Princess Esméralda of Belgium

Born in Brussels, HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium is the youngest daughter of the late King Leopold III and Princess Lilian.
After studying Law at Saint Louis University in Brussels and journalism at UCL in Louvain la Neuve, she worked as a journalist in Paris and Milan. She then published several books on the history of her family, as well as on the environment and on women who have won a Nobel Peace Prize. She has also written and presented television documentaries. One on Virunga, the oldest national park in Africa and among the most biologically diverse places on earth but facing many challenges due to armed conflicts and precious underground resources, the latest one on the Amazon and the fight of indigenous communities for their lands and rights.
Activist for the protection of the environment and indigenous rights following in the footsteps of her father, King Leopold III who was a pioneer in the field of ecology, she is presiding over the Fund Leopold III for Nature’s exploration and conservation. She is also a tireless campaigner for women’s rights and gender equality, writing articles and giving talks around the world.
She is President of Friendship Belgium, an NGO which focuses on education, health, women empowerment, sustainable development and climate adaptation and President of Honour of Care Belgium which also puts women at the centre of their action.
Married to a British scientist born in Honduras, Sir Salvador Moncada, they have two children, Alexandra (26) and Leopoldo (23).