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 people and institutions that do hold that power. “The King interacts with players in the political arena by asking questions, expressing opinions, making suggestions, warning and giving encouragement,” says the Royal Palace’s website.
The monarch’s power is best displayed during the process of forming a new government when they welcome leaders of political parties to hold consultations. The new government is then considered to be officially in power only after the members swear in their role in the hands of the sovereign.
But the most significant role that the monarch holds in the country is the diplomatic representation of the people of Belgium abroad. Through State Visits, official trips and economic missions, the King and the rest of the members of the Royal Family make it a priority to promote Belgian excellence in foreign lands.
This role of service towards the people is best explained with the title held by the sovereign; unlike other monarchies, the King and Queen are titled “of the Belgians” and not “of Belgium.” This was decided as a way to emphasise the fact that the country’s head of state serves its people, not the land.
In turn, this means that, in their “job” as sovereign, the person at the top of the country’s institutions spends a lot of their time talking to state and local politicians, but also to CEOs, community leaders and organisers, as well as members of society that make a difference.
The King and the Royal Family are provided what in Belgium are called “emoluments” for the functioning of the monarchic institution; the handout of the money is allocated according to article 89 of the Constitution and is divided between all areas of the institution that need funding: from the day-to-day running of the Royal Household to charities, patronages and the maintaining of royal properties.
This specific law was modified last in January of 2014, less than a year after King Philippe acceded to the throne; this amendment clarified who is entitled to receive state funds (the monarch and their potentially surviving spouse, a sovereign emeritus and their potentially surviving spouse, and the heir to the throne and their potentially surviving spouse), as well as established that the funds allocated to members of the Royal Family are handed out only on the proposal and approval of Parliament, and consist of two parts: one, considered a compensation for the work done, is subject to regular federal taxation, while the other is destined to the payment of household workers, so it is not subject to taxation, as the workers’ salaries are the ones that will be taxed.
The sovereign also holds the role of Chief of the Armed Forces, which is why Princess Elisabeth took a sabbatical year from her academic studies to undergo 11 months of intensive military training. Although she is now a full-time student of History and Politics at Oxford University’s Lincoln College, she uses some of her time off to continue her military training, which will serve her in the future as she will one day be the one in charge of Belgium’s entire military force.
One of the country’s most important dates is the 21st of July, when Belgium celebrates its National Day with a military parade and a thanksgiving service in Brussels’ cathedral, in a series of events highlighting all facets of the monarch’s role.
