Louise d'Orléans (1812–1850)
| Louise of Orléans | |||||
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Louise by Franz Xaver Winterhalter
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| Queen consort of the Belgians | |||||
| Tenure | 9 August 1832 – 11 October 1850 | ||||
| Born |
3 April 1812 Palermo, Sicily |
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| Died | 11 October 1850 (aged 38) Ostend, Belgium |
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| Spouse | Leopold I of Belgium | ||||
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| House | Orléans | ||||
| Father | Louis-Philippe I, King of the French | ||||
| Mother | Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic | ||||
| Signature |  |
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| Full name | |
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| Louise-Marie Thérèse Charlotte Isabelle d'Orléans |
Louise of Orléans (Louise-Marie Thérèse Charlotte Isabelle; 3 April 1812 – 11 October 1850) was a French princess who became the first Queen of the Belgians as the second wife of King Leopold I. She was also known as Louise-Marie.
Born in Palermo, Sicily, on 3 April 1812, she was the eldest daughter of the future Louis-Philippe I, King of the French, and of his wife Maria Amalia of the Two Sicilies. As a child, she had a religious and bourgeoisie education thanks to the part played by her mother and her aunt, Princess Adélaïde of Orléans to whom she was very close. As a member of the reigning House of Bourbon she was entitled to the rank of a Princess of the Blood Royal.
On 9 August 1832, the twenty year old Louise married King Leopold I of the Belgians, who was twenty two years her senior. Leopold had been widowed by his wife, Princess Charlotte of Wales after her death in childbirth in 1817. Since Leopold was a Protestant, they had both a Catholic and a Calvinist ceremony.
Louise and Leopold had four children, including Leopold II of Belgium and Empress Carlota of Mexico. Although never faithful to Louise, Leopold respected her and their relationship was a harmonious one.
Louise was the 298th Dame of the Royal Order of Queen Maria Luisa on 10 February 1835. A devoted wife and loving mother, she was of a very shy nature and was often only seen in public when her husband forced her. She soon proved to be very popular at the Belgian court with her famous generosity and beauty. Queen Louise-Marie died of tuberculosis in Ostend on 11 October 1850. She is buried beside her husband in Royal Crypt of the Church of Our Lady of Laeken.
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