Editing Philippe of Belgium (section)

==Reign==
[[File:Serment de Philippe de Belgique.jpg|thumb|234x234px|King Philippe during the swearing-in ceremony at the [[Palace of the Nation]], [[Belgian National Day|July 21]], 2013.]]
King Albert II announced on 3 July 2013 that he would abdicate in favour of Philippe on 21 July 2013.<ref>{{cite news|last=Price|first=Matthew|title=Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23167525|access-date=3 July 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=3 July 2013}}</ref> Approximately one hour after King Albert II's abdication, Prince Philippe was sworn in as King of the Belgians.<ref>{{cite news|title=Belgium's King Albert II gives up throne to son|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/21/world/europe/belgium-new-king/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|access-date=21 July 2013|newspaper=CNN|date=21 July 2013}}</ref> His eldest child, Princess Elisabeth, became his heir apparent and is expected to become Belgium's first [[queen regnant]].

Philippe played a role in forming a coalition government after the [[2014 Belgian federal election]].<ref name="politico"/> Political meetings with the King were moved from the [[Palace of Laeken]] to the [[Royal Palace of Brussels]].<ref name="politico"/> In May 2019, Philippe met with [[Vlaams Belang]] President [[Tom Van Grieken]], the first time the party had received a royal audience.<ref name="politico"/><ref>{{cite news |url=https://thepublicsradio.org/article/belgian-far-right-leader-in-landmark-audience-with-the-king |title=Belgian far-right leader in landmark audience with the king |date=29 May 2019 |publisher=[[The Public's Radio]] |agency=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref>

In 2020, Philippe announced regret for the "acts of violence and cruelty" committed in the [[Congo Free State]] under the rule of his great-great-granduncle King [[Leopold II of Belgium|Leopold II]].<ref name="politico">{{cite news |title=Of race and royalty: How the king surprised Belgium |first1=Barbara |last1=Moens |first2=Camille |last2=Gijs |date=6 July 2020 |publisher=[[Politico]] |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/of-race-and-royalty-how-the-king-philippe-surprised-belgium-leopold-statue-black-lives-matter-flanders-wallonia/}}</ref>

In September 2024, Philippe, along with Belgian Prime Minister [[Alexander De Croo]] publicly criticised [[Pope Francis]] during their welcome addresses for him over sexual abuses committed by the Roman Catholic Church in Belgium.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/belgium-pope-abuse-cc729630469787d87e35d537d54e47e8 |title=Belgian PM and king blast Pope Francis for church's sex abuse cover-up legacy in blistering welcome |website=[[AP News]]|date=26 September 2024}}</ref>