Title[edit]

The proper title of the Belgian monarch is King of the Belgians rather than King of
Belgium. The title King of the Belgians indicates a popular monarchy linked to the
people of Belgium (i.e., a hereditary Head of State; yet ratified by popular will).
Whereas King of Belgium would indicate standard constitutional or absolute
monarchy linked to territory or state.[1] For example, in 1830, King Louis Philippe
was proclaimed King of the French rather than King of France. The Greek
monarch was titled King of the Hellenes, indicating a personal link with the
people, not just the state. Moreover, the Latin translation of King of Belgium
would have been Rex Belgii, which from 1815 was the name for the King of the
Netherlands. Therefore, the Belgian separatists (i.e. the founders of Belgium)
chose Rex Belgarum.[2]

Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition
of the new monarch automatically ascending the throne upon the death or
abdication of the previous monarch. According to Article 91 of the Belgian
constitution, the monarch accedes to the throne only upon taking a constitutional
oath before a joint session of the two Houses of Parliament.[22] The joint session
has to be held within ten days of the death of the deceased or abdicated king.
The new Belgian monarch is required to take the Belgian constitutional oath, "I
swear to observe the Constitution and the laws of the Belgian people, to
maintain the national independence and the integrity of the territory," which is
uttered in the three official languages: French, Dutch, and German.

Members of the Belgian Royal Family are often known by two names: a Dutch
and a French one. For example, the current monarch is called 'Philippe' in French
and 'Filip' in Dutch; the fifth King of the Belgians was 'Baudouin' in French and
'Boudewijn' in Dutch.

In contrast to King Philippe's title of "King of the Belgians", Princess Elisabeth is

called "Princess of Belgium" as the title "Prince of the Belgians" does not exist.
She is also Duchess of Brabant, the traditional title of the heir apparent to the
Belgian throne. This title precedes the title "Princess of Belgium".

In the other official language of German, monarchs are usually referred to by

their French names. The same is true for English with the exception of Leopold,
where the accent is removed for the purpose of simplicity.

Because of the First World War and the resultant strong anti-German sentiment,
the family name was changed in 1920 from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to van Belgi, de
Belgique, or von Belgien ("of Belgium"), depending upon which of the country's
three official languages (Dutch, French, and German) is in use. It is this family
name which is used on the identity cards and in all official documents by
Belgium's royalty (e.g. marriage licenses). In addition to this change of name, the

armorial bearings of Saxony were removed from the Belgian royal coat of arms
(see above). Other Coburgers from the multi-branched Saxe-Coburg family have
also changed their name, such as George V of the United Kingdom, who adopted
the family name of Windsor after the British Royal Familys place of residence.
[23]