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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