Philippe Becomes New Belgian King as Albert II Abdicates

BBC: Crown Prince Philippe has been sworn in as the new Belgian king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II.

The Oxford- and Stanford-educated, trained air force pilot took the oath as the country's seventh king in a ceremony in parliament.

To warm applause, King Philippe, 53, promised to uphold the constitution.

Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.

One of the duties the monarch does have is trying to resolve constitutional crises.

In his final address before signing a legislative act to step down, 79-year-old King Albert said his country must remain a "source of inspiration" to Europe.

He stressed his wish that Belgium - split between the Dutch-speaking north and the French south - remained united.

His resignation on the grounds of ill-health came after nearly 20 years on the throne and was timed to coincide with Belgium's national day. (+ video) » | Sunday, July 21, 2013


THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Divided Belgium has a new King Philippe: Belgium has a new King Philippe of the Belgians after his father Albert II abdicated after making an emotional exhortation for his countrymen to "work tirelessly" to hold their divided country together. » | Bruno Waterfield, Brussels | Sunday, July 21, 2013

ARD: TAGESSCHAU: Thronwechsel in Belgien: Philippe ist König » | Sonntag. 21. Juli 2013

LES ECHOS.fr: La Belgique célèbre son nouveau roi Philippe: Albert II a abdiqué dimanche en faveur de son fils Philippe, qui a prêté serment comme nouveau roi des Belges dans un pays divisé. » | dimanche 21 juillet 2013


Crying Queen of Belgium breaks down as she watches her husband abdicate and hand over the throne to their son » | Stuart Woledge | Sunday, July 21, 2013

Related »

King of Belgium Gives Final TV Message on Eve of Abdication

King Albert II has urged his citizens to support the new monarch in a final television message before he abdicates in favour of his son Philippe on Sunday.

Read the article here | Saturday, July 20, 2013
Albert II fait ses adieux à la Belgique »

Belgium's King Albert Abdicates on Grounds of Ill-health

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: King Albert II of Belgium has announced his abdication, the first time a Belgian monarch has voluntarily stepped down, amid ill health and a court case over his alleged paternity of an illegitimate daughter.

In an unexpected address to the nation, the king, aged 79, announced that he would formally abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Philippe on July 21, Belgium's national day.

"I am at an age never attained by my predecessors. I have noticed that my age and health no longer allow me to fulfill my job as I should have wished. I would not meet my duties and not honour my view of the royal function if I stuck to my post at all costs," he said.

"It's a question of elementary respect for the institutions and of respect towards you. Following a twenty year reign I am of the opinion that the moment has come to hand the torch on to the next generation."

"I want to tell you now that it was an honour and a joy to devote a large part of my life to the service of this country and its people." » | Bruno Waterfield | Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Belgium's King Albert II Announces Abdication

BBC: The King of the Belgians, Albert II, has announced his abdication.

In a national televised address, the 79-year-old monarch said he would step down in favour of his son Crown Prince Philippe, 53, on 21 July, Belgium's national day.

He said his health was no longer good enough to fulfil his duties, and it was time to "pass on the torch to the next generation".

He said Philippe was "well prepared" to be his successor.

During Belgium's political deadlock in 2010-11, the king - who was set to mark 20 years on the throne next month - took on the role of mediator. » | Wednesday, July 03, 2013

Belgium’s Survival in Question
THE OBSERVER: Divisions deepen in nation at the heart of Europe

Belgium's chances of surviving as a single country suffered a significant blow last night when the man tipped to be the next Prime Minister abandoned almost six months of bad-tempered wrangling over a new government and threw in the towel.

Yves Leterme, the Flemish Christian Democrat leader who emerged strongest from general elections in June, went to the royal palace in Brussels to tell King Albert he had had enough.

The King accepted Leterme's resignation, but left open the key question of what happens next in the effort to secure a consensus between the country's bitterly divided Dutch-speaking Flemish and francophone Walloon communities. Belgium's survival in question as 'next PM' quits the battle >>> By Ian Traynor in Brussels

Mark Alexander