Silvia van Heerde

Silvia van Heerde (13 January 1904 - 25 September 1989) was a supposedly illegitimate daughter of King Pieter II of Brunant and his mistress, Eliza van Heerde.

Biography
Silvia's supposed father was King Pieter II. The king had five children from his marriage with Sophie of Mecklenburg-Schwerin in the 1880s and early 1890s. Throughout his life, Pieter only ever had one mistress, Eliza van Heerde (1880-1955), who was a companion of his in the late 1890s and 1900s. It was rumored that her daughter Silvia, born in January 1904, was a daughter of the king, but by then, the two were in an on/off relationship and she had other partners as well. Pieter and Eliza broke apart after 1905.

The king did not recognize Silvia's daughter as his. His wife Sophie remained faithful to him despite his infidelity. In late 1905, Eliza married Royal Guard commandant Thomas Hoyt, and he recognized Silvia as his daughter. The king paid an annual stipend to Eliza, which was stopped after his death in 1913.

Silvia grew up in Koningstad. Her stepfather died in the Battle of Albert in 1916. She was later raised by her mother. In 1928, Silvia married Grijzestad-born widower Alfred Van Brabant (1891-1968), who was thirteen years her senior. They had one son, Cristian, who died aged six. Alfred already had two children from his previous marriage, Reinout (1914-1995) and Christina (1916-2003). Silvia took care of them as if they were hers.

After her mother's death in 1955, van Heerde started several lawsuits against the Royal Family. She demanded the title of "Princess of Brunant" and a royal addition, but also a part of Pieter II's inheritance. The cases were widely published in the press, but were unsuccessful for Silvia.

After Alfred's death, Silvia moved in with her son Reinout. In 1981, she attended the funeral of her half-sister, Princess Martina Louisa, the only member of the Royal Family with whom she maintained contact. Silvia herself died in 1989. The then King Marten II sent condolences to her children.