![Original photo by Willy Rogg: The royal couple's car is totally destroyed.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/titelbild-astrid-von-belgien-300x225.jpg)
The tragic death of Queen Astrid
On 29 August 1935, Queen Astrid of Belgium dies in a car accident on Lake Lucerne. Just one day later, the whole world knows. Thanks to a resourceful Swiss photographer and the help of a well-known aviation pioneer.
![The Astrid Chapel on the shore of Lake Lucerne commemorates the queen who died in an accident.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/astrid-kapelle-300x195.jpg)
![The car is half submerged in Lake Lucerne. Original picture by Willy Rogg.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/unfallauto-astrid-227x300.jpg)
![Photo by Willy Rogg: The body of Queen Astrid (under a white cloth) is lifted into a coffin.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/leiche-konigin-300x218.jpg)
![Leopold III of Belgium married the 19-year-old Astrid of Sweden in 1926. The media have been interested in the glamorous couple ever since.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/konigspaar-217x300.jpg)
First night flight in Swiss aviation
![Walter Mittelholzer is not only an aviation pioneer, but also a media professional. He immediately recognises the explosive nature of Rogg's photos.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/mittelholzer-300x187.jpg)
![For the valuable photos, Walter Mittelholzer, together with Robert Gsell, ventured on a return flight to London in one such Douglas DC-2.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/douglas-300x147.jpg)