Anonymous letter writer threatens Princess Elisabeth

The royal palace has confirmed the delivery of an anonymous letter to the newsroom of the Dernière Heure newspaper in which the author threatens to kidnap Princess Elisabeth. The newspaper immediately contacted the palace and police, a spokesman said. The royal couple, meanwhile, went ahead with a planned visit to Luxembourg.

Writing in French and German, the author of the letter blames immigrants for the economic problems of the country and calls for an end to immigration, which he says has cost the taxpayer €30 billion.

In response to the kidnapping threat, police visited the newsroom of the paper and took possession of the letter, and detailed additional protection forces to Sint-Jan Berchmans college in Brussels, the Dutch-language school attended by the princess, who is now first in line to the throne following the accession of her father in July. The anti-terrorist SGRS unit is also involved, the newspaper reports.

It was later reported the letter had also been sent to the news department of the RTBF, who declined to accord it any importance. “It was just one letter among the many that arrive every day at the newsroom,” a spokesperson said. After the revelation of the Dernière Heure, however, the broadcaster also contacted police.

For the government, interior minister Joëlle Milquet said the threat was being taken seriously, but stressed that the royal family is carefully protected all year round under normal circumstances. Yesterday morning, together with a reinforced security detail, the Princess was accompanied to school by her father.