King’s Day – November 15 – Belgium

by Susan Flantzer
© Unofficial Royalty 2024

Each November 15, King’s Day (in the three official languages of Belgium: Dutch: Koningsdag, French: Fête du Roi, German: Festtag des Königs) is celebrated. Although it is not a national public holiday, government institutions are closed.

Background

Leopold I, first King of the Belgians; Credit – Wikipedia

During the reign of Belgium’s first monarch Leopold I, King of the Belgians, born Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, who remained Protestant despite being the monarch of a Catholic country, the anniversary of his oath-taking which occurred on July 21, 1831, was celebrated on his birthday, December 16.

Leopold II, King of the Belgians; Credit – Wikipedia

During the reign of Leopold I’s Catholic son and successor, Leopold II, King of the Belgians, the name of the day was changed to the Name Day of His Majesty the King and was celebrated on November 15, Leopold II’s name day, the feast of his namesake saint, Leopold III, Margrave of Austria known as Saint Leopold the Good. July 21 was once again and still is celebrated when in 1890, Belgian National Day was changed to July 21, marking the anniversary of the investiture of Leopold I as the first King of the Belgians in 1831.

Albert I, King of the Belgians; Credit – Wikipedia

After his accession in 1909, Albert I, King of the Belgians, the Name Day of His Majesty the King moved to November 26, the feast day of Albert I’s namesake Saint Albert of Oberaltaich. After the death of his mother Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, Countess of Flanders on November 26, 1912, Albert I moved the date back to November 15, the feast day of Saint Albert the Great.

During the regency of Prince Charles, Count of Flanders, Prince Regent of Belgium from 1944 to 1950, the Belgian government renamed the celebration the Feast of the Dynasty because there was no Belgian monarch. In 1952, during the reign of Baudouin I, King of the Belgians, the celebration was renamed King’s Day.

How is King’s Day celebrated?

Prince Laurent with his parents former Queen Paola, former King Albert II, and his sister Princess Astrid at the Te Deum service on November 15, 2023

The Belgian monarch and his/her spouse do not attend any ceremonies on King’s Day. Protocol decrees that it would be inappropriate for them to honor themselves. Before 2000, King’s Day was only celebrated with a Te Deum, a religious service of blessing and thanks. A Te Deum service is still held in the morning at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels, attended by members of the Belgian royal family.

Prince Laurent, former King Albert II, former Queen Paola, and Princess Astrid celebrating King’s Day at the Belgian Federal Parliament on November 15, 2023

Since 2001, to secularize the celebrations, a noon civil ceremony has been held at the Palace of the Nation, the home of the Belgian Federal Parliament. Members of the Belgian royal family, government officials, and prominent guests are in attendance. The civil ceremony consists of speeches, testimonies, and presentations to deserving citizens of national orders – the Order of Leopold, the Order of the Crown, and the Order of Leopold II.

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Works Cited

  • Autoren der Wikimedia-Projekte. (2019, November 17). Festtag des Königs. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Festtag_des_K%C3%B6nigs
  • Bijdragers aan Wikimedia-projecten. (2008). feestdag gevierd ter ere van de Koning van België. Wikipedia.org; Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koningsdag_(Belgi%C3%AB)
  • Contributeurs aux projets Wikimedia. (2004, November 14). fête célébrée en l’honneur du Roi des Belges. Wikipedia.org; Fondation Wikimedia, Inc. https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%AAte_du_Roi_(Belgique)
  • Wikipedia Contributors. (2024). King’s Feast. Wikipedia; Wikimedia Foundation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King%27s_Feast