King speaks about potential abdication in surprising admission

King Philippe of Belgium has broken his silence on speculation about the potential abdication for his daughter Princess Elisabeth in a rare candid admission.

The 65-year-old responded to public questions about his future role in a new interview released by the Belgian Royal Palace.

The monarch has cleared the air as he revealed he has no immediate plans to abdicate, stating he wants to give his daughter Princess Elisabeth time to "enjoy her youth" before considering stepping down.

"A King steps back, but is not retired," Philippe said, according to a translation shared by Hola!.

The royal assured he would "continue to work for Belgium” during the heartfelt discussion, adding: “I must give my daughter time to enjoy her youth, develop herself and see the world.“

“I support her 100 percent in that, and I will do everything I can to give her all the time she needs to do," he continued.

The interview formed part of a lighthearted video in which the sovereign responded to 30 questions selected from 2,614 video messages sent for his April 15 birthday.

Elizabeth, poised to become Belgium's first queen regnant, graduated from Oxford University in July 2024 with a degree in History and Politics, having completed her entrance exam "anonymously" to ensure her royal status would not affect her chances, according to Belgian newspaper Le Soir.

The heir apparent received an Honourary Award from the Fulbright Program, the US Department of State's international educational exchange programme.

It is to mention here that Belgium has a precedent for voluntary abdication, with King Philippe ascending the throne in 2013 at age 53 after his father, King Albert II, abdicated at 79 due to health concerns.

The monarch's full name is Philippe Léopold Louis Marie, and he was born on April 15, 1960. His wife is Queen Mathilde, and they have four children. The eldest is Princess Elisabeth, who is the heir to the throne.