A staunch Monarchist as the new Prime Minister of Australia

Tony Abbott’s Liberal Party and his allies of the National Party (in Australia they are known as “the coalition”) won at least 89 seats in the 150-seat House of Representatives on the back of a 3.6 per cent national swing against the ALP in Saturday's federal election. Her Majesty’s representative in Australia, Governor-General Quentin Bryce will swear him in as the 28th Prime Minister of Australia and he will declare:

"I, Anthony John Abbott, do swear that I will well and truly serve the Commonwealth of Australia, her land and her people, in the office of the Prime Minister, so help me God."

Taking the office of Prime Minister (Executive Councillor) involves swearing an Oath of Allegiance or Affirmation. However, under Section 62 of the Constitution the form of the oath of office is not prescribed for a minister but by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister.

The Oath should not be confused with the Oath of Allegiance or Affirmation under Section 42 of the Constitution required to be made by a Member of Parliament or Senator before taking his or her seat. This involves swearing or affirming to "be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, Her heirs and successors according to law". This Oath was also used for ministers until the Keating Labor government removed reference to the Sovereign. However, with the election of the Howard Liberal government in 1996 the Oath to the Queen was restored but without any reference to "Her heirs and successors".

H.M. Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, and Tony Abbott, then Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Australian Opposition.

With Tony Abbott an ardent Monarchist has returned to the office. His immediate predecessors Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd were self-declared republicans.

Julia Gillard: "I obviously am a Republican. I believe that this nation should be a republic. I also believe that this nation has got a deep affection for Queen Elizabeth."

While Kevin Rudd described himself as a "lifelong republican" - "and I won't change" - he said a republic was not a "first order concern" for Australian families right now.

A dedicated monarchist, Tony Abbott predicted in April 2010 that a republic was ''generations'' away.
''The Liberal Party doesn't have a formal position on a republic,'' he said. If a proposal were to come forward, Liberals would have a free vote in Parliament and in any referendum. He could not imagine the circumstances in which he would support change, saying the various models would add uncertainty to Australia's constitutional arrangements. Looking back to Howard government mistakes, Mr Abbott said it should have ratified the Kyoto protocol on climate change and apologised to indigenous people. He said the Rudd government's apology was overdue and gracious and the whole country had felt buoyed by it.

Later that same year, in August 2010, Tony Abbott was quoted by The Age that he believed that Australia probably won't become a republic in his lifetime while Julia Gillard claimed the appropriate time to move from the monarchy would be after the Queen died. Asked whether he thought there would ever be a republic, the Opposition Leader said the republican cause had been with us for a long time, "but the Australian people have demonstrated themselves to be remarkably attached to institutions that work. I think that our existing constitutional arrangements have worked well in the past. I see no reason whatsoever why they can't continue to work well in the future. So while there may very well be further episodes of republicanism in this country, I am far from certain that at least in our lifetimes there is likely to be any significant change."

When the party caucus elected Tony Abbott leader of the opposition he beat Malcolm Turnbull, former head of the Australian Republican Movement. The Sydney Morning Herald described him as Still a monarchist to his bootstraps:

THE chances of Australia becoming a republic any time soon have nosedived with Tony Abbott becoming the Leader of the Opposition.

Mr Abbott's predecessor, Malcolm Turnbull, the former chairman of the Australian Republican Movement, believed the republic could only be revisited when the Queen's reign ended.

This view is shared by the Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd.

It is also accepted wisdom that for a referendum to succeed, it needs the bipartisan support of the Government and Opposition.

But in an interview with the Herald yesterday, Mr Abbott made it plain that he would never contemplate a republic, even after the Queen had left the throne.

''That was Malcolm's position and I have no plans to revisit it, full stop,'' he said.

''I support the monarchy, always have, always will, not because I'm a royal groupie,'' he said. ''It's a terrific system of government and I challenge anyone to come up with a better one.''

Mr Abbott and Senator Nick Minchin, who engineered the dumping of Mr Turnbull this week, were lead players in the monarchist campaign which defeated Mr Turnbull and the republic referendum in 1999.

In his office yesterday, Mr Abbott had a portrait of her majesty and a framed photograph of John Howard introducing him to her when they were in government.

Mr Abbott said that the ''10-second handshake'' was the only time he had met the Queen.

PHILLIP COOREY December 3, 2009

In 2006 Tony Abbott wrote the introduction to David Flint's book, Her Majesty at 80. The Age re-printed Monarchy is the tie that binds us together on 29th November 2006. 

Tony Abbott was the Executive Director of the Australians for Constitutional Monarchy from 1992 to 1994 until we was elected to the federal parliament in March 1994. In 1995 he published his book The Minimal Monarchy and why it still makes sense for Australia.

Tony Abbott's 1995 book: The Minimal Monarchy and why it still makes sense for Australia.

 In his book’s personal prologue he summoned his convictions quite clearly:

I had studied law, politics and history. I was an instinctive believer in Tradition. If someone with my view was not prepared to defend the Crown in Australia, who was? How could I leave others to fight for my believes and keep my self-respect? Even if it was a lost cause, it was surely a good cause, I reasoned, and something which has been a core Australian institution for 200 years should not be sacrificed without a fight.

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Survey: Queenslanders love the Australian Monarchy

The Queensland Times chose bizarre headline so report on a positive event: Survey shock: Ipswich loves the Royals

 "Ipswich voters are among the country's most enthusiastic supporters of Australia retaining its ties with the monarchy and not becoming a republic.

"And they are just as passionate about Australia investing more money on defence, and getting tougher on temporary foreign workers and restricting the number of 457 visas issued.

"Those attitudes became clear when the ABC published results of its Vote Compass survey, which measures the responses of 900,000 Australians to a number of propositions.

"The report showcases the electorates where voters are 'most in agreement' and 'least in agreement' with the propositions put forward in the Vote Compass survey.

"Voters in the electorate of Blair ranked ninth in the country in their support for the monarchy.

"Of the 10 electorates that stood most firmly behind the monarchy, nine were Queensland seats - including Wright, which also covers parts of Ipswich.

"Federal LNP candidate Teresa Harding said she supported Australia's form of government and saw no reason it change it.

"But Labor MP for Blair Shayne Neumann said he thought it was time Australia had its own head of state and believed the change was inevitable."

The survey result reflects Queensland's loyalty to the Crown. In the 1999 referendum 62.56 percent of the Queenslanders said No to a politicians republic. They rejected the model, which was overwhelmingly endorsed by the republicans at the 1998 Constitutional Convention.

Australian Referendum on the question: Do You Approve of the Establishment of the Commonwealth of Australia as a Republic with the Queen and Governor-General being Replaced by a President Appointed by a Two-Thirds Majority of the Members of the Commonwealth Parliament, 6th November 1999

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Pope Francis received the King and Queen of Jordan

Pope Francis and the Jordanian sovereigns.

On the morning of 29th August 2013 Pope Francis received their Majesties the King Abdullah II of Jordan and Queen Rania. Later, the Hashemite sovereign met with His Eminence Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, who was accompanied by Archbishop Dominique Mamberti, Secretary for Relations with States.

King Abdullah II, Queen Rania and Pope Francis.

Several themes of common interest were addressed during the course of the cordial encounter, most importantly the promotion of peace and stability in the Middle East, with a particular focus on the restarting of negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians, and on the question of Jerusalem. Special attention was reserved for the tragic situation in which Syria finds itself. In this regard, it was reaffirmed that the path of dialogue and negotiation between all components of Syrian society, with the support of the international community, is the only option to put an end to the conflict and to the violence that every day causes the loss of so many human lives, especially amongst the helpless civilian population.

Appreciation was also expressed for King Abdullah’s commitment in the field of interreligious dialogue and for the initiative of convening a conference in Amman, at the beginning of the month of September, on the challenges that Christians in the Middle East will have to face, in particular during this period of socio-political transformations. Finally, recognition was expressed for the positive contribution that Christian communities bring to the local society, of which they are an integral part.

The Jordanian Queen wore a white veil. According to the Vatican customs, only Catholic Queens or monarchs may wear white veils for an audience with the Pope. When Queen Elizabeth II paid a visit to the late John Paul II she wore a black veil. In her typical style, Cherie Blair wore a white veil. Although a Catholic, she was not a head of state nor was her husband, then Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Queen Elizabeth II wore black, when she was received by Pope John Paul II in 2000.

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Royal Egyptian and Afghan Wedding

Crown Prince Muhammad Ali of Egypt and Princess Noal Zaher, granddaughter of King Zaher Shah of Afghanistan, are preparing for their impending royal wedding.

Crown Prince Muhammad Ali, Noal Zaher's mother, Fatima Aref Begum, Muhammad's father, King Fuad II and Princess Noal Zaher

The couple, who announced their engagement on 27 April 2013, are set to tie the knot on 30th August at the Palace of Çirağan on the European shores of the Istanbul Strait in Turkey.

The Egyptian Crown Prince was born in Cairo in 1979 and is the eldest son of King Fuad II of Egypt, giving him the title of Prince of Sa'id. Today Prince Muhammad resides in Paris where he works in real estate and met his princess during a holiday in Istanbul.

Princess Noal Zaher was born in 1980 in the Italian capital of Rome, where her family took refuge after a coup d'état proclaimed a republic in Afghanistan in 1973, which destabilised the country up to this day. Her father is Prince Mohammed Daoud Khan Pachtounyar, the fifth son of King of Afghanistan Zahir Shah and Queen Homeira.

Princess Noal Zaher graduated from the famous French university Institut Saint-Dominique with a degree in European Business before specialising in jewellery design at Webster University in London.

Crown Prince Leka II of the Albanians and his fiancée, Ms Elia Zaharia,

Crown Prince Leka II of the Albanians and his fiancée, Ms Elia Zaharia, announed on his website, that they will attend the wedding the Egyptian Crown Prince's wedding.

The dynasty of Mehmet-Ali who ruled Egypt for over a century is considered to have Albanian roots. The website claims, that "the presence of the head of the Albanian Royal Family shall celebrate the very closed friendship between the two royal families, especially during King Zog I and Queen Geraldine’s exile. The royal couple, Crown Prince Leka and the whole royal household were generously hosted by HM King Farouk I in his beloved country from 1946 until to the fall of the egyptian monarchy."

HM Queen Farida, King Farouk I’s first spouse and HRH Princess Fadia of Egypt attended King Leka I and Australian-born Queen Susan’s wedding in Madrid in October 1975.

King Fouad I and King Farouk I, respectively great grandfather and grandfather of HRH Prince Muhammad-Ali, were both holders of the highest ranks of the royal Albanian orders, the Grand Collar of Honour of Albania and the grand-sash with star of the Bessa Order as well.

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Aussie republicans claim not to be afraid of Tony Abbott

If it weren’t for their adherence to an obscure ideology, one could feel sorry for the Australian republicans.
It was only on 26^th July 2013 that David Morris, national director of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM) told AAP (published in The Australian):

 “... when we try and talk about Australia (and a republic) the media has no interest."

Morris said: "It's very depressing."

A month later he gave another interview to AAP published by Ninesmn on 26th August, Abbott 'won't set backrepublican cause' , this time to claim:

“The head of Australia's republican movement says the cause would not be hurt by Tony Abbott, a monarchist, becoming prime minister.

“If the polls are right, a man who once headed Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy is on track to become the next prime minister.

“But Australian Republican Movement national director David Morris says Mr Abbott's potential elevation to the top job would be unlikely to set back the cause of constitutional change."

By this claim Mr Morris contradicts the July article, where The Australian published these figures:

“In the early 1990s some 70 per cent of Australians wanted a republic while 30 per cent were monarchists.

“But since the failed 1999 referendum, support for a republic has dropped to about 40 per cent.”

In January 2013 The Age quoted Mr Morris with these remarks:

"The Australian Republican Movement's national director, David Morris, said republicanism had been off the agenda since the referendum because of a ''complete lack of political leadership''.

"Mr Morris said the movement was launching a new campaign, with the slogan ''Our identity: who do we want to be?'' and would focus on Australians ''growing up'' and gaining their independence."

Did anybody take notice of the ARM’s identity campaign? It left no impact here. The ARM launched the campaign in October 2012 in Hobart and went public with an ARM sponsored opinion poll that hardly showed their strength. The Age reported under the headline Republic? Young want to keep it in the (royal) family:

"They were the hope of the republican side - confident young Australians with weak emotional ties to Britain increasingly taking over from ageing monarchists and putting the next referendum on the issue beyond doubt. It hasn't quite worked out that way.

"Research commissioned by the Australian Republican Movement shows that 45 per cent of Australians under 30 want a republic - fewer than any other age group apart from those 70 or over. Strongest support, at 54 per cent, is among baby boomers, particularly men.

"Moreover, young people are much more positive towards the Queen. As one young participant in a focus group put it, she is ''like a mother figure''. If Australia became a republic, ''we'd feel as though we'd lost a family'', said another.

"Nevertheless, he concedes that the research is sobering. Or, in the words of UMR Research, which did the polling, ''the Australian Republican Movement's task is massive''.

The research shows that while 48 per cent of voters overall favour a republic, only 18 per cent are strong supporters. The same proportion rate the issue as very important, but they are more likely to be monarchists than republicans. As UMR put it, ''As passion grows, republican support declines.''

It is more likely, that David Flint’s remarks on Tony Abbott are closer to reality and the improbability of any republican progress under a possible Prime Minister Tony Abbott. He wrote:

"On Wednesday afternoon, instead of prepping for the debate, writes Mark Baker in The Age 24 August, 2013 (Tony) Abbott took himself to the northern outskirts of Brisbane to mingle with members of the Pine Rivers Memorial Bowls Club. He thoughtfully brought a framed portrait of the Queen to replace the one that went missing during renovations a couple of years ago.

''The monarch is a great symbol of unity. The Crown has served us well,'' said Tony Abbott, as the bowlers voted with applause."

But an election is only finished, when the last votes are counted. And referenda are not won by the assertion of either side, that they have a majority only because one of their numerous self-organised opinion polls claim they'd had a majority.

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Cordial meeting of the Crown Princes of Albania and Montenegro

Crown Prince Nikola (r.), Mr. Nazif Cungu (c.), Crown Prince Leka II. (l.) in Ulcinj, Montenegro.

On the occasion of the opening of the 13th edition of the Ulcinj Book Fair, and on the invitation of the mayor of Ulcinj (Montenegro), Mr Nazif Cungu, HRH Prince Leka II of Albania, his fiancée, Ms Elia Zaharia, and HRH Prince Nicolas Petrovitch Njegos, head of the Royal Family of Montenegro, were invited to hold an official and friendly meeting mid-August.

Their Royal Highnesses and Ms Zaharia were kindly received by Mr Cungu at the City Hall of Ulcinj..

Their Royal Highnesses and Ms Zaharia were kindly received by Mr Cungu at the City Hall. The discussions evolved not only around the current agenda in the cultural sector of the city of Ulcinj, particularly marked by an exemplar and peaceful coexistence between the Montenegrine and the Albanian communities, but also tackled the evaluation of a concrete cooperation between the two Royal Families and the City of Ulqin.

Mr Cungu stressed the fact that the authentic friendship wich characterises the two Royal Families’s relations is the sign of a new democratic reality and of a new style of dialogue in the whole area.

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Crown Princess Mary of Denmark visited Syrian refugee camp

Recently Crown Princess Mary of Denmark visited The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan for three days. While in Jordan she met refugees from Syria who received shelter in a camp near Amman. 120,000 refugees live in the camp, which is supported by the Danish charity organisation KVINFO.

Crown Princess Mary talking to children in a Syrian refugee camp in Jordan.

Crown Princess Mary in Jordan.

Syrian refugee camp in Jordan.

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"King Constantine was the first to move against the colonels, but was shown the door"

Good old Taki Theodoracopulos sums the Greek problem up in a few words What History Does to Heroes:

"We Greeks are down and out right now, but there are still a few seconds left before the referee counts to ten. When in trouble, think and dream about the past. Back then we were number one in everything. There were no gruesome, soulless, untalented hustlers like Jay-Z, no punk rockers, no TV vulgarians like Jonathan Ross. Sure, we were a bit tough on people who were born on the wrong side of the tracks, but no one’s perfect, as Socrates should have told us. My great hero was a real person, not a mythological one—Kimon, son of Miltiades, victor of the battle of Marathon. Kimon had his cake and also ate it. He was a real stud who serviced everyone and was madly loved by his wife. He, too, ended up in exile like his old man.

Official photo of H.M. King Constantine II of the Hellenes.

"Greeks have a tendency to do that sort of thing—get rid of what’s good and keep what’s rotten and corrupt. Themistocles won the battle of Salamis and was shown the door.

"Since 1974 the same two parties have shared power and have stolen the country blind. The king, who was the first to move against the colonels, was also shown the door and his property stolen from him by the state. Go figure, as Homer never said."

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24th August 1883 - Death of the Comte de Chambord, the last of the male descendants of the senior line of the House of Bourbon

Henri, Duc de Bordeaux

Henri Charles Ferdinand Marie Dieudonné de Bourbon, Duc de Bordeaux from his birth, later known as the Comte de Chambord, and by French Legitimists as Henri V, King of France and Navarre, died on 24th August 1883 in Frohsdorf, Austria. He was the last of the male descendants of the senior line of the House of Bourbon from King Louis XIV.

His birth on 29th September 1820, as the posthumous son of Charles Ferdinand, Duc de Berry, assassinated as he left the Paris Opera House theatre seven months before, came as joyful news to French Royalists, who had feared the extinction of the senior line. He was given the baptismal name "Dieudonné" and called "l'enfant miracle". His mother, Caroline of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, each of whose four grandparents were descendants of Princess Elizabeth Stuart, Electress Palatine of the Rhine, Duchess of Orléans, was determined that her son should inherit the Bourbon Throne of France.

After the abdication of King Charles X in the July Revolution of 1830, his heir was his surviving elder son, the Dauphin, Louis Antoine, Duc d'Angoulême, who had no children from his marriage with his cousin, Marie Thérèse, the last surviving child of King Louis XVI, known as Madame Royale.

Louis Antoine, Duc d'Angoulême

For 20 minutes, no more, Louis Antoine became de facto King Louis XIX. Henri was at once proclai- med Henri V, King of France and Navarre, but the National Assembly declared the Throne vacant and summoned Louis Philippe, Duc d'Orléans, whose consort, Marie Amélie of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was the aunt of Henri's mother, the Duchesse de Berry. Louis Philippe was proclaimed King of the French and reigned until 1848.

Royalists in France were divided. Liberals and constitutionalists supported the July Monarchy of the Orléans branch of the House of Bourbon, Conservatives recognised Henri V, while Legitimists and the former Ultra-Royalists considered that Charles X had no right to renounce the Throne and that, consequently, he was still de jure King of France and Navarre, until his death in 1836 at Gorizia, in Venezia Friuli. Only then was the Dauphin Louis Antoine recognised by Legitimists as Louis XIX, until his death in 1844, also at Gorizia, then Austria, today Slovenia.

From 3rd June 1844, Henri V, while the retaining the title of Comte de Chambord, by which he is known in history, became the official French Legitimist claimant. On 16th November 1846, at Brück an der Mur, in Austrian Styria, he married Archduchess Marie Therese Beatrice Gaëtane of Austria-Este and Princess of Modena. The couple remained childless.

It is perhaps the last years of Henri V, Comte de Chambord, which are the most controversial. With the defeat of Napoleon III by Prussia in 1870, France found herself with the Legitimist Maréchal Patrice de MacMahon, Duc de Magenta, as Provisional President of the Third Republic, and with a mixed Royalist majority in the National Assembly.

Louis Philippe, Comte de Paris, 1893

Orléanists were prepared to support the restoration of Henri V, on condition that Louis-Philippe Albert d'Orléans, Comte de Paris, would be recognised as his successor, in the event of a Restoration. Whether or not Henri, the Comte de Chambord, was prepared to make a compromise settlement, he was implacably opposed to accepting the Revolutionary Tricoleur as the national flag of France, insisting on the white "Fleur de Lys" of the pre-revolutionary Bourbon Monarchy. He remained in exile and was not prepared to return to France, before a settlement had been reached among Royalists, according to his declared principles. But he and the Comte de Paris met and found a common ground:

Le comte de Paris cherche à se rapprocher de son cousin. «Henri V» n’ayant pas d’enfant, le chef des Orléans est en effet convaincu qu’une restauration légitimiste ferait de lui le dauphin et permettrait de renforcer le camp monarchiste face aux républicains et aux bonapartistes. Après l’envoi infructueux de plusieurs émissaires auprès du « comte de Chambord », le comte de Paris décide de se rendre lui-même à Frohsdorf afin d’y affirmer officiellement sa soumission à l’aîné des Capétiens. Le 3 août 1873, le prince déclare ainsi à son cousin : « Je viens en mon nom, et au nom de tous les membres de ma famille, vous présenter mes respectueux hommages, non seulement comme au chef de notre maison mais comme au représentant du principe monarchique en France ». À ces mots, le « comte de Chambord » l’embrasse et lui répond : « Croyez, mon cousin, que je trouve tout naturel que vous conserviez les opinions politiques de votre famille, dans lesquelles vous avez été élevé. L’héritier du trône peut avoir ses idées comme le Roi a les siennes ». La fusion des deux courants monarchistes et la reconnaissance mutuelle des deux princes en tant que chef de famille et héritier semblent donc totales

It was clear that after the death of Henri, Comte de Chambord, the head of the Maison de France (as distinguished from the Maison de Bourbon) would be the head of the Orléans line, i.e. the Comte de Paris. Henri himself had accepted that and it was accepted by many Legitimists, and was the default on legal grounds; since the only surviving Bourbon line more senior was the Spanish branch, which had renounced its right to inherit the throne of France as a condition of the Treaty of Utrecht. However, many of Henri's supporters, including his widow, chose to disregard his statements and this law, arguing that no one had the right to deny to the senior direct-male-line male Bourbon to be the head of the Maison de France and thus the legitimate King of France.

Reconciliation between the Comte de Chambord and the Comte de Paris.

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Prince Johan Friso has died

Prince Friso, his wife, Princess Mabel and their daughters.

Prince Johan Friso, Prince of Oranje-Nassau and younger brother of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, has died on Monday, 12th August, 18 months after he was left brain-damaged by an avalanche while skiing in Austria.

The Royal Family's webside published a statement.

"His Majesty the King announces with great regret that this morning His Royal Highness Prince Johan Friso Bernhard Christiaan David, Prins van Oranje-Nassau, Jonkheer van Amsberg, died at the Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague, aged 44."

"Prince Friso died from complications as a result of oxygen shortages during his ski accident on 17th February 2012 in Lech, Austria."The Prince had "minimal consciousness" and his condition was unchanged, the palace said. "The royal family warmly thanks all those who looked after prince Friso for their outstanding and dedicated care," the statement said.

Prince Friso was in July transferred from a hospital in London, where he lived in Wellington Hospital since March 2012, to the residence of his mother, former Queen Beatrix, in The Hague. Despite the Prince's ill-health, his death came unexpectedly.

His wife, Princess Mabel, tweeted just hours before the announcement her thanks for birthday messages, after she turned 45 on Sunday.

State broadcaster NOS showed archive footage of the Prince as a child and a young man after his death was announced, as tributes poured in.

Prime Minister Mark Rutte, who was to end his holiday early and return to the Netherlands on Tuesday, said that "despite everything this news still comes as a shock. Prince Friso remains in our minds as a man with broad interests who always put his multifaceted talents at society's service," Rutte said in a statement.

He sent his condolences to Prince Friso's widow and children, as well as to his mother, Princess Beatrix.

The mayor of the Austrian resort of Lech, where Prince Friso was swept away by the avalanche, expressed his condolences.

"As somebody who, like many Lech residents, had known the prince ever since he was a kid, I am personally shocked and deeply moved," Ludwig Muxel told the Austria Press Agency.

"My utmost sympathy and that of all the people of Lech goes to Princess Mabel, her children, Princess Beatrix, King Willem-Alexander and all their relatives."

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Britain and Australia reject republicanism

Three quarters of people asked in a recent opinion poll believe that the newborn Prince George of Cambridge will one day accede to the throne to which he is third in line, the ComRes survey for The Sunday Telegraph found.

Just 9 per cent of those questioned think that he will not become king because Britain will have become a republic - whereas a poll in 2011 found that a quarter of people expected a republic to emerge within 50 years.

Even among 18 to 24-year-olds, the age group most likely to hold republican views, today’s poll shows a solid 69 per cent believe that Prince George will one day become king.

The poll suggests that the majority of the country sees no benefit in republicanism, with some two thirds of those polled (66 per cent) thinking that Britain is better off as a monarchy.

Only 17 per cent wanted a republic instead.

As a coincidence Rupert Murdoch's newspaper The Australian published an article two days before the UK poll became public stating that Modern Monarchy depresses republicans.

[Australian Republican Movement (ARM) national director David Morris], "the man charged with leading the push for Australia to become a republic admits he's 'very depressed'.

"The ARM national director insists most people want Australia to become a republic when the current Queen's reign ends.

"In the early 1990s some 70 per cent of Australians wanted a republic while 30 per cent were monarchists.

"But since the failed 1999 referendum, support for a republic has dropped to about 40 per cent.

"'This week the media has taken a lot more interest in talking about Australian nationhood at a time of a UK event and yet when we try and talk about Australia (and a republic) the media has no interest,' Morris says.

"'It's very depressing.'"

Even in The Age's editorial Hooray! A new Royal. May he never be our king despite its vitriolic tone, depression shines through:

"Here, republican sentiment has largely been dormant since the 1999 referendum, absent a convincing champion to drive the quest anew. But the arguments for Australia to sever ties to the monarchy have only become more compelling as Asia has boomed."

Why the Asian economic boom should have anything to day with Australia's form of state is The Age's secret. As an independent nation Australia said No in a fair and free referendum in 1999, something most Asian nation never experienced. With its rejection of republicanism Australia could become a model for the emerging countries in Asia.

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Prince George of Cambridge celebrated by Australia Post

Australia Post celebrates the birth of the future King of Australia with a stamp.

Australia Post is celebrating the birth of Prince George to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with the release of an instant stamp sheetlet.

The stamp features an image of the Royal couple leaving St Mary’s Hospital Paddington with their newly-born son and will be available in a sheetlet of 10 x 60c stamps from participating Australia Post retail outlets from Monday, 29th July 2013.

The Prince was born on 22nd July at 4.24pm BST. The newest member of the Royal Family was introduced to the world the following day on the steps of the hospital, in the arms of his proud parents. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have since named their son George Alexander Louis.

“Australia Post is delighted to celebrate the birth of a baby boy to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, with a sheetlet of stamps that captures the first public appearance of the happy family,” said Australia Post Managing Director and CEO, Ahmed Fahour.

“We expect the instant stamps will be well received as was the Royal Wedding instant stamp sheetlet in 2011. We encourage stamp collectors and followers of special events to put their orders in early to avoid disappointment.”

The birth of a future monarch is always a highly anticipated event and the child of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who will be third in line to the throne after Prince Charles and Prince William, was no exception.

The sons of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II – Charles, Andrew and Edward – were born at Buckingham Palace, while Princess Anne was born at Clarence House. Today the preferred birthing facility used by the Royal Family is the Lindo Wing at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. The baby’s father Prince William was born there, as was his uncle Prince Harry.

A notice of the birth was attached to an ornate easel in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, with the media officially informed. There were royal gun salutes across London heralding the new arrival.

The designer of the stamp is Sonia Young of the Australia Post Design Studio. The associated products available are a commemorative cover, stamp pack, maxicard and a booklet of 10 x 60c self-adhesive stamps.

The Royal Baby stamp issue is available from 29th July 2013 at participating Australia Post retail outlets, via mail order on 1800 331 794 and online at www.auspost.com.au/stamps while stocks last.

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Spanish King and Queen comfort the victims of the Santiago de Compostela train crash



Queen Sofîa and King Juan Carlos in the university Hospital of Santiago de Compostela.



One day after the horrific train accident in Santiago de Compostela King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofìa of Spain travelled to the capital of the province of Galicia to meet the families of the victims and injured passengers.

When they visited the university hospital their Majesties were accompanied by the head of the provincial government (Xunta de Galicia,) Alberto Nuñez Feijoo.


The King and Queen thank the hospital staff for their efforts to save lives.

Don Juan Carlos expressed his support for the injured and the families of the victims: "The whole of Spain is aware of this [tragedy] and really all Spaniards join the pain of the families of the dead and we hope that the injured will recover little by little. We are grateful for the volunteers, professionals and blood donors for how they behaved and for the community spirit they have shown. We thank all of you."

"All I can say is that  at this time, all Spaniards join the victims, the families and friends of the victims."

Before finishing their visit to Santiago de Compostela, the King and Queen also visited the Hospital La Rosaleda, where its director, Rafael Silva, accompanied them on a brief visit to some of the injured and their families.

Hospital officials said 141 people were injured, and 36 remained in critical condition, among them four children. The high-speed train crash killed at least 80 people.

The Alvia 730 series train started from Madrid and was scheduled to end its journey at El Ferrol, about 95 kilometres north of Santiago de Compostela.

It is the deadliest rail disaster in Spain since 1944.

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Republicans moaning about monarchy are out of touch

Dr Sean Palmer is chairman of Monarchy New Zealand. He has a Masters and a PhD on the importance of the monarchy to New Zealand. In an article published in The New Zealand Herald on the joyful occasion of the arrival of the Prince of Cambridge, he denouned "a few spoilsports who take every opportunity to complain.

"Their childish diatribes generally follow a pattern as predictable as it is boring. They demonstrate how much New Zealand's monarchy has evolved in the last 60-70 years and how little republicans have changed.

"Our monarchy is especially remarkable because it is shared among 16 independent countries. Republicans decry this arrangement as strange and backward. But, in a shrinking world where globalisation and international co-operation are vital, sharing our head of state is something to be proud of. The insular and selfish values espoused by republicans are at odds with the modern world. Ironically, it is republicans with their inward-looking view who would be more comfortable in the 1950s than our own 87-year-old Queen who is much-admired in the fast-moving modern age.

"In the 20th century, republicans accused those who supported the monarchy of suffering from 'colonial cringe', a belief that New Zealand was inferior to Britain. In the 21st century however, the absurdity of these claims is clear for all to see. It is republicans who are unhappy, who feel New Zealand is somehow inferior and immature. They couldn't be more wrong. Kiwis have a lot to be proud of and the new royal baby is just one more reason to celebrate."

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Royal baby arrives

Buckingham Palace

Official announcement

Buckingham Palace confirmed Duchess Kate has delivered a healthy baby boy.

Weighing in at 8lbs and 6oz, the Prince of Cambridge came into the world at 4:24pm on Monday 22nd of July.

Clarence House, the seat of The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, confirmed the news via press release which read:

"Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge was safely delivered of a son at 4:24pm.

"The Duke of Cambridge was present for the birth.

"The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and members of both families have been informed and are delighted with the news."

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight."

 The official notice which has been placed on the easel outside the Palace has been signed by Marcus Setchell, the Queen's former gynaecologist who led Duchess Kate's royal medical team.

The new royal baby, the Prince of Cambridge, will be the 43rd sovereign since William the Conqueror if, as expected, he follows reigns by The Prince of Wales then Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.

Australian Governor-General welcomes Royal Birth

The Governor-General, Her Excellency the Honourable Quentin Bryce AC CVO, has warmly welcomed the birth of the Royal Prince:

“On behalf of all Australians, I send heartfelt congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on this joyful occasion.

“The birth of a baby is an experience to celebrate and cherish. We wish the new parents every happiness and send warm greetings of welcome to the little Prince,” the Governor-General said.

Statement from Her Majesty's Australian Prime Minister, The Hon. Kevin Rudd
The Prime Minister today congratulated the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on the birth of their first child, a son.

On behalf of all Australians, Therese and I extend our warmest regards to the new parents, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince William holds a special place in the hearts of many Australians. Some of us remember his first visit to this country as a 9 month old baby more than 30 years ago with his mother Diana and father Charles.

In more recent times, Prince William demonstrated deep compassion when he met with families in Victoria who had lost everything during the Black Saturday bushfires of February 2009.

We share in the joy of the Royal Family, particularly Prince Charles on the birth of his grandson and Queen Elizabeth II on the birth of her great grandchild.

This is a happy day for our close friends in Britain and the Commonwealth.

Statement from the Leader of Her Majesty's Loyal Australian Opposition, The Hon. Tony Abbott Margie and I join all Australians in extending to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge congratulations and best wishes on the birth of their son.
This would be the happiest day in their lives and all Australians share their joy.

While there will come a time to contemplate the constitutional duties that await the young Prince, today we simply welcome a baby boy into the world and share the joy of this young family.

I am sure that over the course of his life, the Prince will, like the rest of his family, develop a deep affection for our country, as we already have for him.

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The Belgians welcome their new King wholeheartedly

King Albert II of the Belgians formally signed away his powers as head of state of the Kingdom of Belgium in front of a crowd of some 250 invited dignitaries at the royal palace in Brussels. Speaking at the ceremony, he praised his heir’s abilities. “Philippe, you have all the qualities of heart as well as the mind needed to serve our country well in your new responsibilities."

One and a half hours later King Philippe I took his oath before parliament. The 53-year-old took the vow in the country’s three official languages while dressed in full military uniform of the Belgian Royal Air Force.


King Philippe I swearing to observe the Belgian Constitution and to protect the integrity of the country.



In his first speech as King Philippe offered his service to all Belgians.

The members of the Belgian Parliament welcomed King Philippe.

10.000.000 Belgians like King Philippe.

The new Royal Family: King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Princess Eléonore, Prince Gabriel, Crown Princess Elisabeth, Prince Emmanuel.

King Philippe's first speech in French and Dutch
Le discours de prestation de serment du roi Philippe

Majestés, Monsieur le Président de la Chambre des Représentants, Madame la Présidente du Sénat, Mesdames et Messieurs les Députés et Sénateurs,

Je viens de prêter devant vous le serment constitutionnel. Je suis conscient de la responsabilité qui désormais m’incombe. Ce serment est une promesse solennelle qui renouvelle la relation de confiance qui existe depuis bientôt deux cents ans entre le Roi et le peuple belge.

Je succède aujourd’hui à six autres Rois, dont mon père le Roi Albert. Sire, pendant vingt ans, vous avez entretenu cette confiance en vous montrant d’une part proche de tous, chaleureux et profondément humain, et d’autre part attentif et engagé dans l’exercice de votre responsabilité de Chef de l’Etat. La Reine Paola vous a secondé dans votre tâche tout en se consacrant plus spécialement à des domaines essentiels tels que l’enseignement et la culture.

Avec sérénité, dignité et dévouement, vous avez accompagné le peuple belge en des temps parfois difficiles comme à des moments heureux et à une époque marquée par des changements profonds dans le monde. Nous vous en sommes reconnaissants.

Je me rends compte de la chance que j’ai de pouvoir compter sur le soutien permanent de mon épouse la Reine Mathilde. Chère Mathilde, depuis de nombreuses années, tu t’es investie de tout ton cœur dans de nombreuses activités. Tu as un sens inné pour le contact humain. Avec nos chers enfants nous entamons, confiants, ce nouveau chapitre de notre vie et de notre pays.

Mesdames et Messieurs, J’entame mon règne avec la volonté de me mettre au service de tous les Belges. Je travaillerai pour cela en parfaite entente avec le gouvernement et dans le respect de la Constitution. Au cours des années écoulées j’ai pu tisser des liens de plus en plus forts avec de très nombreux concitoyens. Je compte intensifier ce dialogue.

La richesse de notre pays et de notre système institutionnel réside notamment dans le fait que nous faisons de notre diversité une force. Nous trouvons chaque fois l’équilibre entre unité et diversité. La force de la Belgique est justement de donner un sens à notre diversité. La nouvelle réforme de l’Etat réalise un transfert de compétences important aux entités fédérées. Cela rapprochera les citoyens de la prise de décisions. Cela permettra de mieux rencontrer les défis de l'avenir. La force de la Belgique réside également dans ses entités fédérées. J’entends entretenir des contacts constructifs avec leurs responsables. Je suis convaincu que la coopération entre l’Etat fédéral, les Communautés et les Régions s’opérera au plus grand bénéfice de nos citoyens et de nos entreprises.

Nous savons qu’ensemble nous pouvons mettre en valeur les talents de chacun. En cela réside notre génie commun tel qu’il s’est développé tout au long de notre histoire. C’est un état d’esprit qui a façonné notre caractère et nos valeurs. Faire face ensemble aux problèmes les plus complexes, concilier les diverses aspirations, les intégrer sans qu’elles perdent leur originalité et leur force, voilà ce qui a aussi forgé notre inventivité et notre sens de la mesure

Mesdames et Messieurs,
Ces valeurs qui nous animent ont guidé des générations d’hommes et de femmes avant nous. Par leur engagement dans la société et dans la politique ils ont assuré à notre pays un niveau élevé de prospérité et de solidarité. Ils ont offert à la fois un cadre solide pour entreprendre et une sécurité sociale efficace.

Nous sommes confrontés à une crise qui frappe durement de nombreux concitoyens. Je veux aujourd’hui encourager chaque homme et chaque femme à faire face. Il y a en chacun de nous un potentiel insoupçonné qui n’attend qu’à se révéler.

J’en suis profondément convaincu. De plus, nous avons collectivement les moyens pour surmonter nos difficultés et pour assurer à chacun l'opportunité de progresser. Plus que jamais, le projet européen doit nous donner espoir et confiance. L’Europe que nous souhaitons doit apporter croissance et solidarité. Nous sommes fiers que notre capitale soit aussi la capitale de l’Europe et qu’à chaque moment de son histoire des dirigeants belges ont été au cœur de ce grand proj et. Au cours de mes missions à l’étranger j’ai pu constater combien les atouts de la Belgique et les talents et les forces dont elle dispose étaient appréciés de par le monde.

Mesdames et Messieurs, c’est dans cet esprit que j’agirai durant mon règne. Je soutiendrai, en Belgique et à l’étranger, toutes ces qualités qui sont les nôtres. Donnons tous ensemble à notre pays un nouvel élan d’enthousiasme.

Vive la Belgique ! Leve België ! Es lebe Belgien

Eedaflegging van Z.M. de Koning

Majesteiten, Mijnheer de Voorzitter van de Kamer van Volksvertegenwoordigers, Mevrouw de Voorzitter van de Senaat, Dames en Heren Volksvertegenwoordigers en Senatoren,

Ik heb zonet voor u de grondwettelijke eed afgelegd. Ik ben me bewust van de verantwoordelijkheid die voortaan op mij rust. Deze eed is een plechtige belofte die de bijna tweehonderd jaar oude vertrouwensrelatie tussen de Koning en het Belgische volk hernieuwt.

Ik volg hierin zes andere Koningen op, onder wie mijn vader Koning Albert. Sire, gedurende twintig jaar hebt u deze vertrouwensband onderhouden door een toegankelijke Koning te zijn, met een warm en diep menselijk gelaat. U was een luisterend en geëngageerd Staatshoofd. Koningin Paola heeft u hierin gesteund en legde zich bovendien toe op fundamentele zaken als onderwijs en cultuur.

Sereen, waardig en met grote toewijding hebt u het Belgische volk op moeilijke maar ook op gelukkige momenten begeleid, in een tijdperk dat gekenmerkt wordt door diepgaande veranderingen wereldwijd. Wij zijn u daar dankbaar voor.

Ik besef hoe gelukkig ik ben te mogen rekenen op de constante steun van mijn vrouw Koningin Mathilde. Lieve Mathilde, sinds vele jaren heb jij je met heel je hart ingezet in talrijke activiteiten. Je hebt een aangeboren zin voor menselijk contact. Met onze dierbare kinderen beginnen wij vol vertrouwen aan dit nieuwe hoofdstuk van ons leven en van ons land.

Dames en Heren,
Ik vat mijn koningschap aan met de wil om mij ten dienste te stellen van alle Belgen. Ik zal hiervoor in volle verstandhouding samenwerken met de regering en overeenkomstig de Grondwet. De afgelopen jaren heb ik steeds nauwere banden mogen ontwikkelen met veel van mijn medeburgers. Ik zal deze dialoog nog versterken.

De rijkdom van ons land en van ons institutioneel stelsel bestaat er mede in dat we van onze verscheidenheid een sterkte maken. Telkens weer vinden we het evenwicht tussen eenheid en verscheidenheid. De sterkte van België is precies dat we zin geven aan onze verscheidenheid.

De jongste staatshervorming draagt belangrijke bevoegdheden over aan de deelstaten. Hierdoor komt de beslissingsmacht dichter bij de burgers te liggen en zullen we de uitdagingen van de toekomst beter aankunnen. De sterkte van België gaat ook uit van zijn deelstaten. Ik zal constructieve contacten onderhouden met hun vertegenwoordigers. Ik ben ervan overtuigd dat de samenwerking tussen de federale Staat, de Gemeenschappen en Gewesten onze burgers en onze ondernemingen ten goede zal komen.

Samen kunnen we de bekwaamheden van elk van ons tot hun recht doen komen. Daarin bestaat ons gemeenschappelijk talent zoals het zich in de loop van onze geschiedenis heeft ontwikkeld. Het is een ingesteldheid die ons karakter en onze waarden vorm heeft gegeven. Samen de moeilijkste problemen oplossen. De meest uiteenlopende strekkingen met elkaar verzoenen zonder dat ze aan originaliteit of sterkte moeten inboeten. Dàt is ook de essentie van onze vindingrijkheid en onze zin voor maat.

Dames en Heren,
De waarden die ons drijven, hebben generaties mannen en vrouwen vóór ons bezield. Door hun inzet in de maatschappij en in de politiek hebben onze voorgangers ons land een hoge graad van welvaart en solidariteit bezorgd. Zij legden de grondslag voor een gezond ondernemingsklimaat en voor een efficiënte sociale zekerheid.

De crisis treft veel van onze landgenoten. Ik wil vandaag iedereen aanmoedigen, mannen en vrouwen, om vol te houden. Elk van ons bezit een onvermoed potentieel dat tot ontplooiing kan komen. Daar ben ik rotsvast van overtuigd. Daarnaast beschikken we samen over de nodige middelen om de moeilijkheden te trotseren en aan iedereen de mogelijkheid te geven om vooruit te komen.

Meer dan ooit moet het Europese project ons hoop en vertrouwen schenken. Het Europa dat wij willen moet groei en solidariteit tot stand brengen. Wij zijn fier dat onze hoofdstad ook de hoofdstad van Europa is en dat Belgische bewindslieden steeds in het middelpunt van dit grootse project hebben gestaan. Tijdens mijn zendingen naar het buitenland heb ik kunnen vaststellen hoezeer de troeven van België, de talenten en de sterktes die wij bezitten, wereldwijd gewaardeerd worden.

Dames en Heren, het is in deze geest dat ik zal werken tijdens mijn koningschap. Ik zal, in België en in het buitenland, al deze kwaliteiten ondersteunen.

Laten wij samen ons land nieuw enthousiasme geven.

Leve België ! Vive la Belgique ! Es lebe Belgien !

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King Albert II's last speech as Belgium's Monarch

King Albert II. in his last speech to the Belgian people, 20th July 2013.

King Albert II of the Belgians is about to formally abdicate in favour of his son Crown Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant.

In his final address as king on Saturday, the 79-year-old monarch urged Belgians to give his 53-year-old son "your support".

"Give the future King Philippe and the future Queen Mathilde your active participation and your support," King Albert said in his address.

"They make a great couple serving our country and they enjoy my full confidence," said the monarch, who will resign on Belgium's national day - after nearly 20 years on the throne.

Prince Philippe, the Oxford- and Stanford-educated prince, will then become the country's seventh king. He has also trained as an air force pilot.

"The country has been transformed ... in a peaceful and democratic way ... into a Federal state whose parts enjoy a large degree of autonomy," King Albert summoned up the political achievements of his 20 year reign.

Discours de S.M. le Roi à l’occasion de la Fête Nationale du 21 juillet 2013

Mesdames et Messieurs,

Il y a près de 20 ans, mon frère le Roi Baudouin nous quittait et je lui ai succédé. Je voudrais encore saluer sa mémoire. Il a su allier un grand sens de l’Etat et du devoir, avec une réelle bonté, une grande simplicité, et un souci pour les plus faibles de notre société. Aujourd’hui, c’est avec émotion que je m’adresse une dernière fois à vous comme Roi. Pendant 20 ans et ces jours-ci encore vous m’avez, par vos témoignages d’attachement, encouragé dans la tâche qui était la mienne. Je vous en remercie chaleureusement.

Je voudrais aussi dire ma gratitude à différents groupes de responsables de notre société. Durant mon règne j’ai apprécié la compétence, le dévouement et le sens du compromis constructif, de très nombreux hommes et femmes politiques. Si notre pays n’est pas toujours facile à gouverner, son pluralisme constitue une richesse
démocratique précieuse. J’ai rencontré des responsables politiques qui ont fait preuve d’un remarquable sens de l’intérêt général dans des circonstances difficiles. J’en veux pour preuves toutes récentes les accords budgétaires pour 2013 et 2014, le compromis trouvé sur le statut ouvriers-employés et les solutions dégagées pour
l’approvisionnement de notre pays en électricité. Avec ces accords récents, et ceux réalisés précédemment sur la réforme de l’Etat et sur le plan économique et social, la Belgique a trouvé un souffle nouveau tant sur le plan intérieur qu’européen. Ceci nous permet d’envisager l’avenir avec confiance.

Je rends également hommage à l’ensemble de la fonction publique. Je pense particulièrement à tous les militaires qui ont servi ou qui servent encore en opérations de paix à travers le monde. Par ailleurs, nous avons pu côtoyer de nombreux dirigeants économiques et des partenaires sociaux qui ont fait preuve de dynamisme dans un monde toujours plus globalisé, et qui se sont efforcés d’encourager et de préserver la dimension sociale de notre développement économique. Ils viennent encore d’en fournir un bel exemple. En période de crise c’est souvent plus difficile à réaliser, mais cela demeure essentiel. La Reine et moi avons été charmés aussi par nos contacts avec le monde culturel qui témoigne d’une étonnante créativité due au fait que notre pays se situe aux confins de plusieurs grandes cultures.

Enfin, la vitalité et la générosité du monde associatif constituent un grand atout pour la Belgique. Notre pays compte également de nombreux talents dont nous pouvons être fiers. Vous me demanderez peut être, au moment où je quitte ma fonction, quels sont mes souhaits pour l’avenir. J’en ai beaucoup mais j’en exprimerai surtout quatre.

1. Premièrement, que la Belgique garde sa cohésion. Elle s’est transformée depuis une quarantaine d’années, de façon pacifique et démocratique, d’un Etat unitaire en un Etat fédéral où les entités jouissent d’une très large autonomie. Et avec la mise en oeuvre de la 6ème réforme de l’Etat, cette autonomie va se renforcer considérablement. Je profite de cette occasion pour saluer l’énorme travail réalisé ces derniers mois par le gouvernement et ses collaborateurs. Dans un monde qui change rapidement, il est important que chaque responsabilité publique soit exercée au niveau qui est le plus équitable et le plus efficace. De même, je suis convaincu que le maintien de la cohésion de notre Etat fédéral est vital, non seulement pour la qualité de notre vie ensemble, qui nécessite le dialogue, mais aussi pour la préservation de notre bien-être à tous.

2. Deuxièmement. Continuons à croire fermement dans l’Europe. Dans notre monde, cette construction européenne est plus que jamais nécessaire. Dans beaucoup de domaines les défis ne peuvent être rencontrés qu’au niveau européen, et c’est à ce niveau qu’un certain nombre de valeurs peuvent être le mieux défendues. Je pense à la richesse de la diversité, au pluralisme démocratique, à la tolérance, à la solidarité, et à la protection des plus faibles. Mais il est essentiel que le projet européen soit plus qu’un projet budgétaire, qu’il mette également l’accent sur la croissance durable, sur l’emploi, sur les perspectives d’avenir pour les jeunes, sur la justice sociale, et sur la culture. Notre pays lui-même, doit être un moteur d’une construction européenne où la dimension humaine et démocratique est centrale. Notre pragmatisme, notre sens de l’équilibre, et notre ouverture à l’autre, sont des qualités précieuses pour atteindre ces objectifs. Et de plus, nous avons la chance que les principales institutions européennes soient situées au coeur de notre pays.

3. Enfin, troisièmement, même en période de crise en Europe, restons ouverts aux pays en développement. Pour nous Belges, soyons attentifs à l’Afrique Centrale avec laquelle nous avons tissé tant de liens, et qui traverse aujourd’hui tellement d’épreuves.

4. Je terminerai par un souhait qui m’est très cher comme Roi et comme père : entourez le futur Roi Philippe, et la future Reine Mathilde, de votre collaboration active et de votre soutien. Ils forment un excellent couple au service de notre pays et ils jouissent de toute ma confiance.

Quant à la Reine et moi, nous continuerons, dans la discrétion cette fois, à nous intéresser à ce qui se passe dans notre pays que nous aimons tant.

Meine Damen und Herren,
Ich möchte mit einem Wunsch enden, der mir als König und als Vater sehr am herzen liegt: arbeiten Sie aktiv mit dem künftigen König Philipp und der künftigen Königin Mathilde zusammen.

Toespraak van Z.M. de Koning, ter gelegenheid van de Nationale Feestdag 21 juli 2013

Dames en Heren,
Bijna twintig jaar geleden is mijn broer, Koning Boudewijn, van ons heengegaan, en ik heb hem dan opgevolgd. Zijn gedachtenis wens ik nogmaals te eren. Hij verstond de kunst om staatsmanschap en het nakomen van zijn plicht te laten samengaan met ware goedheid, met grote eenvoud, en met zorg voor de zwakste in onze samenleving.

Vandaag is het met ontroering dat ik mij, als Koning, een laatste maal tot u richt. Gedurende twintig jaar, en nog in deze dagen, heeft u mij door uw blijken van aanhankelijkheid, aangemoedigd in het volbrengen van mijn taak. Ik dank u daarvoor zeer hartelijk.

Ik wou ook mijn erkentelijkheid betuigen aan verschillende groepen
die verantwoordelijkheid dragen in onze maatschappij. Tijdens mijn regeerperiode heb ik de deskundigheid, de toewijding en het gevoel voor opbouwende compromissen van talrijke politieke mannen en vrouwen op prijs gesteld. Ook al is ons land niet altijd gemakkelijk te besturen, toch is zijn pluralisme een waardevolle democratische rijkdom. Ik heb politieke verantwoordelijken ontmoet die, in moeilijke omstandigheden, het algemeen belang opmerkelijk hebben behartigd.
Recent nog zijn daarvan bewijzen geleverd zoals de begrotingsakkoorden voor 2013 en 2014, het bereikte compromis over het eenheidsstatuut voor arbeiders en bedienden, of ook nog de oplossingen voor het bevoorraden van ons land met elektriciteit. Die recente overeenkomsten samen met de voorgaande in verband met de
hervorming van de Staat en op economisch en sociaal gebied, hebben België een nieuw impuls gegeven, zowel op binnenlands als op Europees vlak. Wij kunnen aldus de toekomst vertrouwensvol tegemoet zien.

Ik sta er ook op hulde te brengen aan heel het openbaar ambt. Ik denk in het bijzonder aan alle militairen die gediend hebben of nog dienen in vredesmissies overal ter wereld. Bovendien hebben wij veel contacten kunnen onderhouden met economische leiders en met sociale partners die zich dynamisch opstelden in een steeds verder globaliserende wereld, en die zich hebben ingezet om de sociale dimensie van onze economische ontwikkeling aan te moedigen en te vrijwaren. Zonet hebben ze daarvan nog een mooie illustratie gegeven. In een periode van crisis is dat vaak nog moeilijker te realiseren, maar het blijft essentieel.

De Koningin en ikzelf waren geboeid door onze contacten met de culturele wereld. Die wereld getuigt van een verrassende creativiteit, te danken aan de ligging van ons land omgeven door verschillende grote culturen.

Ten slotte, vormen de vitaliteit en de edelmoedigheid van het verenigingsleven een belangrijke troef voor België. Ons land is rijk aan talenten en we mogen daar trots op zijn. Misschien zult u me vragen, nu ik mijn ambt verlaat, welke wensen ik voor de toekomst zou vormen. Ik heb er veel maar ik zal er in het bijzonder vier vermelden.

1. Mijn eerste wens is dat België zijn cohesie moge bewaren. Ons land heeft zich sinds een veertigtal jaar, democratisch en vredevol hervormd van een unitaire Staat naar een federale Staat, waar de gefedereerde entiteiten ruime autonomie genieten. Bij het in werking treden van de 6de staatshervorming zal die autonomie zich nog aanzienlijk uitbreiden. Ik maak van deze gelegenheid gebruik om het geweldige werk te eren dat de jongste maanden werd verricht door de regering en haar medewerkers. In een snel veranderende wereld is het van belang dat elke publieke verantwoordelijkheid wordt waargenomen op het meest rechtmatige en efficiënte niveau. Ook ben ik overtuigd dat het behoud van de cohesie van onze federale staat van levensbelang is, niet alleen voor de kwaliteit van ons samenleven, wat dialoog vergt, maar ook voor het vrijwaren van het welzijn van iedereen.

2. Mijn tweede wens is : verder blijven geloven in Europa. In onze wereld is die Europese opbouw meer dan ooit noodzakelijk. Op vele vlakken kunnen uitdagingen alleen op een Europees niveau worden aangegaan, en het beveiligen van een aantal waarden wordt ook het best op Europees niveau verzekerd. Ik denk aan de rijkdom van verscheidenheid, aan het democratischpluralisme, aan verdraagzaamheid, aan solidariteit, en aan de bescherming van de zwakste. Maar het is ook essentieel dat het Europese project meer zou zijn dan een begrotingsproject. Het moet evenzeer het accent leggen op duurzame groei, op tewerkstelling, op toekomstperspectieven voor jongeren, op sociale rechtvaardigheid en op cultuur. Ons land moet een motor blijven voor een Europese opbouw waar de democratie en de mens centraal staan. Wij zijn pragmatisch, wij hebben zin voor evenwichten en staan open voor de andere, het zijn allemaal hoedanigheden die voor het bereiken van die doelstellingen waardevol zijn. Meer nog, wij hebben ook het geluk dat de voornaamste Europese instellingen zich in het hart van ons land bevinden.

3. Derde wens. Zelfs tijdens een crisisperiode in Europa, dienen we verder open te staan voor de ontwikkelingslanden. Voor ons,Belgen, zullen we aandacht blijven besteden aan Centraal Afrika waarmee wij zoveel banden hebben gesmeed en dat nu talloze beproevingen moet doorstaan.

4. Ik wil eindigen met een bijzondere wens die mij als Koning en als vader na aan het hart ligt : omring de toekomstige Koning Filip en de toekomstige Koningin Mathilde, met uw actieve medewerking en met uw steun. Zij vormen een uitstekend koppel ten dienste van ons land en genieten mijn volle vertrouwen.

Wat de Koningin en mijzelf betreft, wij zullen nu, met enige discretie, het leven in ons land, waar wij zoveel van houden, verder blijven volgen.

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