European Princess Stuns with Surprise Royal Baby Announcement After Secret Pregnancy

Princess Maria Laura of Belgium has delighted royal watchers with an unexpected announcement — she’s officially a mom!

On Jan. 29, the Belgian Royal Palace announced that King Philippe of Belgium's niece, 36, and her husband, William Isvy, quietly welcomed their first child, a baby boy named Albert.

"Princess Maria Laura and Mr. William Isvy are delighted to announce the birth of their son Albert, born on Sunday 26 January in Brussels. Albert weighs 3.5 kg [7 pounds, 7 ounces] and is doing well, just like his mother," the palace wrote in a post on X, per an English translation. "The families of the young parents share in their happiness."

The announcement came as a complete surprise, as the couple had never publicly shared what they were expecting, according to Hello!. Adding to the excitement, the palace also released the first photo of baby Albert, showing him peacefully sleeping in a cream-colored outfit with a plush toy beside him.

Related: Royal Wedding Alert! Princess Maria Laura of Belgium Sports Two Bridal Looks — Including a Mini Dress

Princess Maria Laura, the daughter of King Philippe’s younger sister, Princess Astrid, married British investment banker William Isvy in a glamorous Brussels wedding in September 2022. While a member of Belgium’s royal family, Maria Laura has always maintained a private life away from the spotlight.

The new baby shares a name with Princess Maria Laura's grandfather, King Albert, and the name of German origin means "noble" and "bright," according to The Bump. King Albert reigned from 1993 to 2013, abdicating for health-related reasons and sparking the accession of his son, Philippe, the BBC reported then.

King Albert, 90, was a guest at Maria Laura's royal wedding two years ago, where the princess married in two ceremonies in Belgium's capital city. The palace announced Maria-Laura's engagement to William in December 2021, and The Brussels Times said that the groom was a Paris-born, London-based professional who worked in wealth management.

"Like his future wife, Isvy is a fan of travelling and playing tennis," the outlet said then.

King Philippe, 64, gave his blessing for his climate analyst niece to marry, as "Permission from the Crown is necessary for Princess Maria Laura to remain in the line of accession," the outlet added. Baby Albert will now follow his mother in the line of succession to the Belgian throne, and arrived as 11th in line.

Albert's initial birth announcement from the palace didn't disclose whether the child had inherited a royal title as well. The young children of Princess Maria-Laura's older brother, Prince Amadeo, hold archduke or archduchess titles, but it's unclear if Maria-Laura has opted for her son to have the same styling. PEOPLE has contacted the palace for further comment.

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Baby Albert's birth was announced on the same day that Buckingham Palace heralded the birth of Princess Beatrice's second baby, daughter Athena Elizabeth Rose Mapelli Mozzi, with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

The palace said that baby Athena was born a week before on Jan. 22 (arriving ahead of her "early spring" due date) and that both mom and daughter were "healthy and doing well."

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