Belgium

YEAR IN REVIEW: Belgium's 2022 gives the country hope for the future

Belgium’s royal year was filled with joy, grief, and historic firsts. 2022 was opened with the death of Prince Lorenz’s mother, Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta, Archduchess of Austria-Este, aged 91, on 10 January. Princess Astrid’s mother-in-law was laid to rest almost 20 days later, on 29 January, in a ceremony in Switzerland that also saw King Philippe present. In…
Read more
BelgiumBritish RoyalsDenmarkEuropean RoyalsKing Charles IIILuxembourgNorwaySpainSwedenThe Netherlands

When to see royal Christmas speeches around Europe

Several monarchs share a holiday message to mark Christmas and the New Year. Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands delivered the first royal Christmas message via radio in 1931, and King George V of Great Britain delivered his first Christmas message in 1932 to launch what would become the BBC World Service. Now, it’s a well established festive tradition. If you are interested, you can now…
Read more
Belgium

The monarch's role in Belgium

Like many modern-day monarchic countries, the role of the sovereign in Belgium is largely ceremonial today. The King does not have political powers in that he doesn’t get to decide which laws get discussed in Parliament nor which issues are put at the forefront of the country’s political agenda. However, this does not mean that his activity is completely detached from the…
Read more
BelgiumEuropean Royals

Prince Gabriel of Belgium gives first public speech

Prince Gabriel of Belgium made his first public speech during the ceremony for the opening of the new academic year at the Royal Military Academy in Brussels. After the moment in which he received his blue bonnet, indicating that he had concluded the mandatory five-week training camp, the Prince made his appearance alongside his colleagues for the opening ceremony.  It was the first…
Read more