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Philippe of Belgium

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Prince Philippe
Duke of Brabant (more)
Born (1960-04-15) 15 April 1960 (age 64)
Laeken, Brussels, Belgium
SpouseCountess Mathilde 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

Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant (Template:Lang-fr, Template:Lang-nl; born 15 April 1960) is the heir apparent to the crown of Belgium, as the eldest child and eldest son of King Albert II and Queen Paola. He is married to Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz (now Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant). The eldest of their four children, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, will become the heir apparent after the ascension of Philippe to the Belgian throne, which puts her in line to be Belgium's first female monarch.[1]

On 3 July 2013, King Albert announced that he will abdicate the throne on 21 July due to health reasons, and that Philippe will succeed him as the next King of the Belgians.[2]

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, Prince 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 performed 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, 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

King Albert II announced on 3 July 2013 that his son Prince Philippe will succeed him as King of the Belgians on 21 July 2013.[3] Upon accession, Princess Mathilde will become the first Belgian-born queen consort of Belgium.

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

Prince Philippe in air force uniform in 2008.
Royal Military Acad.[9] Pilot Wings[9] Parachutist badge[8] Commando badge[9][10]
123rd TAW (1978–1981) 9 July 1982 28 October 1982 17 December 1982
1980 1983 1989 2001 2010

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.[11]

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:[12][13][14]

  • 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).

Arms

Gustaaf Janssens, Archivist of the Royal Palace, confirms that The Duke of Brabant's coat of arms consists of his father The King's coat of arms, minus the sceptres and Grand Collar of the Order of Leopold, and with the helm facing to the left (heraldic dexter).

Titles and styles

Styles of
Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant
Reference styleHis Royal Highness
Spoken styleMonseigneur
Alternative styleSire
  • His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium (1960–1993)
  • His Royal Highness Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, Prince of Belgium (1993–)

In contrast to King Albert II's title, King of the Belgians, Prince Philippe is called Prince of Belgium, not Prince of the Belgians, a title that does not exist. He is also Duke of Brabant, the traditional title of the heir apparent to the Belgian throne. This title precedes the title Prince of Belgium.

His style currently is HRH The Duke of Brabant.

Upon succession to the throne, he will be known as King Philippe (without a following regnal number), in a similar manner to his uncle King Baudouin). [citation needed]

Honours

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

Prince Philippe has received numerous honours throughout his life:[15]

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 [16][17]
1994  Argentina Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martin (1994) [18]
 Japan Grand Cordon of the Order of the Chrysanthemum (1994) [19]
1995  Holy See Knight Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem [20]
1996  Bolivia Grand Cross of the Order of the Condor of the Andes (1996) [18]
1997  Portugal Grand Cordon of the Military Order of Aviz [21]
2005 Grand Cross of the Order of Christ
1998  Germany Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic [22]
1999  Luxembourg Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau [23]
2000  Spain Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic [24][25]
2001  Sweden Knight of the Royal Order of the Seraphim [26]
2002  Denmark Knight of the Order of the Elephant [27]
2003  Norway Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav [28][29]
2004  Finland Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose [30]
 Poland Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland [31]
2005  Greece Grand Cross of the Order of Honour [18]
2008  Hungary Grand-Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary, Civilian Class [32][33]
Sovereign orders
1998  SMOM Knight Grand Cross of Honour and Dévotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta [18]
Former sovereign families
2010 Austrian Empire Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece (House of Habsburg) [18]
International organisations
2010 International Military Sports Council Grand Cordon of the IMSC Order of Merit [34]

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. ^ Philippe Siuberski, Prince Philippe's role as king: to keep Belgium together, AFP, 4 July 2013.
  2. ^ Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication
  3. ^ Price, Matthew (3 July 2013). "Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication". BBC News. Retrieved 3 July 2013.
  4. ^ Official 3Para page (French) evoking Prince Philippe
  5. ^ a b Prince Philippe promoted, portrait
  6. ^ Photo of Philippe as a Captain (3 stars) in the 3Para Battalion
  7. ^ Prince Philippe gets married in his uniform of Colonel of the Belgian Air Force
  8. ^ a b Photo of Prince Philippe as a General-major showing his parachutist badge
  9. ^ 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"
  10. ^ Photo showing the commando badge
  11. ^ Official portrait
  12. ^ "Les missions économiques du prince Philippe" (French)
  13. ^ Agence pour le Commerce extérieur, Missions antérieures
  14. ^ Official Royal Website Archives
  15. ^ Belgische Senaat – Biographish Handboek / Sénat de Belgique – Manuel Biographique
  16. ^ PPE Agency, King Willem-Alexander's inthronization 2013, Photo
  17. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Belgium of HM Queen Beatrix of Netherlands (20–22 June 2006), Philippe in this group photo
  18. ^ a b c d e Senate, biography of senators including Prince Philippe, senator by right
  19. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Japan, 1996, Sovereign couples & Prince Philippe
  20. ^ Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Belgian Lieutenancy's Official website, article evoking the decoration
  21. ^ 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
  22. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit of President Herzog in Belgium (1998), Group Photo
  23. ^ 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
  24. ^ Belga Pictures, State visit in Belgium of TT.MM. King Juan Carlos & Queen Sofia of Spain (16–18 May 2000), Group photo
  25. ^ Prince Felipe's wedding – Belga Pictures, Philippe wearing the order
  26. ^ Belga Pictures, Princess Victoria of Sweden's wedding, 2010, Philippe & Mathilde
  27. ^ Zimbio, Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark & Mary Donaldson's wedding, 14 May 2004, Photo of Philippe and Mathilde
  28. ^ 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
  29. ^ King Harald's 70th birthday party, 2007, Group photo of Heirs & their consort
  30. ^ 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
  31. ^ 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
  32. ^ 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
  33. ^ Belga Pictures, Philippe
  34. ^ Prince Philippe receives an international sportive prize
Philippe of Belgium
Cadet branch of the House of Wettin
Born: 15 April 1960
Belgian royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Baudouin 		Duke of Brabant
1993– 		Incumbent
Heiress apparent:
Princess Elisabeth
Regnal titles
Preceded by King of the Belgians
Designate
2013– 		Incumbent
Heiress apparent:
Princess Elisabeth
Lines of succession
First Line of succession to the Belgian throne
1st position 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Line of succession to the Saxe-Coburg and Gotha throne
22nd position 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

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