Golden cage of Belgium's hated wartime king up for sale
The castle that served as a golden cage for the hated wartime king of Belgium has been put up for sale for £18 million, making it one of the country’s most expensive properties.
Over the years, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Former Libyan despot Muammar Gaddafi both made offers for Argenteuil, 136 hectares comprising a castle, park, a chapel, forests, ponds and meadows near Waterloo, but were rejected.
Leopold III retired there after he abdicated in 1960 following accusations of collaboration with the Nazis and a controversial marriage that threatened to tear Belgium apart.
He infamously stayed in Belgium after the Nazis invaded in 1940, despite the Belgian government fleeing to London, “to spare my people from further bloodshed”.
The king ignored the government in exile, visiting Adolf Hitler in his eagle’s nest retreat in Berchtesgaden, and even sent the dictator flowers for his birthday.
After the war, Leopold was declared unfit to reign and his brother ruled as Prince Regent from 1944 to 1950. A referendum was held, which voted in favour of allowing the controversial monarch, dubbed “King Rat” by the British press, to return to Belgium from exile in Switzerland.
Belgium was bitterly divided between the King’s supporters and critics and the country was paralysed by one of its most violent general strikes on his return. In Liege, the Belgian flag was torn down and replaced with the crowing cock of Wallonia, the French-speaking region’s symbol.
With Belgium on the point of collapse, and the catholic nobility incensed by his 1941 marriage to Lilian Baels while a prisoner of the Germans, he abdicated in favour of his son Baudouin.
In 1960, he moved to Argenteuil from the royal residence of Laeken and remained there, out of sight and mind, until his death in 1983. He used the castle as a base to pursue his interest in natural sciences.
Princess Lilian died in 2002 and the castle passed to the Belgian state, despite Baudouin’s desire to convert it into a memorial for his parents.. It was sold for £7 million in 2004 to Walloon businessman Jean-Marie Delwart.
Mr Delwart, 80, renovated the castle, which was crumbling into disrepair and has now decided to sell it. Belgian media reported that renovations of up to £810,000 will still be necessary.
Local media reported that the castle has its own golf course and its gates are embossed with the intertwined L and L of Leopold and Lillian. The grounds are peppered with deer statues, which were a favourite of Princess Lilian, but the swimming pool is in dire need of repair.
