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Philippe of Belgium

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Philippe
King of the Belgians
Reign21 July 2013 – present
PredecessorAlbert II
Heiress apparentElisabeth
Prime Ministers
See list
Born (1960-04-15) 15 April 1960 (age 64)
Brussels, Belgium
SpouseMathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz
Issue
Detail		Princess Elisabeth
Prince Gabriel
Prince Emmanuel
Princess Eléonore
Names
Philippe Léopold Louis Marie
Filips Leopold Lodewijk Maria
HouseHouse of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha
FatherAlbert II of Belgium
MotherPaola Ruffo di Calabria
ReligionRoman Catholicism
SignaturePhilippe's signature

Philippe (French: Philippe Léopold Louis Marie, Dutch: Filip(s) Leopold Lodewijk Maria; born 15 April 1960) is the reigning King of the Belgians, having ascended the throne on 21 July 2013. He is the eldest child of King Albert II, whom he succeeded upon Albert's abdication due to 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 next in the line of succession.

Biography

His godparents were his paternal grandfather, King Leopold III, and his maternal grandmother Donna Luisa, Princess Ruffo di Calabria.

Education

From 1978 to 1981, King 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.

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.

He obtained his fighter pilot's wings and his certificates as a parachutist and a commando. In 1989 the Prince attended a series of special sessions at the Royal Higher Defence Institute. The same year, he was promoted to Colonel. 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.

Wedding

Prince 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, civilly at the Brussels Town Hall and religiously at the Cathedral of Saint Michel in Brussels. They have four children:

Succession

File:Philippe inauguration.jpg

King Albert II announced on 3 July 2013 that he would abdicate in favour of Philippe on 21 July 2013.[1]

Owing to the amendment to the laws of succession changing from the rule of agnatic primogeniture (the Lex Salica, or Salic law) to absolute primogeniture (in which the eldest child is always heir apparent), Princess Elisabeth is next in the line of succession after her father, followed by her younger brothers, Prince Gabriel and Prince Emmanuel, and her younger sister Princess Eléonore.

Military ranks

Royal Military Acad.[7] Pilot Wings[7] Parachutist badge[6] Commando badge[7][8]
123rd TAW (1978–1981) 9 July 1982 28 October 1982 17 December 1982
1980 1983 1989 2001 2010 2013

Foreign trade

On 6 August 1993, by Government decision, Prince Philippe was appointed Honorary Chairman of the Belgian Foreign Trade Board (BFTB). He succeeded to his father, who had been Honorary Chairman of the BFTB since 1962. On 3 May 2003, Prince Philippe was appointed Honorary chairman of the board of the Foreign Trade Agency, replacing the BFTB.[9]

In this capacity, Prince Philippe has headed (alone "P", or with Princess Mathilde since 2000 "P&M") more than sixty important economic missions which are:[10][11][12]

  • 1993: Spain, Saudi Arabia
  • 1994–95: Japan, Vietnam, South Africa, India, Sweden, Malaysia, Argentina,
  • 1996–98: Philippines (March 1996), China (1996), Turkey, Japan, United Arab Emirates, Mexico, Poland, India (December 1998)
  • 1999: Egypt and Brazil.
  • 2000: China (May, P&M), Uruguay & South Korea
  • 2001: Thailand (February), the Federation of Russia (June, P), Morocco
  • 2002: Malaysia, Chile, Saudi Arabia & Kuwait (18–24 October, P), Australia and New Zealand (16–27 November, P&M)
  • 2003: Mexico & California (15–25 February, P&M), Vietnam (11–17 October, P) and Poland (16–21 November, P&M)
  • 2004: United Arab Emirates & Oman, Turkey (2–6 May, P&M), Algeria & Tunisia (4–8 October, P) and China (20–28 November, P&M)
  • 2005: India (12–19 March, P&M), Japan (11–18 June, P), Brazil (19–26 November, P)
  • 2006: South Africa (11–18 March, P&M), Russia (26 June – 1 July, P&M), Canada (5–11 Nov, P), Bulgaria & Romania (10–13 Dec, P&M)
  • 2007: China & Hong-Kong (15–25 June, P&M), Bahrain & Qatar (2–6 November, P&M)
  • 2008: Seattle/Vancouver (7–13 March, P), Egypt (24–28 May, P), Argentina & Uruguay (4–10 Oct, P),
            Indonesia / Singapore (21–28 Nov, P&M)
  • 2009: Mexico/Panama (21–27 March, P&M), S. Korea (9–15 May, P), Saudi Arabia & United Arab Emirates (22–27(P)-28(&M) Oct.),
            Morocco (22–26 November, P&M).
  • 2010: India (20–27 March, P&M), Brazil (15–22 May, P&M), Kazakhstan (11–15 October, P), Ukraine (21–24 November, P).
  • 2011: Russia – Moscow – St Pet. (3–8 April, P&M), United States – New York, Washington & Boston (22–30 June, P&M),
              China (20–29 October, P&M), Chile (3–7 December, P).
  • 2012: Vietnam (10–16 March, P&M), Japan (11–15 June, P&M), Turkey (15–19 Oct, P&M), Australia & New Zealand (16–30 Nov, P).

Missions to come:

  • 2013: Thailand (March), United States – Los Angeles, San Francisco & San Diego (June), South Africa & Angola (October), India (November).
  • 2014: Saudi Arabia & Oman (March), Russia (April), Colombia & Peru (October), Indonesia (November).

Titles and styles

Styles of
The King of the Belgians
Reference styleHis Majesty
Spoken styleMonseigneur
Alternative styleSire
  • 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

Honours

See also: List of state visits & List of honours of the Belgian Royal Family by country

King Philippe has received numerous honours throughout his life:[13]

Belgian honours

On his 30th birthday, he was awarded, by his uncle, King Baudouin of the Belgians, the highest Belgian honour:

Foreign honours

Orders of sovereign states
1993  Netherlands Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau [14][15]
1994  Argentina Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin (1994) [16]
 Japan Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (1994) [17]
1995  Holy See Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem [18]
1996  Bolivia Grand Cross of the Order of the Condor of the Andes (1996) [16]
1997  Portugal Grand Cordon of the Military Order of Aviz [19]
2005 Grand Cross of the Order of Christ
1998  Germany Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic [20]
1999  Luxembourg Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau [21]
2000  Spain Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic [22][23]
2001  Sweden Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim [24]
2002  Denmark Knight of the Order of the Elephant [25]
2003  Norway Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav [26][27]
2004  Finland Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose [28]
 Poland Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland [29]
2005  Greece Grand Cross of the Order of Honour [16]
2008  Hungary Grand-Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Civilian Class [30][31]
Sovereign orders
1998  SMOM Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Dévotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta [16]
Former sovereign families
2010 House of Habsburg Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (House of Habsburg) [16]
International organisations
2010 International Military Sports Council Grand Cordon of the IMSC Order of Merit [32]

Ancestors

Family of Philippe of Belgium
16. Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders
8. Albert I of Belgium
17. Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen
4. Leopold III of Belgium
18. Karl-Theodor, Duke in Bavaria
9. Duchess Elisabeth in Bavaria
19. Infanta Maria Josepha of Portugal
2. Albert II of Belgium
20. Oscar II of Sweden
10. Prince Carl, Duke of Västergötland
21. Princess Sofia of Nassau
5. Princess Astrid of Sweden
22. Frederick VIII of Denmark
11. Princess Ingeborg of Denmark
23. Princess Lovisa of Sweden
1. Philippe, Duke of Brabant
24. Fulco VI Prince Ruffo di Calabria
12. Fulco VII Prince Ruffo di Calabria
25. Eleonora Galletti di San Cataldo
6. Fulco VIII Prince Ruffo di Calabria
26. Théodore Mosselman du Chenoy
13. Laura Mosselmann du Chenoy
27. Isabelle Coghen
3. Donna Paola Ruffo di Calabria
28. Calisto Gazelli dei Conti di Rossana
14. Augusto dei Conti Gazelli
29. Francesca Cotti di Ceres
7. Luisa Gazelli
30. Félix, Count Rignon
15. Maria Cristina Rignon
31. Luisa Perrone di San Martino

See also

References

  1. ^ Price, Matthew (3 July 2013). "Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication". BBC News. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  2. ^ Official 3Para page (French) evoking Prince Philippe
  3. ^ a b Prince Philippe promoted, portrait
  4. ^ Photo of Philippe as a Captain (3 stars) in the 3Para Battalion
  5. ^ Prince Philippe gets married in his uniform of Colonel of the Belgian Air Force
  6. ^ a b Photo of Prince Philippe as a General-major showing his parachutist badge
  7. ^ a b c 21st 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"
  8. ^ Photo showing the commando badge
  9. ^ Official portrait
  10. ^ "Les missions économiques du prince Philippe" (French)
  11. ^ Agence pour le Commerce extérieur, Missions antérieures
  12. ^ Official Royal Website Archives
  13. ^ Belgische Senaat – Biographish Handboek / Sénat de Belgique – Manuel Biographique
  14. ^ PPE Agency, King Willem-Alexander's inthronization 2013, Photo
  15. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Belgium of HM Queen Beatrix of Netherlands (20–22 June 2006), Philippe in this group photo
  16. ^ a b c d e Senate, biography of senators including Prince Philippe, senator by right
  17. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Japan, 1996, Sovereign couples & Prince Philippe
  18. ^ Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Belgian Lieutenancy's Official website, article evoking the decoration
  19. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Belgium of HE Mr Jorge SAMPAIO, President of the Portuguese Republic & Mrs SAMPAIO (18–20 October 2005, Photo of Prnce Philippe
  20. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit of President Herzog in Belgium (1998), Group Photo
  21. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Belgium of TT.RR.AA Grand-Duke Henri & Grand-Duchess Maria-Teresa of Luxembourg. (20–22 March 2007), Philippe & Mathilde
  22. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Belgium of TT.MM. King Juan Carlos & Queen Sofia of Spain (16–18 May 2000), Group photo
  23. ^ Prince Felipe's wedding – Belga Pictures, Philippe wearing the order
  24. ^ Belga Pictures, Princess Victoria of Sweden's wedding, 2010, Philippe & Mathilde
  25. ^ Zimbio, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark & Mary Donaldson's wedding, 14 May 2004, Photo of Philippe and Mathilde
  26. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Belgium of TTMM. King Harald V and Queen Sonja of Norway (20–22 May 2003), Philippe is behind in this group photo
  27. ^ King Harald's 70th birthday party, 2007, Group photo of Heirs & their consort
  28. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit of H.E. President Mrs Tarja Halonen of Finland & Dr Pentti Arajärvi (30/03-01/04/2004), Gala dinner, Philippe & Mathilde
  29. ^ Official Belgian royal website, State visit in Belgium of H.E. Mr Aleksander Kwasniewski, President of the Republic of Poland & Mrs Jolanta Kwasniewska, Gala dinner, group photo
  30. ^ Official Royal Website, State visit in Belgium of H.E. Mr Laszlo SÓLYOM, President of the Republic of Hungary. (15–17 April 2008, Group photo
  31. ^ Belga Pictures, Philippe
  32. ^ Prince Philippe receives an international sportive prize
Philippe of Belgium
Cadet branch of the House of Wettin
Born: 15 April 1960
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of the Belgians
2013–present 		Incumbent
Heiress apparent:
Elisabeth
Belgian royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Baudouin 		Duke of Brabant
1993–2013 		Vacant
Lines of succession
Preceded by Line of succession to the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha throne
22nd position 		Succeeded by

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