Belgium King Albert II(79) announced his abdication from the throne on Wednesday July 3,2013 ending months of speculation about an early end to his 20-year reign
which has been marked by political strife between northern
Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking southern Wallonia. The
live television announcement by Albert, 79, that he would step down in
favour of his son, Crown Prince Philippe, 53, came just months after
Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands handed power to her eldest son
King Albert is both the oldest Belgian king and the first to voluntarily relinquish his throne.
Albert was sworn in as the sixth king of the Belgians on Aug 9,1993,
following the death of his childless brother, King Baudouin at the age
of 62. The abdication will take effect on Belgium's National Day July 21
Before signing a legislative act in the royal palace to step down,
King Albert thanked his wife, who wiped away tears, and said his son had all
the qualities to serve the country well
King Philippe I has become Belgium
's seventh monarch after the abdication of his father, Albert II
Philippe(53) took his oath in Belgium's three official languages – Dutch, French and German
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