Philippe of Belgium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philippe |
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Philippe in 2025
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| King of the Belgians | |||||
| Reign | 21 July 2013 – present | ||||
| Predecessor | Albert II | ||||
| Heir apparent | Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant | ||||
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| Born | 15 April 1960 Belvédère Château, Laeken, Brussels, Belgium |
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| House | Belgium | ||||
| Father | Albert II | ||||
| Mother | Paola Ruffo di Calabria | ||||
Philippe (born 15 April 1960) is the current King of the Belgians. He is the oldest child of King Albert II and Queen Paola.
Philippe became king on 21 July 2013. This happened after his father, King Albert II, decided to step down, or abdicate, for health reasons.
In 1999, he married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz. Together, they have four children. Their oldest child, Princess Elisabeth, is the heir to the throne. This means she will become the queen after him.
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Early Life and Family
Philippe was born on 15 April 1960, at the Belvédère Château in Brussels, Belgium. His father was Prince Albert, who later became King Albert II. His mother, Paola, was an Italian princess.
He was named Philippe after his great-great-grandfather, Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders. His godparents were his grandfather, King Leopold III, and his grandmother, Donna Luisa, Princess Ruffo di Calabria.
Philippe's childhood was sometimes difficult. His parents' marriage was not always happy, and they were often busy. He later said that he had problems at school and sometimes felt badly treated. He also has a half-sister, Princess Delphine, who was born in 1968.
Education and Military Training
From 1978 to 1981, Philippe attended the Belgian Royal Military Academy. This is a special school that trains officers for the army. He became a second lieutenant in 1980.
After his military training, he went to college. He studied at Trinity College in the United Kingdom. He then went to Stanford University in the United States, where he earned a master's degree in political science in 1985.
Philippe also trained to be a fighter pilot, a parachutist, and a commando. Over the years, he moved up in military rank. By 2001, he was a Major-General in the army and air force, and a Rear-Admiral in the navy.
When his uncle, King Baudouin, died in 1993, Philippe's father became King Albert II. At that moment, Philippe became the official heir to the throne.
Marriage and Family
On 4 December 1999, Philippe married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz. The wedding took place in Brussels. They had a civil ceremony at the City Hall and a religious service at the Cathedral of Saint Michel and Saint Gudule.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have four children:
- Princess Elisabeth, born in 2001
- Prince Gabriel, born in 2003
- Prince Emmanuel, born in 2005
- Princess Eléonore, born in 2008
Princess Elisabeth is first in line to the throne. When she becomes queen, she will be the first-ever queen to rule Belgium in her own right.
Working for Belgium
Before he was king, Philippe worked to help Belgian businesses. In 1993, he was named the honorary chairman of the Belgian Foreign Trade Board. In this role, he traveled to other countries to promote Belgian companies and products.
He led more than 60 of these trips, called "economic missions." After he became king, his sister, Princess Astrid, took over this important job.
Reign as King
On 21 July 2013, King Albert II officially stepped down. Just one hour later, Philippe took an oath and was sworn in as the seventh King of the Belgians.
As king, Philippe's job is to be a symbol of unity for all Belgians. He meets with political leaders and helps them form a government after elections. For example, he played an important part in helping to form a government after the 2014 elections. In 2019, he held a meeting with the head of the Vlaams Belang political party, which was the first time a king had ever officially met with that party.
Speaking on Important Issues
King Philippe has used his position to talk about important historical and current events.
In 2020, he expressed his deep regret for the "acts of violence and cruelty" that happened in the Congo Free State. This was a colony in Africa once ruled by his great-great-granduncle, King Leopold II.
In September 2024, during a visit from Pope Francis, King Philippe and the Belgian Prime Minister spoke out about serious problems within the Roman Catholic Church in Belgium.
He has also spoken about world events. In a speech in July 2025, he called the war in Gaza "a disgrace for all humanity." He said that innocent people were suffering and called for the crisis to end immediately.
Honours and Coat of Arms
As King, Philippe is the Grand Master of Belgium's national orders. These are special awards given to people for their service to the country. The main ones are:
- The Order of Leopold
- The Order of the Crown
- The Order of Leopold II
He has also received many honours from other countries around the world, recognizing his role as a head of state.
Coat of Arms
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See also
In Spanish: Felipe de Bélgica para niños
- Line of succession to the Belgian throne
- Prince Philippe Fund
