In his traditional speech on the occasion of Belgium's National Day on 21 July, King Philippe looked back over the past ten years of his rule, which he described as a "succession of crises" while also praising the country's "large sense of solidarity."
Ten years ago, on 21 July 2013, Philippe took over from his father, King Albert II, and became the seventh king of the Belgians. "You gave the Queen and me a very warm welcome then. That day is forever etched in our memories."
Reflecting on a decade on the throne, he thanked Queen Mathilde for always being by his side, "under all circumstances." Philippe also paid tribute to his father, as well as to King Baudouin, who died 30 years ago on 31 July.
A sense of humour
"We have been through a lot together over the past ten years, known both joy and sorrow. We will remember this decade as a succession of crises, some of them unprecedented: the 22 March terror attacks, the pandemic, the extreme drought and floods, the war in Ukraine or the energy crisis," he said. "We have weathered these crises together, to the best of our ability – and with tangible results."
The King complimented the population for "the great sense of solidarity" in the country and praised "the generosity, caring for those in difficulty, openness to different opinions and the making of compromises. We are spontaneous and pragmatic. And we have a sense of humour."
These "deeply human characteristics" of Belgians can be felt in both the North and the South of the country, he said. "It goes without saying that we each express this in our own way, with our language, culture and our beliefs. But the essence is the same."
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the rise to the throne of King Philippe-Filip. Credit: Belga / Benoit Doppagne
As Belgium is facing a number of challenges, including "climate change, the energy transition, the appropriate use of artificial intelligence, social justice, the proper reception of migrants, the ageing population and the loss of trust in our institutions and democracy," Philippe called on the country to build more bridges.
"I am convinced that together we can be more creative and innovative than anywhere else in the world if we focus more on our diversity, build more bridges between our institutions and learn from each other's strengths," he stressed.
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Finally, King Philippe looked ahead to the 200th anniversary of Belgium in seven years – "an important milestone in our history."
"A new generation is coming," he stressed. "You, the generation of 2030, are already here – with your sensitivity and insight, critical mind and talent. Let's prepare for the future together now, with everything that makes Belgium strong."
The King's full speech can be read here in French, Dutch and German.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIjF3_Qg36o
