Albert and Paola's marriage was unhappy, and they were usually absent from Philippe's life. Thechild neglect was so severe that child psychologistPeter Adriaenssens [nl] described it as "something that would justify intervention bysocial workers".[4]
As a child the future king was required to move from a French-language school which he liked to a secondary school in Flanders, where he found it difficult to make friends. "In my youth, I had many problems at school", Philippe told teenage dropouts in 2019. "I felt badly treated. It was not easy for me".[4] From 1978 to 1981, Philippe was educated at theBelgian Royal Military Academy in the 118th "Promotion Toutes Armes" (Promotion All Weapons). On 26 September 1980, he was appointedsecond lieutenant and took the officer's oath.[5]
Philippe continued his education atTrinity College,Oxford, and he attended graduate school atStanford University, California, where he graduated in 1985 with anMA degree inpolitical science.[5]He obtained his fighterpilot's wings and his certificates as a parachutist and a commando. In 1989, he attended a series of special sessions at the Royal Higher Defence Institute. The same year, he was promoted tocolonel.
On 6 August 1993, the government named Philippe as honorary chairman of the Belgian Foreign Trade Board (BFTB). He succeeded his father, who had been honorary chairman of the BFTB since 1962. On 3 May 2003, he was appointed honorary chairman of the board of the Foreign Trade Agency, replacing the BFTB.[6]
In this capacity, Philippe has headed more than 60 economic missions.[7][8] Upon his accession as seventh King of the Belgians, this role was taken over by his sisterPrincess Astrid.
King Albert II announced on 3 July 2013 that he would abdicate in favour of Philippe on 21 July 2013.[9] Approximately one hour after King Albert II's abdication, Prince Philippe was sworn in as King of the Belgians.[10] His eldest child, Princess Elisabeth, became his heir apparent and is expected to become Belgium's firstqueen regnant.
In 2020, Philippe announced regret for the "acts of violence and cruelty" committed in theCongo Free State under the rule of his great-great-granduncle KingLeopold II.[11]
In September 2024, Philippe, along with Belgian Prime MinisterAlexander De Croo publicly criticisedPope Francis during their welcome addresses for him over sexual abuses committed by the Roman Catholic Church in Belgium.[13]
In 2019 the king codified thecoats of arms of himself and those of his family through a Royal Decree. The arms of the reigning monarch was modified to include theSaxonian escutcheon. The arms of other members of the royal family was similarly modified.[22][23] The reinstatement of the shield of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha into the royal arms occurred shortly after the visit of the king and queen to the ancestralFriedenstein Castle. The latest royal decree therefore reverses previous changes made to the Royal versions of the coat arms which removed the armorial bearings of Saxony during the First World War.[24] By including the three official languages in the motto it reflects his wish "to be the King of the whole Kingdom and of all Belgians".[25]
Sable, alion rampantor, armed and languedgules (Belgium), on the shoulder an escutcheon barry of ten sable and or, acrancelinvert (Wettin), with two crossed sceptres (a hand of justice and a lion) or behind a shield.
Supporters
Two lions guardant proper each supporting a lance or with twoNational Flags of Belgium (Tierced per pale Sable, Or and Gules).
Motto
French:L'union fait la force Dutch:Eendracht maakt macht German:Einigkeit macht stark
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