Prince Charles was appointed
Regent of Belgium when the
German occupation of his country ended in 1944. The role of his elder brother King Leopold III during the
Second World War, as well as Leopold's marriage to
Mary Lilian Baels, was questioned and he
became a controversial monarch. Charles's regency was dominated by the events resulting from the German occupation and the controversies around his brother Leopold. This period had an important impact on events in later decades. During his regency, important economic and political decisions were taken. Belgium managed to jump-start its national economy with the aid of American assistance provided under the
Marshall Plan. The building sector was stimulated by government grants to repair war-damaged buildings and to build social housing. The financial sector was sanitized through the "Operation Gutt" (after its architect,
Camille Gutt), whereby illegally gained profits during the war were targeted. A social welfare system was introduced and a system was set up to govern labour relations. Furthermore,
women obtained the right to vote in parliamentary elections in 1948. Also during his regency the
Benelux customs union was formed, Belgium became a
member state of the United Nations, and the
North Atlantic Treaty was signed. In 1950, Charles's regency ended when Leopold III returned to Belgium and resumed his monarchical duties, following a
plebiscite. Charles retired from public life, taking up residence in
Ostend and becoming involved in artistic pursuits. Having taken up painting, he signed his works: "Karel van Vlaanderen" (Charles of
Flanders). He was the 377th knight
Grand Cross of the
Order of the Tower and Sword. Charles had a natural daughter, Isabelle Wybo, born in 1938 as the result of a relationship with
Jacqueline Wehrli, the daughter of a Brussels baker. Her existence was largely unknown until a biography of the prince was published in 2003. Wybo made an official appearance with her first cousin-once removed,
Prince Laurent in 2012. He died on 1 June 1983 in Ostend, predeceasing his elder brother by a few months, and was buried at the
Church of Our Lady of Laeken in Brussels. In his will he left the Empress Josephine's diamond tiara to his sister,
Marie-José. ==Alleged marriage==