The royal palace in Brussels

Successive Belgian kings are

• Leopold I (1831-1865)
• Leopold II (1865-1909)
• Albert I (1909-1934)
• Leopold III (1934-1951) abdicated
• Prince Charles of Belgium (1944-1950) Prince Regent
• Baudouin I (1951-1993)
• Albert II (1993- )

None of these were "King of Belgium": their title is "King of the Belgians". The latter phrase indicates a popular monarchy linked to the people of Belgium, whereas the former would indicate standard constitutional or absolute monarchy linked to territory and a state. Similarly, King Louis Philippe was proclaimed "King of the French" in 1830, not the traditional "King of France". The now abolished Greek monarchy similarly was titled "King of the Hellenes", indicating a personal link with the people, not just the state.

It is also noteworthy that Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition of the new king automatically ascending the throne upon the death or abdication of the former king. According to the Belgian constitution , the king only accedes to the throne when he takes a constitutional oath. For example, the present king did not become monarch on July 31, 1993 (the day his brother died) but on August 9 of that same year (when he took the constitutional oath). In all other current monarchies, the monarch becomes a monarch the moment his predecessor dies or abdicates.

Belgium has three official languages, of which Flemish and French are the most important. Many kings and members of the royal family are known under two names: a Flemish and a French one. For example, the current heir apparent is called Philippe in French and Filip in Flemish; the fifth King of the Belgians was Baudouin in French and Boudewijn in Flemish; the three kings who are known as Léopold in French are known to the Flemish speaking Belgians as Leopold (without accent).

In German, which is Belgium's third official language, kings are usually referred to under their French names. The same is true for English. The exception is Leopold, which is probably used not because of the fact that it is Flemish, but because some German-language and English-language keyboards do not include an "é".

In Belgium, kings are always officially known with an ordinal, even when they are the first of their name. So King Baudouin was "King Baudouin I", even though there has not yet been a "King Baudouin II". (This is contrary to the expectations of those familiar only with the system of ordinals used in Britain.)

Other members of the Belgian Royal Family

• Queen Marie Henriette (wife of King Leopold II)
• Elisabeth von Wittelsbach (wife of Albert I)
• Astrid of Sweden (wife of King Leopold III)
• Fabiola de Mora y Aragón (wife of King Baudouin)
• Paola Ruffo di Calabria (wife of King Albert II)
• Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium
• Mary Lilian Baels, Princess de Rethy

See also

• Lists of incumbents
• List of Succession to the Belgian Throne