Former Belgian King, Albert II, Braved The Cold Weather To Watch Grandson Start Military School

King Albert II of Belgium, the father of the reigning Belgian monarch, King Philippe, made a rare public appearance in Brussels to attend the Opening Ceremony of the Royal Military Academy's new academic year. The ceremony was held at the Esplanade Jubelpark in Brussels on October 13, 2022. 

King Albert II braved the cold weather to witness his grandson, Prince Gabriel, begin his military school at the Royal Military Academy. The second in line to the throne just finished his six-week grueling military initiation in the Belgian army early this month. 

Prince Gabriel and his grandfather, King Albert II of Belgium

Prince Gabriel and his father, King Philippe

Prince Gabriel, who turned 19 in August this year, will forego his university studies for the moment to concentrate on the Royal Military Academy where he will be taking up Social and Military Sciences in Dutch lectures. Belgium's Royal Military Academy is situated on Elsenborn in the country's German-speaking region.

King Albert II wrapped himself in a brown long coat

In another Royal Family story in the continent, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, also forego a university degree in 2002 to take up full military studies (in contrast to his older brother, now the Prince of Wales, who obtained first a university degree before starting a military training) at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in England.

It has been part of the royal tradition of most royal families around the world that male members of the family will follow a military career instead of a civil service. Prince Gabriel's older sister, Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant, also studied for a year in the Royal Military Academy before she began her university life.

From left: Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, Prince Gabriel, King Albert II

From left: Prince Emmanuel, Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, Prince Gabriel, King Albert II, Princess Eleonore

During the Opening Ceremony in Brussels, King Philippe handed over the King's Sword to Lieutenant Jasper Mathys, it's a prestigious award for the most deserving officer-apprentice of the Royal Military Academy. Prince Gabriel is one of the new apprentice officers who will begin his military studies this year.

From left: Prince Emmanuel, Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, Prince Gabriel, King Albert II, Princess Eleonore

Present in the ceremony were his parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, his grandfather, King Albert II, and his two younger siblings, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore. His older sister, the Duchess of Brabant, who was present at his Blue Caps Parade early this month, was not in the ceremony. Princess Elisabeth is currently in the United Kingdom attending classes at Oxford University.

Princess Elisabeth (right) attended Prince Gabriel's Blue Caps Parade early this month

Prince Gabriel's father, the King, as Belgium's reigning monarch and head of state, is the Commander-in-Chief of the Belgian Armed Forces. Members of the Armed Forces swore an Oath of Allegiance to the King during their services in the military.

Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, Prince Gabriel

Princess Eleonore and Prince Emmanuel of Belgium

Princess Eleonore of Belgium

Prince Gabriel's grandfather, King Albert II, abdicated the throne in July 2013 in favor of his father, now King Philippe of the Belgians. However, unlike other monarchs who abdicated the throne, such as King Juan Carlos of Spain and Emperor Akihito of Japan, who put "emeritus" on their names, the Belgian Royal Palace announced that the former monarch would continue to be known by his regnal name King Albert II following the abdication, sans "emeritus".

King Philippe of the Belgians, the Commander-in-Chief of the Belgian military forces

Prince Gabriel and his fellow military officer students

King Albert II rarely appeared in public events after he abdicated the throne in 2013 due to his mobility issues and other health reasons, however, on Prince Gabriel's first day of military school life, he made an effort to attend the ceremony despite the cold weather.

Wishing Prince Gabriel good wishes as he begins his military school!