Belgium is a constitutional, hereditary, and popular monarchy.The monarch is titled king or queen of the Belgians (Dutch: Koning(in) der Belgen, French: Roi / Reine des Belges, German: König(in) der Belgier) and serves as the country's head of state.There have been seven kings since independence in 1830.. The incumbent, Philippe, ascended the throne on 21 July 2013, …

Early life. Philippe was born on 15 April 1960 at the Belvédère Castle in Laeken north of Brussels.His father, Prince Albert, Prince of Liège (later King Albert II), was the second son of King Leopold III of Belgium and a younger brother of Baudouin. His mother, Paola, Princess of Liège (later Queen Paola), is a daughter of the Italian aristocrat Fulco VIII, Prince Ruffo di Calabria, …