Oath of the Kings of the Belgians

The date of Leopold I's swearing-in (21 July 1831) is marked annually by Belgian National Day, a public holiday, established by law on 27 May 1890.

Standing on a platform,[6] he took the constitutional oath and delivered a brief speech to a standing ovation "Your choice, gentlemen, to fulfill these eminent functions has been fixed on my person; at the same time as it is the most flattering, the most honorable testimony that a citizen can ever receive from the confidence and benevolence of the Nation's representatives, it imposes duties and obligations on me which it would be impossible for me to fulfill with honor, if I am not supported by the continuation of these same sentiments.

For this significant occasion for the fledgling kingdom, the political authorities looked to the Joyous Entry of the former Dukes of Brabant and the investitures of the Netherlands (including that of the former King William I in Brussels[7]) as well as the former Principality of Liège for inspiration.

The event began at 1:15pm[citation needed] with the transfer of the Regent's powers to Étienne de Gerlache, the president of the House of Representatives.

Viscount Charles Vilain XIIII[11] read 139 articles of the Constitution followed by the King taking the oath and giving a brief French speech.

Étienne de Gerlache then proclaimed "Sire, montez au trône" signaling the King's ascent to the throne.

Gentlemen, I only accepted the crown you offered me in order to fulfill a task as noble as it is useful, that of being called upon to consolidate the institutions of a generous People and to maintain its independence.

In accordance with the monarch's request, a ceremonial throne featuring armrests decorated with lions and a red velvet backrest inscribed with the national motto was positioned beneath a regal dais.

[citation needed] Present in the audience were not only the parliamentary body, but also cabinet members, judges, high-ranking civil servants, the bishopric, and the diplomatic corps.

[13] The royal family, attired in mourning, sat in a separate gallery accompanied by a large number of aristocrats as per the sovereign's request.

[14][15] Upon delivering his speech and taking the oath,[16] the King and his son, the Duke of Brabant, emerged onto the balcony of the Royal Palace to observe a military parade on the Place des Palais.

"On 23 December 1909, just six days following the death of Leopold II, his nephew, Prince Albert, rode to the Palais de la Nation.

[17] The monarch, for the first time, gave his oath in Dutch to emphasize the bilingual nature of the kingdom secured by the Equality Act of 1898 [fr] (Loi du 18 avril 1898 relative à l'emploi de la langue flamande dans les publications officielles).

After receiving a standing ovation from parliamentarians, Workers' Party representatives attempted to interrupt the ceremony with shouts of "Long live universal suffrage!"

[19][20] Upon ascension to the throne, Leopold III paid his respects to the Unknown Soldier at the Congress Column:[21] "I know the difficult duties that this oath imposes on me, and to fulfill them without fail I can do no better than to draw inspiration from the example of three great predecessors [...].

Notably, this oath marked the first instance of taking a pledge while refraining from raising an outstretched arm - a gesture that bore a resemblance to the Roman salute implemented during Fascist rituals.

As a result, the son became the "Prince Royal," a special title equivalent to a de facto regency,[23] as Leopold III aimed to prolong his abdication.

Upon becoming king, Baudouin paid homage to the Unknown Soldier before appearing, solemn and alone, on the balcony of the royal palace:[citation needed] "The union of all the country's forces and the mutual understanding of our two national cultures will make possible the constant development of Belgium's material and moral heritage [...].

"On 9 August 1993, Albert, Prince of Liège, arrived at the Palais de la Nation at 3 p.m., two days after the funeral of King Baudouin.

With no canopy, but with the royal chair present (which incidentally was too big for him),[27] he took his oath in all three official languages of Belgium: The setting was intentionally simple.

Following the speech, which was widely deemed successful in the political world,[11] the royal couple traveled back to the palace by car to make their customary appearance on the balcony.

[42] According to Walter Ganshof van der Meersch, the king must renew by oath the pact that unites the nation to a dynasty that reigns solely by will of the constituent, rather than pre-existing rights,[43] to accede to the throne.

The first amendment was made on 7 September 1893, by King Leopold II, who stripped any heir who married without royal consent of their rights to the crown.

The second amendment occurred on 21 June 1991, when the Salic Law was overturned, allowing women to ascend the throne, but only from Albert II's descendants.

Upon arrival at the peristyle of the Palais de la Nation, the Crown Prince, dressed in military attire, proceeds into the building.

The Prince subsequently reads the constitutional formula in the three official languages while lifting his arm with his index and middle fingers joined and raised.

Further celebrations will take place in the country's major cities in the days following the ceremony, providing an opportunity for the entire population to show their support for the King.