King Philippe celebrates 65th birthday
King Philippe celebrates his 65th birthday on Tuesday, and to mark the occasion, the royal palace released a new official portrait of the monarch.
Born on 15 April 1960 as Philippe Léopold Louis Marie, he became the seventh King of the Belgians when he ascended the throne on 21 July 2013. At 65, he has spent more than a decade as king and played a central role in some of Belgium’s most challenging moments.
Ascent to the throne
Philippe was the first child of Prince Albert and Princess Paola. His father, Albert, was the younger brother of King Baudouin. Philippe grew up at the Belvédère Castle in Laeken, later joined by his younger siblings, Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent.
Initially, Philippe was not expected to take the throne, however, by the late 1960s, it became clear that their marriage would remain childless. As a result, Baudouin and Fabiola became increasingly involved in Philippe’s upbringing, preparing him for a potential future role as monarch.
That future became reality in 2013, when King Albert II unexpectedly abdicated. After spending two decades as heir apparent, Philippe was sworn in as king.
Standing with Belgium
Despite early doubts about his preparedness, Philippe has gone on to lead a largely unblemished reign. He guided the country through several national crises, including the Brussels terrorist attacks, severe flooding in Wallonia, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also engaged actively with international affairs. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky was received at the palace several times, and Philippe’s Christmas addresses often included appeals for peace in conflict zones like Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan.
Philippe did not shy away from Belgium’s colonial past either. In June 2020, he wrote a historic letter to Felix Tshisekedi, the president of the Democratic Republic of Congo, expressing his regret for the atrocities committed during the rule of King Leopold II.
Under Philippe’s sovereignty, the monarchy embraced a more open and modern approach to communication. He has also worked to humanise the royal image, presenting himself as a dedicated family man. One of his most personal acts as king was helping to resolve the long-standing dispute surrounding Delphine Boël, his father’s illegitimate daughter, who was eventually recognised as a princess.
Philippe had been married to Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz since 1999. The couple has four children: Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eléonore, who turns 17 the day after her father’s birthday.
To mark King Philippe's 65th birthday, the Royal Palace launched a website where the public can submit questions for the King until 23 April. In a video message shared on royal social media channels, his four children—Elisabeth, Eléonore, Gabriel, and Emmanuel—encourage people to take part, with Princess Elisabeth promising, “We will make sure he answers it.”
Portrait of King Philippe on his 65th birthday, 15 April, 2025. © PHOTO HAND OUT BELGIAN ROYAL PALACE -
BAS BOGAERTS
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