Philippe becomes new Belgian king as Albert II abdicates the Belgium Aristocratic dynasty lives on.

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It's good to be the king?: Belgium swears in Philippe amid tensions

 

Photonews / Getty Images Contributor

 

King Albert II of Belgium ® and Prince Philippe of Belgium (L) during the Abdication Ceremony of King Albert II Of Belgium in favor of Prince Philippe at the Royal Palace on July 21, 2013 in Brussels.

By Robert-Jan Bartunek and Philip Blenkinsop, Reuters

 

BRUSSELS — Belgium swore in Philippe as its new king on Sunday after his father Albert II abdicated, subduing for a day questions about his ability to bring a divided country together and the power of the monarchy.

 

Philippe, 53, took his oath in Belgium's three official languages - Dutch, French and German - two-and-a-half weeks after King Albert, 79, announced that he would abdicate after 20 years on the throne.

 

Albert could be seen mouthing the words "Vive le roi" (Long live the king) at the swearing-in ceremony in parliament.

 

Before signing a legislative act in the royal palace to step down, Albert thanked his wife, who wiped away tears, and said his son had all the qualities to serve the country well.

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"My final recommendation to all those gathered here is to work without rest in keeping Belgium together," he said.

 

Philippe returned to the subject in his address to parliament, saying Belgium's richness lay in its diversity.

 

"ONE KING, TWO NATIONS"

 

Philippe is the seventh king of the 183-year-old country which is split across the middle. Many Dutch speakers seek greater autonomy for Flanders in the north and are wary of a monarchy seen to be rooted in the once powerful, but now poorer French-speaking Wallonia in the south.

 

"One king, two nations" was a headline in the French language business daily L'Echo.

 

Outside the palace, a crowd gathered in festive mood, but in scorching heat that caused some to faint. Many shouted "vive le roi" and waved flags when Philippe and his wife Mathilde arrived on the balcony.

 

"The new king is a bit of history. That doesn't happen very often so we wanted to be here," said Xavier De Graef from French-speaking Liege, clad in a Belgian soccer shirt, a flag and a wig in the red, yellow and black of the Belgian tricolour.

 

There were a few dissenting voices, including the N-VA party that wants Dutch-speaking Flanders to break away from Belgium and favors a republic.

 

"It leaves me cold. It doesn't make the hairs on my arm stand up. This is part of my job as a lawmaker. Otherwise it just passes me by," said Jan Jambon, its parliamentary chief.

 

The party has been particularly vocal in recent weeks about the need to reform the monarchy but said it would not disturb Sunday's pageantry. Far-right separatists Vlaams Belang said they would not attend the swearing in, but planned no protests.

 

However, Michiel Descheemaeker, a 21-year-old student who with friends was dressed in mediaeval costume, said he had come to protest against monarchies in general. "Kings belong in fairy tales and that's the only place," he told Reuters Television.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

[ANWAR]

who cares about those old white ppl...

[kickz]

Being king of Belgium is like being King of a hotel, meaningless

[kickz]

Taloow when are we gonna set up a royal family in Somalia? It could be a good way of uniting the clans