二战爆发前比利时国王阿尔伯特一世去世（1909-1934年在位） 阿尔伯特一世的父母都是德系贵族。父亲佛兰德尔伯爵菲利普（Philippe, Count of Flanders）属于萨克森-科堡-哥达王朝（Saxe-Coburg and Gotha，起源于图林根的Coburg and Gotha）。 母亲玛丽·冯·霍亨索伦-锡格马林根（Marie）出身于霍亨索伦-锡格马林根家族（Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen），是霍亨索伦家族的天主教支系。但这不妨碍阿尔伯特的比利时在一战时坚决对抗德国入侵。17 February 1934 – Albert I of Belgium died (b.1875) He was King of the Belgians from 23 December 1909 until his death in 1934. Albert died in a mountaineering accident in eastern Belgium in 1934, at the age of 58, and he was succeeded by his son Leopold II.

He was fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.