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Belgian King Philippe has been sworn in and joined by his wife and children to wave to supporters from the balcony of the royal palace in Brussels. Photo by BBC/AFP
Crown Prince Philippe has been sworn in as the new Belgian king after the emotional abdication of his father Albert II.
Philippe, the Oxford- and Stanford-educated prince, thus became the country's seventh king.
To warm applause, King Philippe, 53, promised to uphold the constitution.
Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.
Earlier in the day Belgium's King Albert II formally abdicated on grounds of ill health.
In his final address as king on Sunday, the 79-year-old monarch said his country must remain a "source of inspiration" to Europe.
"Give the future King Philippe and the future Queen Mathilde your active participation and your support," King Albert said in his address on Saturday.
They make a great couple serving our country and they enjoy my full confidence," said the monarch, who resigned on Belgium's national day - after nearly 20 years on the throne.
The monarch, 79, also stressed that his wish was that Belgium - split between the Flemish-speaking north and the French south - remained united.
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