Philippe of Belgium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philippe |
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
_(cropped).jpg)
Philippe in 2021
|
|||||
| King of the Belgians | |||||
| Reign | 21 July 2013 – present | ||||
| Predecessor | Albert II | ||||
| Heir apparent | Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant | ||||
| Born | 15 April 1960 Belvédère Château, Laeken, Brussels, Belgium |
||||
| Spouse |
Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz
(m. 1999) |
||||
| Issue Detail |
|
||||
|
|||||
| House | Belgium | ||||
| Father | Albert II | ||||
| Mother | Paola Ruffo di Calabria | ||||
| Religion | Catholic | ||||
| Signature |  |
||||
Philippe (born 15 April 1960) is the current King of the Belgians. He is the oldest child of King Albert II and Queen Paola. He became king on 21 July 2013. This happened after his father decided to step down from the throne. King Philippe married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz in 1999. They have four children together. Their oldest child, Princess Elisabeth, is next in line to become queen.
Contents
Early Life of King Philippe
Philippe was born on 15 April 1960. His birthplace was the Belvédère Château in Laeken, near Brussels. His father, Prince Albert, later became King Albert II. Albert was the second son of King Leopold III of Belgium. Philippe's mother, Paola, later became Queen Paola. She came from an important Italian family.
Philippe was baptised on 17 May, about a month after he was born. He was named after his great-great-grandfather, Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders. His godparents were his grandfather, King Leopold III, and his grandmother, Donna Luisa.
Philippe has a half-sister named Princess Delphine of Belgium. She was born in 1968.
Education and Military Training
As a child, Philippe had to change schools. He moved from a French-speaking school to a secondary school in Flanders. He found it hard to make friends there. In 2019, Philippe shared that he had "many problems at school" when he was young. He said it "was not easy for me."
From 1978 to 1981, Philippe studied at the Belgian Royal Military Academy. He became a second lieutenant on 26 September 1980. He then took an oath to serve as an officer.
Philippe continued his studies at Oxford University in England. He also went to Stanford University in California. He earned a master's degree in political science in 1985.
He also became a fighter pilot. He earned certificates as a parachutist and a commando. In 1989, he attended special training at the Royal Higher Defence Institute. That same year, he was promoted to colonel.
In 1993, King Baudouin passed away. Philippe's father, Albert, became the new king. Philippe then became the new heir apparent, meaning he was next in line to the throne. He was given the title Duke of Brabant.
On 25 March 2001, Philippe received higher military ranks. He became a major-general in the army and air force. He also became a rear-admiral in the navy.
Marriage and Family
Philippe married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz on 4 December 1999. Their wedding took place in Brussels. They had a civil ceremony at the Brussels Town Hall. A religious ceremony followed at the Cathedral of Saint Michel and Saint Gudule.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have four children. All of them were born at Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels:
- Princess Elisabeth (born 25 October 2001)
- Prince Gabriel (born 20 August 2003)
- Prince Emmanuel (born 4 October 2005)
- Princess Eléonore (born 16 April 2008)
Work for Belgium
On 6 August 1993, Philippe was named honorary chairman of the Belgian Foreign Trade Board. He took over this role from his father. On 3 May 2003, he became honorary chairman of the Foreign Trade Agency.
In this role, Philippe led more than 60 economic missions. These missions helped Belgium's trade with other countries. When he became king, his sister, Princess Astrid, took over this important job.
Becoming King
King Albert II announced on 3 July 2013 that he would step down. He chose to give the throne to Philippe on 21 July 2013. About an hour after his father's abdication, Prince Philippe was sworn in. He officially became the King of the Belgians. His oldest child, Princess Elisabeth, became his heir. She is expected to be Belgium's first queen who rules in her own right.
King Philippe has played a part in forming new governments. For example, after the 2014 Belgian federal election, he met with political leaders. In 2020, King Philippe expressed regret for past violence. He spoke about the "acts of violence and cruelty" that happened in the Congo Free State. These acts occurred under the rule of his ancestor, King Leopold II.
Honours and Symbols
As King, Philippe is the Grand Master of several Belgian national honours. These include the Order of Leopold and the Order of the Crown.
He has also received many honours from other countries. These are special awards given to him by leaders around the world.
Coat of Arms
 |
|
See also
- Line of succession to the Belgian throne
- Prince Philippe Fund
