On 12 May 1945, King Leopold III receives at his residence in Pregny, Switzerland, the future Belgian Socialist Prime Minister Achille Van Acker in order to discuss Belgium’s political future and the royal family’s return from exile.

On 16 June 1945, the Chargé d'Affaires ad interim at the Luxembourg Legation in Brussels writes a letter to Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, outlining the latest political developments on the question of the monarchy.

On 28 July 1948, the Luxembourg Legation in Brussels informs Joseph Bech, Luxembourg Foreign Minister, of the latest developments on the question of the monarchy, which is currently tearing Belgium apart.

On 5 October 1948, the Belgian Senate considers a draft report by the Joint Committees for Justice and Home Affairs in favour of the Assembly’s adoption of Paul Stuye’s bill, which seeks the holding of a popular consultation in order to resolve the issue of the monarchy.

On 20 October 1948, the Belgian Chamber of Representatives debates the bill seeking to establish a National Commission of Information on the appropriateness of King Leopold III's resuming the royal prerogatives.

On 20 October 1949, the French daily newspaper Le Monde focuses on the organisation of a popular consultation in Belgium planned for 12 March 1950 on King Leopold III’s return to the Belgian throne.

On 8 March 1950, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort leads with the issue of the popular consultation on King Leopold III’s return to the Belgian throne.

On 8 March 1950, local police arrest two demonstrators opposed to the rally organised by the ‘Brussels District Committee for Popular Consultation’ to address the issue of the monarchy, participants in which include Albert De Vleeschauwer, Minister of the Interior, General Boels, Committee Vice-Chairman, and Paul van Zeeland, Foreign Minister.

On 9 March 1950, in the daily French newspaper Le Monde, Paul-Henri Spaak, former Prime Minister of Belgium and President of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, gives his opinion on the question of the monarchy that is dividing Belgium.

In 1950, a banner displayed on the front of the Maison du Peuple in Brussels exhorts the Belgian people to vote against the return of King Leopold III to the Belgian throne.

In 1950, the issue of the monarchy generates unrest within Belgian society and leads to vigorous police intervention during some mass demonstrations.

On 12 March 1950, following a referendum, the Belgians declare themselves, by a majority of 57.68 % of the votes cast, in favour of the return of King Leopold III to the throne, despite the emergence of significant regional disparities.

On 13 March 1950, the Belgian Senate releases the full results of the popular consultation on King Leopold III’s return to the Belgian throne.

On 16 March 1950, in his residence in Pregny, Switzerland, where he has lived with his family since 1945, King Leopold III comments on the outcome of the popular consultation which resulted in a victory for the supporters of his return to the Belgian throne.

On 20 March 1950, the daily newspaper Luxemburger Wort comments on the political crisis regarding the application of the law preventing Léopold III from returning to the throne, a crisis which is splitting public opinion in Belgium.

‘King Leopold III: “On the right, Your Majesty, are your people. On the left the usual killjoys …”’ In April 1950, the German cartoonist Bob takes an ironic look at the return of King Leopold III to Belgium in the German satirical magazine Der Tintenfisch.

On 29 June 1950, during the debates surrounding Belgium’s monarchy, the daily newspaper La Libre Belgique strongly criticises the anti-royalist position concerning Léopold III taken by Socialist Deputy and former Prime Minister Paul-Henri Spaak.

On 16 July 1951, Leopold III, having found it impossible to win the Belgian people over to his return to the Belgian throne, decides to abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Baudouin; the following day, Baudouin becomes the fifth King of the Belgians.

On 17 July 1951, Crown Prince Baudouin takes the constitutional oath and becomes the fifth King of the Belgians.

On 22 January 1946, the French daily newspaper Le Monde comments on General de Gaulle’s resignation from the post of President of the Provisional Government two days earlier.

After the Italian people vote in favour of the Republic in the 2 June 1946 referendum, King Umberto II takes leave of the Head of the Royal Guard and leaves Italy for exile in Portugal.

On 11 April 1946, with a view to the constitutional referendum to be held on 2 June 1946, demonstrations break out throughout the country (here, in Turin) in favour of the establishment of a republic in Italy.

During the constitutional referendum held on 2 June 1946 in Italy, demonstrations take place in the streets of Rome in favour of retaining the monarchy.

On 2 June 1946, Italians vote in the first general elections of the post-war period and, at the same time, in the constitutional referendum that is to lead to the establishment of a Republic in Italy.

On 2 June 1946, the results of the popular referendum on Italy’s political future represent a victory for supporters of the Republic.

On 7 June 1946, the French daily newspaper Le Monde presents the official results of the national referendum held in Italy on 2 June 1946, which led to the establishment of a Republic in the country.

On 10 June 1946, the Italian Court of Cassation, meeting in plenary sitting in the She-Wolf Room of the Montecitorio Palace in the presence of the members of the government, formally pronounces the establishment of a Republic in Italy. From left to right: Giuseppe Romita, Minister of the Interior, Alcide De Gasperi, President of the Council and Foreign Minister, and Pietro Nenni, Vice President of the Council and Minister for the Constituent Assembly.

On 10 February 1947, Italy signs in Paris the Peace Treaty negotiated with the ‘Council of the Four’ allied powers (France, the United Kingdom, the United States and the USSR). The Treaty includes territorial clauses and stipulations concerning economic reparations.

On 31 July 1947, addressing the Constituent Assembly, Giovanni Gronchi, MP and Leader of the Christian Democrats in the Italian Parliament, outlines the implications of the adoption of the peace treaty between the Allies and Italy.