Louis Philippe Robert d’Orléans – In Line To Be King OF France

While paging through the New York Evening World of October 4, 1894 this portrait and blurb stood out. This is Louis Philippe Robert d’Orléans.

The fact that Louis (born 1869) is described as having a reputation as a “gay boy” does not translate today the same as it did in 1894.

The gay here refers to happy, merry or jovial, not a homosexual.

As far as the mention of “will be King of France – some day – may be,” has to do with the the line of royal succession. It’s all academic because the First French Republic abolished the position of “King” in 1792, though France has had other monarchs.

King Louis XVI, wife Marie Antoinette and their children were executed during the French Revolution in 1792.

Therein lies the  complicated history of who would be the successor to the French throne. Eventually three “houses” or families claim the right of succession. The Bourbons; the Orleans; and the Bonapartes all are pretenders to the throne which no longer exists.

This lack of clarity as to succession is where the title of “Duc D’Orleans” originates from.

The Bourbon-Orleans line produced Louis Philippe I, and he became “King of the French” in 1830. Louis Philippe I abdicated in 1848.

But supporters of this line of the Orleans monarchy bestowed the honorary title of Duc D’Orleans upon the eldest son of his direct descendant. The King’s son, Louis Philippe Albert d’Orléans mentioned in the blurb as “the Comte de Paris” (a.k.a. the Duc D’Orleans) died in 1894 without becoming King.

Of course his son, “gay boy” Louis Philippe Robert d’Orléans never became King either. He died in 1926.

Here is a summary of Orleanist and other pretenders to the throne of France.