Monarchy of Belgium

The Belgian monarchy is a constitutional monarchy, meaning the king's powers are largely ceremonial and symbolic, with real political authority resting with elected officials. The king acts as a unifying national figure, representing Belgium and performing diplomatic and cultural duties. The current monarch, King Philippe, ascended in 2013. The monarchy's role is defined by the Constitution, ensuring governmental functions are exercised by democratically elected bodies while the king maintains tradition, promotes national unity, and upholds Belgium's cultural identity.