Philippe of Belgium

Philippe / Filip
Philippe in Antwerp, 2013
King of the Belgians
Reign 21 July 2013 – present
Predecessor Albert II
Heir apparent Elisabeth
Prime Ministers Elio Di Rupo
Charles Michel
Born (1960-04-15) 15 April 1960
Belvédère Castle, Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
Spouse
Issue
Detail
Full name
French: Philippe Léopold Louis Marie
Dutch: Filip Leopold Lodewijk Maria
German: Philipp Leopold Ludwig Maria
House Belgium
Father Albert II of Belgium
Mother Paola Ruffo di Calabria
Religion Roman Catholicism

Philippe or Filip[lower-alpha 1] (French pronunciation: ​[filip], Dutch pronunciation: [ˈfi.lɪp], French: Philippe Léopold Louis Marie, Dutch: Filip Leopold Lodewijk Maria, German: Philipp Leopold Ludwig Maria; born 15 April 1960) is the King of the Belgians, having ascended the throne on 21 July 2013, following his father's abdication. He is the eldest child of King Albert II, whom he succeeded upon Albert's abdication for health reasons, and Queen Paola. He married Countess Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz (now Queen Mathilde), with whom he has four children. King Philippe's elder daughter, Princess Elisabeth, is first in the line of succession.

Early life

Philippe was born on 15 April 1960 during the reign of his uncle, King Baudouin of Belgium. His father, Prince Albert, Prince of Liège (later King Albert II) was the second son of King Leopold III of Belgium and a younger brother of Baudouin. His mother, Paola, Princess of Liège (later Queen Paola), is a daughter of Italian aristocrat Fulco VIII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria, 6th Duke of Guardia Lombarda. His mother descends from the French House of La Fayette, and the king is a descendant of Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette and Marie Adrienne Françoise de Noailles.

He was born at the Belvédère Castle in Laeken north of Brussels. He was baptised one month later at the church of Saint Jacques-sur-Coudenberg in Brussels on 17 May,[1] and named Philippe after his great-great-grandfather Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders. His godparents were his paternal grandfather, King Leopold III, and his maternal grandmother, Donna Luisa, Princess Ruffo di Calabria.[2]

Education

From 1978 to 1981, Philippe was educated at the Belgian Royal Military Academy in the 118th "Promotion Toutes Armes". On 26 September 1980, he was appointed second lieutenant and took the officer's oath.[3]

He continued his education at Trinity College, Oxford and he attended graduate school at Stanford University, California, where he graduated in 1985 with an MA degree in political science.[3] He obtained his fighter pilot's wings and his certificates as a parachutist and a commando. In 1989, he attended a series of special sessions at the Royal Higher Defence Institute. The same year, he was promoted to colonel.

In 1993 King Baudouin died in Spain, Albert became the new king, and Philippe became the new heir apparent, titled Duke of Brabant.

On 25 March 2001, the prince was appointed to the rank of major-general in the Land Component and the Air Component and to the rank of rear-admiral in the Naval Component.[3]

Marriage

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde wave to the crowds in Brussels after Philippe's swearing in as new Belgian monarch.

Philippe married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz, daughter of a Walloon Count of Belgian noble family and female line descendant of Polish noble families such as the Princes Sapieha and Counts Komorowski, on 4 December 1999 in Brussels, in a civil ceremony at the Brussels Town Hall and a religious ceremony at the Cathedral of Saint Michel and Saint Gudule in Brussels. They have four children:

Foreign trade

On 6 August 1993, the government named Philippe as honorary chairman of the Belgian Foreign Trade Board (BFTB). He succeeded his father, who had been honorary chairman of the BFTB since 1962. On 3 May 2003, Philippe was appointed honorary chairman of the board of the Foreign Trade Agency, replacing the BFTB.[4]

In this capacity, Philippe has headed more than 60 economic missions.[5][6] Upon his accession as seventh King of the Belgians, this role was taken over by his sister Princess Astrid.

Accession

King Albert II announced on 3 July 2013 that he would abdicate in favour of Philippe on 21 July 2013.[7] Approximately one hour after King Albert II's abdication, Prince Philippe was sworn in as King of the Belgians.[8] His eldest child, Princess Elisabeth became his heir apparent and is expected to become Belgium's first queen regnant.

Military ranks

Philippe in 2008 as an Air Force major-general.
Royal Military Acad. Pilot Wings[13] Parachutist badge[14] Commando badge[13]
123rd TAW (1978–1981)9 July 198228 October 198217 December 1982
198019831989200120102013

Titles, styles, honours and arms

Coat of arms of the King of the Belgians
  • 15 April 1960 – 9 August 1993: His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium
  • 9 August 1993 – 21 July 2013: His Royal Highness The Duke of Brabant
  • 21 July 2013 – present: His Majesty The King of the Belgians

Honours

Personal Standard of Philippe, King of the Belgians

National honours

Foreign honours

Awards

Ancestors

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Alternatively Filip in Dutch, and Philipp in German

References

  1. ↑ J.M. (8 May 2001). "Le baptême en l'église royale..." dh.be (in French). Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  2. ↑ "Prince Philippe : la ligne du temps d'une vie passée devant les caméras". RTBF.be (in French). Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Belgian Monarchy". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  4. ↑ "The Belgian Monarchy". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. ↑ Agence pour le Commerce extérieur, Missions antérieures
  6. ↑ "Official Royal Website Archives". Monarchie.be. Archived from the original on 18 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  7. ↑ Price, Matthew (3 July 2013). "Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication". BBC News. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  8. ↑ "Belgium's King Albert II gives up throne to son". CNN. 21 July 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  9. ↑ Official 3Para page (French) evoking Prince Philippe
  10. 1 2 Prince Philippe promoted, portrait
  11. ↑ Photo of Philippe as a Captain (3 stars) in the 3Para Battalion
  12. ↑ Prince Philippe gets married Archived 19 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine. in his uniform of Colonel of the Belgian Air Force
  13. 1 2 21 July 2012, photo showing the commando badge, the blue wing of the parachutist badge under the ribbon of the Order of Leopold, the pilot wing, the omega sign of Royal Academy "Promotion toutes armes"
  14. ↑ Photo of Prince Philippe as a General-major showing his parachutist badge
  15. ↑ De monarchie in België. Author: Wyvekens, Pierre Year: 1992 Publisher: Brussel Inbel
  16. ↑ http://www.academieroyale.be/academie/documents/Annuaire_201726102.pdf
  17. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Senate, biography of senators including Prince Philippe, senator by right
  18. ↑ "Finnish President Visit To Belgium – Day One Pictures – Getty Images". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  19. ↑ http://media.gettyimages.com/photos/daniela-schadt-partner-of-the-german-president-and-king-philippe-of-picture-id514349312
  20. ↑ Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Belgian Lieutenancy's Official website, article Archived 16 May 2006 at the Wayback Machine. evoking the decoration
  21. ↑ "The Belgian King Albert II (L) and Queen Paola (2ndL) and their eldest son, crown Prince Philippe of Belgium (C) are welcomed by Japanese Empress Michiko and Emperor Akihito, at the Imperial Palace... Pictures – Getty Images". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  22. ↑ "Nuevo duelo de reinas: una Rania muy demodé no puede con una Matilde sublime. Noticias de Casas Reales". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembou Pictures – Getty Images". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  24. ↑ "Norwegian Royals Make State Visit To Belgium Pictures – Getty Images". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  25. ↑ "Long Live all the magic we made". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  26. ↑ "Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 18 października 2004 r. o nadaniu orderów". isap.sejm.gov.pl.
  27. 1 2 gettyimages.co.uk, Philippe wearing Portuguese honours
  28. ↑ BOE: nom. 115, pg. 17721. Real Decreto 775/2000. 13 May 2000.
  29. ↑ "Royaux".
  30. ↑ "King Philippe of Belgium presents Order of Leopold to President Erdogan". Presidency of the Republic of Turkey. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  31. ↑ "Prince Philippe receives an international sportive prize". Mil.be. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
Philippe of Belgium
Born: 15 April 1960
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Albert II		 King of the Belgians
2013–present		 Incumbent
Heir apparent:
Elisabeth
Belgian royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Baudouin		 Duke of Brabant
1993–2013		 Succeeded by
Elisabeth
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