Belgium welcomes new King

Belgium has a new king after Philippe succeeded his father, Albert, following the monarch’s abdication.

Earlier on Sunday, 79-year-old Albert, Belgium’s seventh king, signed away his rights as the kingdom’s largely ceremonial ruler at the royal palace in the presence of Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo.

Less than two hours later, the nation got a new king when Philippe, 53, pledged to abide the laws and constitution of the nation.

In protest, one Flemish separatist party boycotted the ceremony while the biggest opposition party, the N-VA New Flemish Alliance, sent only a limited delegation without its leader Bart De Wever.