King Albert II of Belgium to abdicate

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...bdication.html

King of Belgium appears on TV to announce abdication

King Albert II is handing the reins of power to his son Crown Prince Philippe after 20 years on the Belgian throne.

Belgium's King Albert announced that he will abdicate in favour of his son, Crown Prince Philippe on July 21, the country's independence day holiday.

The move had been rumoured for weeks and will end nearly two decades of steady reign over a fractious kingdom, one increasingly torn apart by political strife between northern Dutch-speaking Flanders and French-speaking southern Wallonia.

Frail at 79, King Albert will be handing over the throne to his son Philippe, who is 53.

Albert said his age and health no longer allow him to carry out his functions as he would want to.

"After a reign of 20 years I believe the moment is here to hand over the torch to the next generation," the King said in an address carried by all of Belgium's major broadcasters.

Following in the footsteps of the now-former Queen of the Netherlands Beatrix.

Out of all the Royal jobs in the world, this is probably one of the hardest in that managing Belgium can be a nightmare.

Thoughts?

[GommeInc]

Everyone seems to be abdicating this year :/ I've not really heard much about the King of Belgium, other than when it involves our Royals. I have more interests in Beatrix and I think Margaret of Denmark.