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On Thursday, December 15, 1960, King Baudouin of Belgium married Doña Fabiola de Mora y Aragón in Brussels. The civil ceremony was held at the Town Hall of Brussels, followed by the religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula.
Doña Fabiola Fernanda Maria de las Victorias Antonia Adelaïda de Mora y Aragón was born in Madrid on June 11, 1928. She was the sixth of seven children of Gonzalo de Mora y Fernández y Riera y del Olmo, 4th Marquess of Casa Riera and 2nd Count of Mora, and his wife, Blanca de Aragón y Carrillo de Albornoz y Barroeta-Aldamar y Elío. The family was prominent in the Spanish aristocracy, and she included Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain as one of her godparents.
With most of the guests already seated in the Cathedral of Saint Michael and Saint Gudula including the royal guests, the King and his new Queen left the Palace in a glass-topped car, leading the procession of their immediate families. The families processed into the cathedral, followed by Baudouin and Fabiola, who took seats just in front of the altar.
The service was conducted by Cardinal van Roey, the Primate of Belgium, assisted by a representative of the Holy See who read a personal message from The Pope. The couple then exchanged their vows and rings, followed by a traditional mass conducted by the auxiliary bishop.
Following the mass, the church registers were signed. This time, Baudouin chose his two brothers, Prince Albert and Prince Alexandre as witnesses, while Fabiola chose her two brothers, Gonzalo and Alejandro. After the final blessing, the couple processed out of the cathedral, greeting the crowds before returning by car to the Royal Palace.
Fabiola wore a gown by the Spanish designer, Cristóbal Balenciaga. The simple white silk gown featured a high neckline and three-quarter length sleeves, with a drop waist and a full skirt. The neck and waist were trimmed with white ermine which extended back to border the 7-meter train.
Her tulle veil was held in place by the Nine Provinces Tiara. The tiara had been a gift from the Belgian people to Baudouin’s mother when she and Leopold married in 1926. It is traditionally only worn (in its full form) by Belgian queens. Read more here.
Baudouin was decked out in his uniform of Lieutenant-General of the Armies, with the sash and star of the Belgian Order of Leopold I. He also wore the collar of the Spanish Order of Isabella the Catholic.