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Belgium

Philippe at 60: the proud papa

As King Philippe celebrates his 60th birthday this month, we are taking a look back at his life in a series of articles. Here we take a look at the King’s proud moments as a father.

The birth of his first child, Princess Elisabeth

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The proud papa takes a photo of his firstborn

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With Princess Elisabeth as his younger brother, Prince Laurent announces his engagement to Claire Coombs in 2002

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Bringing Princess Elisabeth to meet her baby brother, Prince Gabriel in 2003

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Presenting Prince Gabriel to the world in August 2003

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Official family photo of the new family of four

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Family photos are released after Prince Emmanuel’s 2005 birth

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The future king plays with his children during a 2006 summer photocall in Provinciaal Domein of Bokrijk

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A photo with his three children at Laeken Castle on January 03, 2007, in Brussels

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Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde take Princess Elisabeth and Prince Gabriel to the first day of school in 2007.

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Philippe plays with his children in a park in 2007

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Prince Philippe presents Princess Eleonore to the press after her birth in April 2008

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Just like other dads, he can’t help but take some personal photos of his children

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Belgium’s future monarch watches as his children play on a farm in 2010

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An official family photo session in 2012

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The new King Philippe smiles over at his children after ascending the throne.

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The King and his family wave from the balcony after his father’s abdication and his inauguration

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Princess Eleonore, King Philippe and Prince Emmanuel of Belgium attend the Car Free Day in 2014

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King Philippe and his family look at elephants at an animal park Pairi Daiza in Cambron-Casteau, Brugelette in 2015.

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The Belgian Royal Family at the annual Christmas concert in 2018

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In 2019, Princess Elisabeth sees how her father records his annual National Day address

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The King was visibly emotional as his eldest celebrated her 18th birthday in 2019. He presented her with the Order of the Leopold.

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About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.