King Filip attended the annual Armistice Day commemoration at the Congress Column in Brussels on Wednesday, appearing in public wearing a face mask while recovering from a cold.
The monarch, 66, participated in the military ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a monument from 1922. The ceremony serves to honor soldiers who died during the two World Wars and those who were never identified, as well as Belgian military personnel killed during peacekeeping and peace-enforcement missions since 1945.
A spokesperson said that while the King is recovering from a cold, he insisted on attending the event, describing it as an important moment despite the inclement weather.
The ceremony was attended by a wide range of dignitaries, including Prime Minister Bart De Wever, Minister of Defense Theo Francken, Minister of Justice Annelies Verlinden, and Minister of the Interior Bernard Quintin. The diplomatic community was represented by U.S. Ambassador Bill White.
Regional and local leaders were also present, including Brussels Minister-President Boris Dilliès, Brussels ministers Dirk De Smedt and Laurent Hublet, the Mayor of Brussels Philippe Close, and former minister André Flahaut. Representatives from the Constitutional Court, the Court of Cassation, and various patriotic associations and veteran groups were also in attendance to pay their respects.
The commemoration took place against the backdrop of a federal political crisis. King Filip has held the resignation of Prime Minister De Wever in deliberation. The King expressed regret that the government could not reach an agreement on the budget and warned that the country cannot afford a long-term political crisis in the current economic context.
Industry organizations have expressed concern over the deadlock. Bart Lodewyckx, managing director of UNIZO Limburg, urged the government to honor its 2025 coalition agreement, which focused on structural reforms, strengthening business competitiveness, and avoiding tax increases. This agreement focused on structural reforms and business competitiveness. Similarly, Voka Limburg managing director Frank Beckx called for a credible budget agreement, stating that the government was elected to solve problems rather than defer them.
When asked by the press on Wednesday if a truce had been reached regarding the federal budget, De Wever replied, “That’s a good one. We are still waiting for that.” U.S. Ambassador Bill White defended the Prime Minister’s focus, stating, “This is not the day to talk about the budget, but about freedom.” De Wever added that the day was intended to focus on themes of freedom, partnership, and friendship.
It is not yet clear when a resolution to the budget impasse will be found.
