Latest news with #KingPhilippe
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
King and Queen of Belgium Stranded in Chile After Flight Malfunction
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are stuck in Chile following problems with the aircraft that was supposed to take them home The King and Queen of Belgium were due to fly home on Thursday, June 26, but a "tire incident" involving their flight pushed the plan back King Philipp, 65, and Queen Mathilde, kicked off their Chile trip a day late after "technical problems" with their flight thereKing Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium's official trip to Chile is extending longer than expected. According to reports, as of June 27, the Belgian royals remain in Chile following a problem with their flight home. King Philippe, 65, and Queen Mathilde, 52, were due to wrap a state visit to the South American country on Thursday, June 26. HLN reported that the King and Queen were supposed to take off on Thursday at 5 p.m., local time, from Antofagasta Airport, but the plane never made it off the runway. The Belgian paper said that the royals were the last to board before it made its way to position on the runway, but that the Airbus rattled as the cabin crew gave safety instructions. As a tow truck moved the plane to its take-off position, a tire was reportedly damaged. Belga New Agency said that the King, Queen and the ministers with them debarked the aircraft after the "tire incident," with the departure expected to be delayed for a few hours. Other members of the delegation initially stayed on board, before being asked to debark. Following the tire replacement, the flight then required official clearance to fly, and the group moved to a hotel while waiting. The outlet identified the aircraft as an Airbus A340-300 operated by Hi Fly, a Portuguese airline. Belga News Agency added that the earliest takeoff time was 12 p.m., local time, on June 27 — but the hiccups continued, Around that hour, royal reporter Wim Dehandschutter wrote on X that the King and Queen "can't fly back today" and that over 16 hours later, the repaired tire has not officially been approved. The update came with a video of King Philippe speaking to the delegation. The transit trouble is the second issue that the King and Queen of Belgium have had on the their Chile trip. The state visit was originally expected to begin on Monday, June 23, but the schedule was cut short by one day due to difficulty with the outward flight, which was also an Airbus A340-300. The royals had planned to fly out from the military airport in Melsbroek around 9 a.m., local time, on Sunday, June 22, but "technical problems" with the aircraft delayed their departure, HLN said. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were later able to fly out of Belgium on Monday morning at 9 a.m, a whole day later. They attended a welcome ceremony in the capital of Santiago with President Gabriel Boric on Tuesday, June 24 and hit the ground running, undertaking a program focused on diplomatic, economic, scientific and social stops and activities while abroad. Read the original article on People
Daily Mail
17 hours ago
- Daily Mail
King and Queen stranded in Chile due to faulty plane
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are stranded in Chile due to a fault with their plane. Following a three-day state visit to the country at the invitation of the President of the Republic of Chile, Gabriel Boric Font, the Belgian royals were due to depart from Antofagasta Airport on Thursday. However, the Airbus A340-300 carrying Philippe, 65, and Mathilde, 52, along with government officials, business leaders, academics, and media representatives, 'rattled' and fell 'silent' while being taxied to the runway, HLN reported. Shortly after, passengers were informed that the aircraft was damaged and take-off would be delayed 'by several hours', but the flight was later cancelled with sources saying 'a tire was destroyed.' The plane now needs a replacement wheel before it can attempt another take off, meaning it's unclear when the return flight will depart. During the first Belgian state visit to Latin America in 60 years, the couple enjoyed a welcome ceremony at La Moneda Presidential Palace in Santiago. But their short trip to Chile has been marred by travel issues because the outbound flight was also delayed by 24 hours due to technical difficulties. Philippe and Mathilde were due to depart from Melsbroek Airport at 9am last Sunday, but were told the night before that their plane was suffering technical issues. They eventually took off 24 hours later on Monday morning in the 24-year-old Airbus, which had been grounded since May 18. The mishap comes after Queen Mathilde experienced another terrifying start to a royal visit after her plane was forced to make an emergency landing in February. The Belgian royal was on her way to Costa Rica when her plane was forced to carry out a priority landing after it suffered a crack to the windshield during the flight. Mathilde was headed to the country for a three-day solo trip organised by UNICEF Belgium and UNICEF Costa Rica when the aircraft suffered the frightening crack. Luckily, staff onboard steered the royal to safety, with the aircraft landing at San José Juan Santamaria International airport just 15 minutes ahead of schedule. While the incident likely sparked concern for the crew onboard, it appeared the incident was unbeknownst to their royal passengers who arrived unscathed and none-the-wiser of the stressful ordeal. Writing on X, royal commentator, Wim Dehandschutter, wrote: 'The airplane with Belgian Queen Mathilde landed in Costa Rica with a cracked windshield, according to this account and local media.' 'I was on that flight. As passengers, we didn't notice anything, and we didn't receive any notification during the flight or upon landing.' He added: 'Our KLM flight did leave Schiphol 20 minutes late, there was turbulence - as on many flights - and the landing was quite hard, but nothing seemed to be alarming. So I was a bit surprised when I read reports in the local media and on X about the 'emergency landing'. It comes after King Philippe of Belgium discussed whether he has plans to abdicate the throne in favour of his eldest child in an interview. The 65-year-old Belgian king answered 30 questions put forward by the public in a video shared by the Belgian Royal Palace. One question asked Philippe, who is married to Queen Mathilde of Belgium, 52, about his plans for abdication, if any. 'A King steps back, but is not retired,' Philippe answered when translated to English via Hola. Should Philippe one day choose to abdicate, his eldest daughter, Crown Princess Elisabeth, 23, will ascend the throne. In his answer, Philippe continued, 'I will continue to work for Belgium and I must give my daughter time to enjoy her youth, develop herself and see the world and I support her 100 percent in that and I will do everything I can to give her all the time she needs to do.' Philippe's father, King Albert of Belgium, abdicated in 2013 after a 20-year reign, clearing the way for his son, Philippe, to take over as the nation's king. Aged 53 at the time, then-Prince Philippe took the oath before the nation's legislators at the Parliament building, a short walk across the Royal Park in the heart of the city. The future Belgian queen has certainly made the most of her youth, and is currently studying at Harvard University after finishing her undergraduate degree at Oxford University. In photos shared on the Belgian royal family's official Instagram page last September, Elisabeth appeared excited to settle into her all-American life amid reports she was already a highly sought-after companion among her peers. The Princess is currently enrolled in a two-year Master's program in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Away from her royal duties, Elisabeth has embraced life as a student as she was pictured on the first day of term wearing an understated, yet chic, ensemble - complete with sneakers - in portraits shared by the Palace. The royal enrolled at the institution under the name 'Elisabeth de Saxe-Coburg' at Harvard Kennedy School.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Another royal abdication? King Philippe to follow in Edward VIII's footsteps?
Seems like yet another royal abdication is on the cards. But this time, it's not for the British royal family. King Philippe, the monarch of Belgium, recently opened up about when he might renounce the throne for his daughter, Princess Elisabeth, to reign. Read on to know more. What's happening? King Philippe of Belgium recently had some fun while tackling a question about when he might hand over the throne to his daughter, Princess Elisabeth. The 65-year-old monarch shared his thoughts in a cheerful interview released by The Belgian Monarchy, where he responded to 30 out of a whopping 2,614 video messages for his April 15 birthday. When asked about abdication, King Philippe offered a playful take on the idea: "A King steps back, but is not retired," according to a translation shared by Hola!. He emphasized that he would continue his royal duties while allowing his daughter the time she needs to enjoy life, grow, and travel the world. "I will continue to work for Belgium, and I must give my daughter time to enjoy her youth, develop herself, and see the world. I support her 100 percent in that, and I will do everything I can to give her all the time she needs to do," he added. Now, let's take a look at abidication, as a royal precedent. Edward VIII's dramatic exit In December 1936, Edward VIII shocked the world by relinquishing the British throne after less than a year in power. His abdication, driven by an irreconcilable desire to marry Wallis Simpson, a twice-divorced American, defied centuries of monarchical tradition. Reportedly, the King famously told his prime minister: 'I find it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King…. .without the help and support of the woman I love.' The crisis was swift and seismic; Edward stepped away, becoming the Duke of Windsor, and was succeeded by his younger brother, George VI. His departure set one of the starkest examples of a voluntary surrender of power in modern monarchy, born of personal conviction, not political calculus. Belgium's history of 'peaceful' abdications Fast-forward to July 2013: King Albert II of Belgium voluntarily abdicated in favor of his son, Prince Philippe. After nearly 20 years on the throne, Albert cited age and declining health as his reasons, believing that he could no longer 'fulfil [his] duties as [he] would like to,' and expressing confidence that his son was 'well prepared' to take up the constitutional role. The ceremony was somber yet celebratory – Belgian flags, parliamentary oaths in three languages, and poignant tributes to national unity amid deep linguistic divisions. King Philippe: The son who inherited the crown On 21 July 2013 – Belgium's national day – Philippe, then aged 53, was sworn in as the seventh King of the Belgians. An Oxford- and Stanford-trained former military pilot, he pledged to uphold the constitution and act as a unifying figure in a country often split by language and regional identity. His reign, so far, has been quiet, dutiful, and low‑profile – quite unlike the conspicuous drama surrounding Edward VIII's abdication and departure to a more gilded, yet detached, existence. The modern wave of abdications Belgium's abdication was neither isolated nor unprecedented. In recent years, a wave of European monarchs has offered their thrones to the next generation. Emperor Akihito of Japan abdicated in 2019 due to age and health – his first voluntary exit in over two centuries. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands passed the throne to her son in 2013; her successor, King Albert II, followed suit. Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicated in early 2024 – likely aiming to ensure her son, Crown Prince Frederik, could begin his reign at full strength amid swirling speculation surrounding his personal life. While it's near-impossible to think of a similar kind of scenario for King Charles III, the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom – even though he is suffering from cancer – these abdications reflect a modern view: monarchs, living longer and more active lives, may choose to step aside when they feel they can no longer perform ceremonial duties with distinction. It's a renewal strategy – passing the torch while still alive to advise and support. Paving the path for Princess Elisabeth A decade before Princess Elisabeth was born, Belgium made a significant change to its succession laws, adopting absolute primogeniture in 1991. This meant that female descendants of King Albert II would inherit the throne based on birth order, breaking the centuries-old rule that favored sons. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are raising their four children, including Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, 21, Prince Emmanuel, 19, and Princess Eléonore, 17, all while balancing their education and royal responsibilities. At just 23 years old, Princess Elisabeth, who's also known as the Duchess of Brabant, is the first in line to the throne and making history as Belgium's first queen regnant – its first reigning female monarch! True to her royal spirit, Princess Elisabeth is actively juggling her studies with royal duties, frequently returning to Belgium to stay engaged with public life. It'd be premature to draw a conclusion if King Philippe would be renouncing the throne for his daughter, but it's safe to say she's a busy princess making her mark! Mumbai: Queen Mathilde of Belgium enjoys a splendid musical performance by kids One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Times
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Belgian king: David Hockney inspired me to paint
It was a long way from the late-spring tunnels of Bridlington, but there was something about the luminous greens and long shadows of the landscape behind the king that told of who had a hand in it. King Philippe, the intensely private Belgian head of state, had agreed to be interviewed this week only after his children said he should answer questions from young people about what makes him tick. What emerged from his answers on YouTube was a portrait of an accomplished amateur artist who counted among his chief inspirations David Hockney, the painter often thought to be Britain's greatest living artist. Reclining in a chair in his palace, Philippe, 65, identified the landscape of his garden as a favourite, inspired by Hockney, 87.
Daily Mail
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
King Philippe of Belgium discusses abdication plans in new interview
King Philippe of Belgium has discussed whether he has plans to abdicate the throne in favour of his eldest child in a new interview. The 65-year-old Belgian king answered 30 questions put forward by the public in a video shared by the Belgian Royal Palace. One question asked Philippe, who is married to Queen Mathilde of Belgium, 52, about his plans for abdication, if any. 'A King steps back, but is not retired,' Philippe answered when translated to English via Hola. Should Philippe one day choose to abdicate, his eldest daughter, Crown Princess Elisabeth, 23, will ascend the throne. In his answer, Philippe continued, 'I will continue to work for Belgium and I must give my daughter time to enjoy her youth, develop herself and see the world and I support her 100 percent in that and I will do everything I can to give her all the time she needs to do.' Philippe's father, King Albert of Belgium, abdicated in 2013 after a 20-year reign, clearing the way for his son, Philippe, to take over as the nation's king. Aged 53 at the time, then-Prince Philippe took the oath before the nation's legislators at the Parliament building, a short walk across the Royal Park in the heart of the city. The future Belgian queen has certainly made the most of her youth, and is currently studying at Harvard University after finishing her undergraduate degree at Oxford University. In photos shared on the Belgian royal family's official Instagram page last September, Elisabeth appeared excited to settle into her all-American life amid reports she was already a highly sought-after companion among her peers. The Princess is currently enrolled in a two-year Master's program in public policy at the Harvard Kennedy School. Away from her royal duties, Elisabeth has embraced life as a student as she was pictured on the first day of term wearing an understated, yet chic, ensemble - complete with sneakers - in portraits shared by the Palace. The royal enrolled at the institution under the name 'Elisabeth de Saxe-Coburg' at Harvard Kennedy School. The palace told Brussels Times, 'The Princess was also selected for an 'Honorary Award' from the Fullbright Program, the US Department of State's international educational exchange programme. ' According to the university's website, the course aims to cultivate student's skills in preparation for them having a 'successful career in public service'. Princess Elisabeth has been touted as being one of the most intelligent royals - arguably surpassing Meghan Markle who was once dubbed the 'cleverest' of them. Not long after enrolling at the institution, the Princess celebrated her 23rd birthday, with the Palace releasing a series of sweet snaps to mark the occasion. Beaming towards the camera, Elisabeth wore a stylish in set from ba&sh, including a £240 short-sleeved vest with a jacquard pattern and a matching £230 midi skirt. The royal ditched a high-society snapper and had a fellow student called Max Bueno take the images - a scholarship student studying at the same school as Elisabeth. Max, a professional photographer, also documented the royal's first day at school in the official portraits shared by the Belgian Palace last September. According to HLN News, Elisabeth, had settled in well at her new American school because, perhaps unsurprisingly, 'quite a few people want to be her friend'. And proving her academic ability has never a struggle for Elisabeth, who only last year completed her studies at Oxford last year. Last summer, Princess Elisabeth thanked the University of Oxford for three 'wonderful' years. She moved to the UK in the autumn of 2021 to start her History and Politics undergraduate course at Lincoln College. Fiercely dedicated to not receiving special treatment thanks to her status, Elisabeth completed her entrance exam for Oxford 'anonymously' to ensure her royal status would not affect her chances of being offered a place, reported the Belgian newspaper Le Soir. Elisabeth graduated in three years with a degree in History and Politics, something she reportedly chose because she felt it would be most useful to her in her role as Queen later in life. After Elisabeth finished her studies in England, she took part in various engagements throughout the summer with her parents. An accomplished 23-year-old by any measure, the official royal website says Elisabeth enjoys walking in nature, reading and playing the piano – although like 'all youngsters her age', writes the palace, 'her taste in music is varied.' Elisabeth - who speaks Dutch, French, German, English, and has also taken classes in Mandarin Chinese - began attending royal engagements from a young age and was just nine when she delivered a speech at the opening of the Princess Elisabeth Children's Hospital.
