Spring 1608-1612

When the Queen found she was pregnant again, the entire Royal Family and their close friends, followed by their trusted servants left the Court and moved to their spring Residence, where Isabelle was going to give birth.

Even if they already had three beautiful children (two daughters and a son), both the Queen and the King were happy about their fourth baby and hoped for a younger brother for the Crown Prince.

Madame Royale, Princess Blanche de Croy, a very talented pianist.

At their arrival at the Spring Residence, the Royal Family met with Guigues d'Albon and his young wife, Marie Victoire.They were spending the spring there too, so the two noble families decided to enjoy the warm season together, away from the crowded and restless Royal Court back from Paris.

Marie Victoire also had a little surprise for the Queen, offering her the latter-day fad: a little black girl from Senegal, named Zanzi.

The young Senegalese charmed everyone, being full of life and befriending the nobles' children, especially Princess Blanche de Croy.Queen Isabella adored her gift and soon started to treat her as her own daughter.

Madame Royale playing chess with her new friend, Zanzi.

Zanzi wore the same dresses as the Princess and also attended dance and music lessons with the Royal children.

Madame Royal at her violin lessons.

Zanzi, spending some time with young Princess Angelique.

Unfortunately, in 1907, the Crown Prince got measles and in only a few weeks died.The King and the Queen were devastated by the child's tragic death and Princess' Cecile's birth didn't manage to comfort the mourning parents.Not even Zanzi's nimble attitude didn't seem to bring the smile back on their faces.

Soon after those events, everyone returned to the Court, where, in 1611 Prince Jean Gaston de Croy, Count of Barcelona, was born and everyone seemed a little more confident about the Kingdom's future.

The Queen, pregnant for the fifth time.

In 1912, Madame Royale (King Philip and Queen Isabellas'oldest daughter, Blanche de Croy) was betrothed to Maximilian de Valois.But Madame Royale and Maximilian's antagonist tempers predicted a stirring marriage.

Young Madame Royale with her sister, Cecile de Croy.