Belgium’s royal affair and Montenegro gains independence

Max Pearson presents a collection of the week's Witness History interviews from the BBC World Service.

First, the story of the Belgian teenager who exposed a scandal within the country’s Royal Family in 1999.

Our guest, Professor Kate Williams takes us through some other royal scandals from history.

We hear how a group of women set up an underground newspaper in communist Poland and how an E-Coli outbreak caused one of Canada’s worst public health emergencies.

Plus, how Montenegro achieved independence from Serbia through a 2006 referendum.

Our sporting story this week takes us to Eastern Ukraine and the rise of Shakhtar Donetsk.

Finally, we delve into the archives to hear about when an Indian diplomat secured a rare meeting with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin.

Contributors:

Mario Danneels – teenager who exposed King Albert II of Belgium’s secret child

Professor Kate Williams – royal historian

Helena Luczywo – former editor of Polish underground newspaper Mazovia Weekly

Bruce Davidson – resident who experienced Canada’s E-Coli outbreak

Ivan Vujovic – independence campaigner in Montenegro

Darijo Srna – former captain of Shakhtar Donetsk

Archive recordings of Krishna Menon – former Indian diplomat

(Photo: Queen Paola and King Albert II of Belgium in 1999. Credit: Reuters)