was that she wanted to sue the king. The world over, heads of state are exempt from lawsuits, and the principle is valid in Belgium, too. The easy way was closed to her.
But there were King Albert's children, HRH Crown Prince Philippe of Belgium and his sister HI&RH Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este. They were not covered by the law and accordingly she filed a lawsuit for them to donate DNA to prove her claim. The outcome of the lawsuit was highly speculative as it hadn't been done before while an alleged parent was still alive.
Then King Albert abdicated and King Philippe took over. The lawsuit was now destined to be thrown out of court as far as Philippe was concerned. Princess Astrid on the other hand lives in Switzerland and holds a Swiss passport. The court might throw it out, too, and demand that she go to Switzerland to file a lawsuit. Nothing else to do than to retract the lawsuit.
But now King Albert is not the head of state anymore. Back to square one and sue a king. How will it all end? Who knows? If she gets the DNA sample, she might be able to prove to be a daughter of King Albert. It wouldn't be surprising if she could. What is more surprising is the fact that there are not more such claims. King Albert was a notorious playboy and philanderer while living the live as a spare prince. His marriage to Queen Paola was not welcomed at court as King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola both objected to it. And there were plans to cut him out of the succession in favour of Philippe that were never put into place.
Further reading
The Queen Astrid Chapel
How Many Monarchies Exist in Europe?
The Elect Circle of Elected Monarchs on Europe's Thrones
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