Royal families are often in the spotlight, with every milestone closely followed by the public.
But sometimes, they manage to keep big news under wraps.
That’s exactly what happened in Belgium, where Princess Maria Laura and her husband, William Isvy, surprised everyone with an unexpected announcement — they had become parents without anyone knowing they were expecting.
Welcome Baby Albert
The Belgian royal palace shared the joyful news last Wednesday, revealing that the couple had welcomed a baby boy named Albert.
Born on Sunday, January 26, in Brussels, the newborn weighed 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs) at birth and is said to be in good health, along with his mother.
"Princess Maria Laura and Mr. William Isvy are delighted to announce the birth of their son Albert," the official statement read. "Albert weighs 3.5 kg and is doing well, as is his mother."
Along with the announcement, the palace released a sweet photo of baby Albert, peacefully sleeping on his side.
The name holds special significance, as he shares it with his great-grandfather, former King Albert II, now 90 years old.
The news came as a complete surprise, as the couple had never publicly revealed that they were expecting.
Their ability to keep the pregnancy private is rare in royal circles, where such announcements typically generate widespread media attention.
Princess Maria Laura, 36, is the daughter of Princess Astrid of Belgium and the niece of King Philippe. She and William Isvy, a British investment banker, married in September 2022 in a beautiful ceremony attended by European royals.
Coincidentally, the Belgian royal baby arrived just as the British royal family shared similar news—Princess Beatrice had given birth to her second daughter on the same day.
