Title
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 living and hereditary Head of State; yet ratified by popular will), whereas the former would indicate standard constitutional or absolute monarchy linked to territory or state. 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 chose Rex Belgarum.
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 former monarch. According to the Belgian constitution, the monarch accedes to the throne only upon taking a constitutional oath. The present king did not become monarch on 31 July 1993 (the day his brother died) but on 9 August 1993 when he took the constitutional oath. In all other European monarchies, the monarch assumes the title the moment the predecessor dies or abdicates. The Belgian constitutional oath is as follows: "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 taken 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 heir apparent 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 Albert II's title, King of the Belgians, Prince Philippe is called Prince of Belgium, not Prince of the Belgians, a title that does not exist. He is also Duke of Brabant, the traditional title of the heir apparent to the Belgian throne. This title precedes the title Prince 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, the family name was changed in 1920 from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to van België, 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 many-branched Saxe-Coburg family have also changed their name. For example, Britain’s King George V adopted the family name of Windsor, after the Royal Family’s place of residence.
Read more about this topic: Belgian Monarchy
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