King Philippe celebrates National Day

Philippe, King of the Belgians, has celebrated National Day with his family.

The day started in the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels for a Te Deum. King Philippe’s father, King Albert II, and his mother, Queen Paola, attended the National Day events for the first time since King Albert’s abdication in 2013. King Albert had recently been hospitalised.

All four of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde’s children, Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore, attended the Te Deum.

During the military parade later in the afternoon, both Princess Elisabeth and Prince Gabriel marched past their family as part cadets of the Royal Military Academy. Queen Mathilde and King Philippe visibly beamed with pride as they marched past.

🫡 La Princesse Elisabeth et le Prince Gabriel défilent avec leurs camarades de promotion de @KMS_ERM_RMA ! pic.twitter.com/9wr64LvXsd

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) July 21, 2023

They were joined for the parade by Princess Delphine with her husband, James O’Hare, and Prince Laurent and his wife, Princess Claire. Princess Astrid and her husband, Prince Lorenz, were also present.