| Added by |
 Bart Perdieus
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| General Description : | Baudouin Albert Charles Léopold Axel Marie Gustave de Belgique 7 September 1930 – 31 July 1993) reigned as King of the Belgians, following his father's abdication, from 1951 until his death in 1993. He was the eldest son of King Leopold III (1901–83) and his first wife, Princess Astrid of Sweden (1905–35). Having had no children, the crown passed on to his brother, Albert II of Belgium, following his death. He is the first cousin of King Harald V of Norway, Princess Astrid of Norway, and Princess Ragnhild of Norway. Baudouin is the French form of his name, the form most commonly used outside Belgium; his Dutch name is Boudewijn. Very rarely, his name is anglicized as Baldwin. Baudouin reigned for 42 years. He died of heart failure on 31 July 1993 in the Villa Astrida in Motril, in the south of Spain. His death was unexpected, and sent much of Belgium into a period of deep mourning. Within hours the grids of the Royal Palace were covered with flowers that people spontaneously brought. A viewing of the body was organised at the Royal Palace in central Brussels; 500,000 people (5% of the population) turned up to pay their respects. Many waited in line up to 14 hours in sweltering heat to get to see their King one last time. Queen Elizabeth II attended the funeral in person; by tradition the British monarch attends only those funerals which are of close family members (they were only third cousins) or such politicians as prime ministers who die while in office. |
| Face value | 15 Francs |
| Catalog code (Michel) | BE 2572 |
| Catalog code (Scott) | BE 1502 |
| Catalog code | Yvert et Tellier BE 2520 Stanley Gibbons BE 3183 AFA number BE 2579 Belgium BE 2520 Unificato BE 2520 |
| Stamp colour | black / light ultramarine grey |
| Stamp use | Commemorative stamp |
| Print run | 15.000.000 |
| Issue date | 15/08/1993 |
| Designer | Michel Olyff |
| Print technique | photogravure |
| Perforation | 11 1/2 |
| Height | 28.00 mm |
| Width | 24.00 mm |
| Catalog prices | No catalog prices set yet |
