The Royal Palace and Family

Hey readers, it is time to continue your visit!

Did you know that Brussels has his own Buckingham Palace and Royal Family ?

The King Albert the Second governs Belgium since 1993, after his brother’s death, Baudouin. Our first King was Léopold the First, at the creation of Belgium.

Albert the Second became the sixth king of Belgium. He is married to the Queen Paola. There have three children and twelve grandchildren. In this great family, the heirs are Philippe and his daughter Elizabeth, second in the succession order, born in 2001. If she comes to the throne, she would become the first Queen of Belgium.

The Royal Family lives in the Chateau de Laeken where are the greenhouses which gathers an impressive collection of worldwide plants. The domain is surrounded by the greatest green space of Brussels.

The Royal Palace is the place where the King takes care of royal events and meets politicians and royal persons coming in Belgium. The Palace has been built after 1731, there were two town houses on this site before the construction. The building is located near the European Commission and in front of the Royal Park of Brussels, known for his sculptures.

Every 21th of July, on the place which separates the Palace and The Park, a parade takes place to celebrate the national holiday. And every year at the beginning of the summer,  there is a music festival gathering mostly famous bands, coming from France or Belgium. This is the opportunity to see the Belgian Buckingham Palace by night and in an unique atmosphere.

Aline Florin.