Princess Delphine of Saxe-Coburg is taking part in the third season of the Belgian edition of Dancing with the Stars. Delphine, who acquired a full royal status in September 2020, will compete for charity. 

With her participation, she hopes to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organisation aiming to make true dreams of children with life-limiting and threatening conditions.

During the show, she will pair up with Dutch professional dancer Sander Bos.

Speaking about her upcoming TV appearance, Princess Delphine said: “Through this adventure, I hope to draw even more attention to the important work of the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the positive influence it has on sick children and their families.”

The show, she conceded, will likely be “mentally and physically challenging” for her.

The Belgian royal said: “I am aware that this adventure will be mentally and physically challenging, but that is nothing compared to the challenges faced by sick children.”

Delphine also played down her dancing skills, saying her experience is limited to “a few, often uncomfortable, dance steps at weddings and receptions.”

Ahead of the programme, Delphine also revealed she contracted COVID-19 and is still recovering from it.

Despite being out of isolation, she said to be still feeling weak.

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Dancing with the Stars is to be aired on Belgian channel Play4.

The Belgian Royal Palace is understood to have been informed about Princess Delphine’s participation in the show by her husband Jim O’Hare and through a press release issued by Play4, according to Royal Central.

Belgian royal officials described her attendance as “private” and said they would not comment on it, the royal news website also reported.

Delphine’s decision to take part in the show – and to support Make-A-Wish – was hailed by Hilde Vander Stichele, CEO of the Belgian branch of the foundation.

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She said: “We are proud that Princess Delphine and Dancing with the Stars are giving Make-A-Wish a stage, literally and figuratively.

“We are committed to making children forget for a moment that they are ill and that they can be ordinary children.”

Princess Delphine was born Delphine Boel during Belgian’s King Albert II’s 18-year-long extramarital affair with Baroness Sybille de Selys Longchamps.

Delphine, who made a name for herself as an artist, started her legal battle to be recognised by her biological father in 2013, after he stepped down as sovereign in favour of his firstborn King Philippe and lost immunity from court proceedings.

In January 2020, Albert officially recognised Delphine as his fourth daughter after a Belgian court demanded him to take a DNA test.

Seven months later, Princess Delphine announced she was taking her father to court once again in order to gain the same rights and titles her half-siblings have been enjoying since birth.

Delphine explained her decision to fight for her royal titles was a desire to feel fully recognised as the king’s daughter.

The Belgian court ruled again in her favour and granted Delphine the full title of HRH Princess Delphine of Saxe-Coburg as well as the possibility to pass on to her two children the royal privilege. 

Since her victory in court, Delphine has started to create a bond with her royal relatives. 

In October last year, she held a “warm meeting” with her half-brother Philippe during which they discussed their shared interests and lives.

A few days later, she also had an audience with her father and his wife, Queen Paola.

Delphine did not become a working royal following the acquisition of her titles but has attended a few key royal events.

In February, she visited alongside her husband and other royals the Royal Crypt in Laeken to pay tribute to her deceased family members.

And in July she attended celebrations for her country’s National Day.

Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.