Royal question

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The royal question (French: question royale; Dutch: Koningskwestie) was a major political crisis in Belgium that lasted from 1945 to 1951, coming to a head between March and August 1950. The question at stake surrounded whether King Leopold III could return to Belgium and resume his constitutional role amid allegations that his actions during World War II had been contrary to the provisions of the Belgian Constitution. The crisis brought Belgium to the brink of a civil war. It was eventually resolved by the abdication of Leopold in favour of his son Prince Baudouin in 1951. The crisis emerged from the division between Leopold and his Government, led by Prime Minister Hubert Pierlot, during the German invasion in May 1940. Leopold, who was suspected of authoritarian sympathies, had assumed command of the Belgian Army at the outbreak of war. Considering his constitutional position as commander-in-chief to take precedence over his civil role as head of state, he refused to leave his defeated...

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