King Philippe, Queen Mathilde attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. See who they are

For the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II, approximately 500 dignitaries and foreign royal family members marked their presence. The King and Queen of Belgium came not only to represent their country but also because they were distantly related to the Queen.

Who is King Philippe?

King Philippe is the son of Prince Albert and Princess Paola and was born on April 15, 1960. From 1978 to 1981, he attended the Belgian Royal Military Academy, where he was appointed second lieutenant.

King Philippe did his master’s in political science at Stanford University. He continued his military career, achieved his pilot’s wings, and became a parachutist and commando.


During the 2014 federal election, King Philippe formed a coalition government. In 2020, the King announced his regret for the ‘acts of violence and cruelty’ committed by the nation in the Belgian Congo by the colonial abusers.

Who is Queen Mathilde?

Queen Mathilde is the wife of the Belgian King and the country's first native-born Belgian queen. Queen Mathilde married Philippe in 1999, before he ascended the throne as a king.

Queen Mathilde sponsors several charities for poverty, children’s welfare and women’s social standing. Through Queen Mathilde Fund, she promotes the care of vulnerable people and annually awards people for their good works in a particular sector.

FAQs

How are the Belgium Royals related to the late Queen?
The Belgian and British royal families are related through royal marriages and historic political alliances.

The Belgian royal family is related to Elizabeth II through Queen Victoria, her great-great-grandmother.

King Leopold I, the first King of Belgium, is the uncle of Queen Victoria, the former British Queen.

King Charles and King Philippe are the great-great-great-grandsons of Denmark’s King Christian IX.

King Philippe is the third cousin of Queen Elizabeth.

When did Philippe become King?
Belgium is one of the few countries that still adheres to the monarchy system.

After his father retired from the throne due to deteriorating health conditions, King Philippe ascended to the throne in 2013.
One hour after his father’s abdication, he ascended to the throne.

This makes his daughter, his heir apparent, Princess Elisabeth, Belgium’s first assumed Queen regnant.