King Albert II of Belgium, the former monarch, is once more receiving preventative treatment for skin cancer.
The recent surgery means that Albert, 91, has undergone cancer treatment at least six times in 11 years, the Belgium Palace confirmed to Dutch outlet Het Laatste Nieuws.
The news outlet published pictures of the former King of the Belgians with a scar running from his nose to his upper lip.
The royal palace confirmed that Albert had the procedure – but did not say when the surgery was performed, the outlet reported.
The photos were taken when Albert, father of King Philippe of Belgium, 65, attended a reception in Brussels last week.
It was the first time he had attended a public engagement in five months.
Albert has previously been treated for cancer, with some medical professionals believing it is the result of sun exposure from the royal’s regular trips abroad.
In 2013, Albert was hospitalised with signs of dehydration.
King Albert II, former monarch of Belgium, is pictured in February 2025. The Belgian palace confirmed that Albert has recently had a preventative surgery for skin cancer
Albert (right), 91, is pictured with his son King Philippe of Belgium, 65, who became monarch in 2013
The ex-king, then 89, ‘was admitted to hospital as a precautionary measure,’ the spokesman, Xavier Vaert, told AFP at the time, confirming reports by state broadcasters VRT and RTBF.
‘Examinations are being done. He is conscious,’ Vaert said.
Albert II, the father of Belgium’s current King Philippe, was the third and youngest child of King Leopold III.
He became monarch on August 9, 1993 at the age of 59, taking over after his brother Baudouin died without children.
Albert II reigned until his abdication on July 21, 2013, handing the crown to Philippe, who today is aged 65. The former king and his wife, Queen Paola, 85, have spaced out their public appearances in recent years.
King Philippe cancelled his planned engagement at the University of Ghent in order to visit his father in the hospital, according to People.
Other relatives including Prince Laurent, King Albert’s younger son, and Prince Emmanuel were reportedly spotted arriving at the Saint-Luc hospital in Brussels to be by his side.
Speaking to the BBC at the time of his abdication, King Albert said: ‘I realise that my age and my health are no longer allowing me to carry out my duties as I would like to. Prince Philippe is well prepared to succeed me.’
Albert has previously been treated for skin cancer. According to Belgian media, he has undergone at least six procedures in 11 years
At the time of his abdication his love child Princess Delphine launched a legal bid to be officially recognised as Albert’s daughter – which she won in October 2020.
After Princess Delphine was born in 1968, the King initially remained in frequent contact with his child and her mother. But when Delphine reached her 16th birthday, the King began to distance himself.
Now she has the right to bear the royal name de Saxe-Cobourg and is formally recognised as a member of the Belgian royal family as are her two children Princess Joséphine of Belgium, 19, and Prince Oscar of Belgium, 14, who she shares with partner James O’Hare.
Speaking to Tatler in 2022, the princess, who is an artist, revealed her father’s rejection when she was young still hurts, but added she doesn’t blame him and holds no ill-will towards him.
She argued that royal life is ‘isolating’ and she believed her father had been badly advised at the time.
However, she said: ‘You don’t just have a child and kick it.’
Reflecting on her seven-year legal battle, Delphine said the action she brought was not about money or status but ‘principles’.
Albert and wife Queen Paola are pictured on Belgium’s National Day in 2000
Now Delphine has attended royal engagements and says her relationship with her father has healed after years of bitterness.
When she launched her legal action in 2013, she told Belgian radio show Matin Premiere: ‘I feel like I have a right to exist. Not to exist in the royal family but as me.
‘My decision to call for help through the law, I feel today that it was the right thing to do… The judicial system said that I was right and that I had the right to exist.’
Since the legal action has been settled, Princess Delphine has slowly become integrated in the Belgian royal family.
She met her brother, King Philippe of Belgium – who is one of 20 Belgian royals she is related to – in 2020, where they posted a socially distanced picture to Facebook, describing it as a ‘warm meeting.’ Her other royal half-siblings are Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent.
