The King and Queen of the Belgians received at their home, at Laeken Castle, four American veterans who fought during the Second World War. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde wanted to meet privately these four men who courageously fought for the liberation of Belgium in December 1944, during the Battle of the Bulge.
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The Belgian King and Queen welcome four 99-year-old American veterans to Laeken Castle
This Saturday, December 14, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are expected in the province of Luxembourg to attend the commemorative celebrations of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. The King and Queen of the Belgians will meet the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess of Luxembourg who will also attend the ceremonies planned in several places, including Hamm and Bastogne.
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This Thursday, December 12, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde wanted to speak calmly with George, Joseph, John and Fred. These four American veterans made the trip to attend Saturday's commemorations. All four of these former soldiers who fought to liberate Belgium are now 99 years old. By inviting them to their home, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde wanted to signify “their recognition for their courage and that of their comrades-in-arms who are now deceased”explains the Royal Palace.
On December 16, 1944, the Third Reich launched a large-scale military offensive in the Ardennes with the aim of retaking the port of Antwerp to prevent the supply of allied troops. The resistance of the American 101st Airborne Division made it possible to stop the German advance at Bastogne and push the enemy back onto its territory. This bloody episode cost the lives of more than 82,000 Allied soldiers and 100,000 German soldiers. More than 5,000 American fighters are buried in the Hamm cemetery, in the province of Luxembourg, including the famous General Patton. The Battle of the Bulge has gone down in history as one of the decisive turning points of the Second World War.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. [email protected]
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