King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians

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a nice royal family

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From left to right: Prince Guillaume of Luxembourg, Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg, Prince Daniel of Sweden, Princess Victoria of Sweden, Prince Felipe of Spain, Princess Letizia of Spain, Princess Mary of Denmark, Princess Maxima of The Netherlands, Prince Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Princess Matilde of Belgium, Prince Philippe of Belgium, Prince Haakon of Norway

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Princess Mathilde and Prince Philippe of Belgium

At a dinner hosted by Queen Beatrix of The Netherlands ahead of her abdication at Rijksmuseum on April 29, 2013 in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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Matilde de Bélgica

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13/05/2013

HRH Prince Philippe and HRH Princess Mathilde of Belgium paid an official courtesy visit today to their compatriot and International Olympic Committee President, Jacques Rogge, at the IOC headquarters in Lausanne.

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Some Euro websites have been abuzz with speculation that Prince Philippe's father, King Albert II, might abdicate in his son's favor on July 21, Belgium's national holiday.

Belgium: King Albert II to abdicate in favor of his son Prince Philippe?

Published On: Thu, May 16th, 2013

Belgium has been struck with unexpected change in the Royal family. As VoR reported, King Albert II of Belgium may abdicate in favor of his eldest son Philippe on July 21, Belgium’s National Day, quoting local journalist Patrick Weber as saying on Thursday.

He said that “the July 12 abdication statement may be followed by a smooth transfer of power, due on the November 15 King’s Day.”

Government officials have refused to comment on the announcement that comes amid the upcoming 20th anniversary of King Albert II’s enthronization.

According to the latest opinion polls, most Belgians continue to support the rule of Albert II, whom they see as a moral authority and a symbol of their country’s unity.

Unlike his father, Prince Philippe has repeatedly been criticized for his controversial comments on the political situation in Belgium.

http://inserbia.info/news/2013/05/belgium-king-albert-ii-to-abdicate-in-favor-of-his-son-prince-philippe/

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King Albert II: Belgium monarch set to announce his abdication in televised speech to his country

Royal palace announces king "will speak to the people" in special address this evening

3 Jul 2013 14:54

Belgium's King Albert II is set to announce his abdication later today in a televised speech to his nation, according to reports.

A royal palace spokesman said that the 79-year-old "will speak to the people" this evening in a special address on the country's national day.

The announcement has sparked a frenzy of speculation that the king will step down on July 21.

The spokesman said: "The core council of ministers has convened in the presence of the king. The king will speak to the people at 1800 (12:00 p.m. EDT) via a radio and television address."

His son Philippe, 53, is next in line to the throne in the small nation where European Union headquarters are located.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/king-albert-ii-belgium-monarch-2021753

 

[Guest Fabiola]

King Albert II of Belgium expected to abdicate
03 JULY 2013

The King of Belgium is expected to announce his abdication on Wednesday evening after months of speculation that he might step down from the throne.

Just a month after his 79th birthday, King Albert II is expected to make an announcement which will be broadcast on Belgium's principal TV and radio stations that he will abdicate on 21 July.

"The core council of ministers has convened in the presence of the King. The King will speak to the people at 1800 (12:00 p.m. EDT) via a radio and television address," the palace said in a statement.

Local news sites have reported that the sovereign will step down after just shy of 20 years on the throne. His announcement comes one day after his and Queen Paola of Belgium's 54th wedding anniversary.

Following the King's announcement, Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo will address the nation.

Albert's son Crown Prince Philippe, 53, is next in line to the throne.

In May, rumours began to swirl that the monarch might abdicate. If he does renounce his position on 21 July, it will coincide with the small country's National Day.

Reports have also suggested a date for Philippe's inauguration – 15 November, also known as King's Feast Day in Belgium.

As well as Philippe, Albert and Paola are also parents to Prince Laurent and Princess Astrid.

King Albert II ascended to the throne in 1993, following the death of his older brother, King Baudouin. It was assumed that Baudouin's nephew Prince Philippe would ascend the throne. Baudouin never had children of his own, and Philippe had been groomed as the heir apparent since birth.

However, due to due problems arising from the country's linguistic and religious differences, it was decided a more experienced hand was called for.

Parliament named the King's brother, the more politically experienced Prince Albert of Liege, his successor.

http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2013070313333/king-albert-of-belgium-abdication/

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'I intend to abdicate on July 21': Belgium's King Albert II

(AFP) – 33 minutes ago

BRUSSELS — Belgium's King Albert II on Wednesday announced his abdication in favour of his son Philippe after two decades at the helm of the tiny country.

"I intend to abdicate on July 21," the sovereign said in a speech broadcast to the nation from the royal palace. "Prince Philippe is well prepared. He and Princess Mathilde have my entire confidence."

"So it is with serenity and confidence that I announce I intend to abdicate on July 21," he added.

In his short speech to the nation, read first in French then in Flemish, Belgium's two main languages, the 79-year-old monarch said he was too tired and too frail to continue to reign.

"I am at an age never attained by predecessors," he said. "My age and my health do not allow me to exercise my duties as I would like."

As the second son of King Leopold III (1901-1983) and Astrid of Sweden (1905-1935), Albert was not destined to reign but was forced to ascend to the throne in 1993 on the death of his older brother King Baudouin, who passed away without an heir.

His decision to step down is the first abdication in the history of Belgium. The country gained independence from the Netherlands in 1831.

As monarch, Albert's duties include representing Belgium at home and abroad on state visits, trade missions, and at high-level international meetings as well as taking an interest in Belgian society, culture and enterprise.

His son Philippe, 53, will be the seventh king from the house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha -- now known simply as the royal house of Belgium -- to have headed the constitutional monarchy since independence.

Belgium's Queen Paola (L) adjusts the tie of Belgium's King Albert II before a televised address to the nation July 3, 2013.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5g2MqS0Y4FvSiJJBjEMPpUeef03VA?docId=CNG.cc86cf81d020fbfd971ca22cc7412101.511

[Guest Fabiola]

Princess Mathilde Of Belgium Set For Queen Consort Role As King Albert II Abdicate

Posted: 07/03/2013 12:42 pm EDT | Updated: 07/03/2013 1:10 pm EDT

It's officially the summer of royals, everyone: The world is about to get a new queen.

King Albert II of Belgium abdicated the throne today, citing age and poor health. The 79-year-old monarch's stepping down clears the way for his son Crown Prince Philippe to become king... and Philippe's wife, Princess Mathilde, to become queen consort.

Which means that it's about time we get to know the new queen! Princess Mathilde is a natural fit for the monarchy, and not only because she has the people's favor on her side. She will be the first Belgian-born queen consort, and one with noble lineage at that: Her parents are Count and Countess Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz, making her one of only three European crown princesses born from nobility.

As a young woman, Mathilde studied speech therapy at the Institut Libre Marie Haps in Brussels, graduating magna cum laude and subsequently starting her own speech therapy practice. She married Prince Philippe in 1999, but still made time to earn her a master's in psychology from the Catholic University of Louvain in 2002.

We also love Mathilde for her excellent style. As a mother of four young children, the 40-year-old princess favors a practical yet fashion-forward wardrobe filled with sleeveless sheath dresses (hello, FLOTUS!), shiny fabrics, colorful prints and a bevy of funky heels (nude pumps are for British princesses).

Oh, and she's passed that flair on to her adorable kids, Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore. Did you see their first day of school pictures? Too cute.

Princess Mathilde will officially become Queen Mathilde on July 21, Belgium's National Day. We're not Belgian, but we're totally going to celebrate -- we just got an awesome new queen to follow!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/07/03/princess-mathilde-of-belgium_n_3541221.html

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A look at Belgium's future King, Prince Philippe, and his family

03 JULY 2013

Following his father King Albert II of Belgium's announcement that he will abdicate, HELLO! Online takes a look at Belgium's future king Crown Prince Philippe and his family.

Aged 53, Philippe is older brother to Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent.

The prospective monarch married Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium, daughter of Belgian aristocracy, in December 1999. They have four children together: Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore.

Philippe is currently a trade ambassador for his country and frequently travels overseas to to promote their fine produce.

Princess Mathilde is also a respected representative of Belgium, taking part at the annual World Economic Forum every year since 2007. She has been the Honorary President of Unicef Belgium since 2009.

The pair met while at playing tennis at university. The couple, now in their fifties, enjoy active holidays to keep their brood of four occupied.

The family are always well turned out and often colour-coordinate their clothes, with their sons and daughters sometimes wearing matching outfits.

http://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2013070313336/prince-phillippe-princess-mathilde-family/