Belgium's Queen Fabiola, the widow of the late King Baudouin, has revealed she suffered five miscarriages.
Queen Paola (L) and Queen Fabiola (R) of Belgium arrive to attend a Te Deum Mass at the Sint Michiels and Sint Goedele (Saint Michel and Saint Gudule) Cathedral of Brussels, on the occasion of the Belgian National Day in Belgium, 21 July 2007. EPA/BENOIT DOPPAGNE
The queen - who will turn 80 this year - revealed the reason she never became a mother is down to having problems with each of the five pregnancies.
She said: "I have had five miscarriages. But that has not made me bitter. On the contrary. You learn from that experience. During each pregnancy I had problems, but you know, in the end I think life is beautiful."
The queen's miscarriages were already known among the Belgian people, but had never been officially confirmed.
Queen Fabiola's comments were overheard by a Flemish TV station VTM during a dinner for visiting Hungarian President Laszlo Solyom.
The queen and King Baudouin never made a secret of their desire to have children.
Each time the queen was reported to be pregnant, the Belgian people sent flowers to the palace.
(C) BANG Media International
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