ALBERT I: (1875-1934) King of the Belgians 1909-34. Rare signed and inscribed 9 x 12 photograph by Albert I, the ...

ALBERT I: (1875-1934) King of the Belgians 1909-34. Rare signed and inscribed 9 x 12 photograph by Albert I, the image depicting the King wearing his military officer uniform, in a half length pose. Albert I was nicknamed ''The Soldier King''. Signed and inscribed in bold black ink to the lower matted border `To General Weygand, with my feelings of deep esteem and sincere friendship, Albert - 1921´ Framed in wood and glazed to an overall size of 10.5 x 13.5. Small overall age wear, otherwise G £600-900 Provenance from the archives of Maxime Weygand (1867-1965) French military Commander in World War one and WWII. Weygand served in World War I as staff officer to French General and Commander-in-chief of Allied Armies Ferdinand Foch. During WWII Weygand fought against the Germans during the invasion of France, but later signed an armistice with and partially collaborated with the Germans as part of the Vichy France regime but was later arrested by the Germans for not fully collaborating with them. It has been longly debated about who were Weygand´s real father and mother, about his Royal ancestry, the candidates being Leopold II King of Belgians, Maximilian Emperor of Mexico and General Alfred van der Smissen. King Leopold II, father of Albert I, took in charge Weygand´s education.