Philippe I

Philippe Léopold Louis Marie (Philippe I) - King of the Belgians since July 21, 2013. He was born on April 15, 1960, to King Albert II and Queen Paola. Philippe was the first prince of Belgium to attend a regular school rather than have traditional homeschooling. After completing school, he studied at the Royal Military Academy and then continued his education at universities in Oxford and Stanford. In 1988, he earned a master's degree in political science.

Ascension to the Throne

Philippe received the official title of Duke of Brabant, and after his father Albert II abdicated the throne, he became the King of the Belgians in July 2013.

Social Activities

King Philippe is the honorary chairman of the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency. He initiated the Philippe Foundation to promote the closeness of the linguistic communities in Belgium. Additionally, Philippe is an honorary doctor of the Catholic University of Leuven and an honorary member of the Club of Rome.

Family

On December 4, 1999, Philippe married Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz. They have four children: Princess Elisabeth (heir apparent) and Princes Gabriel, Emmanuel, and Princess Eleonore.

Interesting Facts

During a meeting with the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, in Brussels in November 2017, King Philippe recounted that he visited Kyiv in 1990 during the so-called Granite Revolution (Student Revolution on the Granite). The King recalls visiting the protest site, staying in a regular Kyiv apartment, and 'sleeping on the floor.'

04.15.2022.