The Belgian Royal Family was missing a beloved member as they attended the annual King’s Day Te Deum at the Cathedral of Saints Michele and Gudula. 

King Albert II, the former Belgian monarch, Princess Astrid, Prince Lorenz, and Prince Laurent all attended the traditional 15 November service. Queen Paola did not attend with her husband and children as she normally does, though.

The Belgian Royal Family had shared earlier in November that the former Belgian Queen had suffered from a fall and would be on a month of bedrest. 

The Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, Luc Terlinden, shared his hope for Queen Paola’s quick recovery during the service. 

The King’s Day, also known as The King’s Feast, celebrates the Belgian monarch. It was first celebrated in 1866 during the reign of Leopold II. While it is not a national public holiday, the Belgian Royal Family does attend a Te Deum service. 

Notably, the king himself does not attend the service. Neither King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, nor their children – Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, or Princess Eleonore – attended on Friday. 

King Albert looked to be in good spirits at the service. Princess Astrid was on hand to help her father walk into the cathedral.