Philippe becomes new Belgian king as Albert II abdicates
Crown Prince Philippe has been sworn in as the new Belgian king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II.
The Oxford- and Stanford-educated, trained air force pilot took the oath as the country's seventh king in a ceremony in parliament.
To warm applause, King Philippe, 53, promised to uphold the constitution.
Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.
Chris Morris reports from Brussels.
21 Jul 2013
- From the section Europe