King Philippe is about to celebrate his
tenth anniversary on the throne of Belgium, with many successes
behind him that surprised his past detractors. Many
considered him too quiet and shy to be an effective leader, and
when King Albert II announced his decision to abdicate, many were
sceptical of Philippe’s abilities to carry the duties of a head of
state on his shoulders. However…
A Queen for Belgium? New survey shows strong support for heir Elisabeth to take the throne young
20th July 2023
Recent polling in Belgium suggests that a
majority of people believe that Princess Elisabeth should succeed
her father in the next 10 years. A survey commissioned by top
Belgian media outlets—including HLN, VTM NEWS, RTL and Le
Soir—polled people on their thoughts…
King Philippe pays moving tributes to his two predecessors, King Albert and King Baudouin, as jubilee approaches
20th July 2023
King Philippe has paid a moving tribute
to his father and predecessor in a National Day speech ahead of his
10th anniversary on the Belgian throne. The Belgian monarch
succeeded his father, Albert II, on 21 July 2013, after the aging
king decided to abdicate due to poor…
King Philippe thanks Belgium for its support during his first 10 years as king
20th July 2023
King Philippe officially marks 10 years
on the Belgian throne this week and used his National Day speech to
thank his countrymen for their “great sense of solidarity” through
the tragedies and triumphs of his first decade as king. The Belgian
king succeeded his father, Albert II, on 21 July 2013. King Albert
II decided to abdicate owing to poor health, and said in a speech
at the time that…
King Philippe of the Belgians is marking
ten years of rule this July. However, when he was born, in 1960,
there was little expectation that he would ever become monarch. The
first child of Albert and Paola, then Prince and Princess of Liege,
he was third in line to a throne…
How the Jubilee celebrations in Belgium began: a summer garden party in a regal setting
20th July 2023
King Philippe of the Belgians is about to
mark the tenth anniversary of his reign. He took the country’s
throne on July 21st 2013 and as Belgium’s national day dawns this
year, he will celebrate a decade of rule. Plenty of his fellow
citizens want to celebrate…
As King Philippe celebrates ten years on
the throne, we look back at the day he became King of the Belgians,
July 21st 2013. Prince Philippe was born 15 April 1960, the eldest
son of Prince Albert and Princess Paola in the reign of his uncle,
King Baudouin. Albert succeeded to the throne in 1993 when his
older brother died without an heir. Philippe was now first in line
to the throne, a…
King Philippe of Belgium is celebrating
ten years on the throne after his father’s abdication in 2013. And
throughout the first decade of his reign, his wife, Queen Mathilde,
has been by his side. The Queen may not be the most outgoing
consort in Europe, but she is a…
King Philippe of the Belgians is marking
ten years on the throne and his country is marking a decade of
history. For the accession of Philippe also meant that, for the
first time, the country had a female heir to the throne. Philippe’s
daughter, Elisabeth, is in line…
King Philippe of Belgium will be marking
a decade of kingship in July 2023; he took the throne after his
father abdicated in 2013. Philippe’s role as sovereign has a
different relationship with the church than many other monarchs.
Belgium does not have a state church. As of 2018, over 60% of
Belgians identify as Christian, with 57% of the population
identifying as Catholic. As monarch…
