King Philippe calls for fewer princely titles

Belgium's royal family is becoming too large, according to King Philippe, who announced he will limit the number of family members allowed to carry the title Prince or Princess of Belgium. The stricter regulation ensures that only Philippe's grandchildren and some of his great-grandchildren will bear the title.

There are currently 22 members of the royal family who carry the name 'of Belgium', including King Albert and Queen Paola, their children, children-in-law and grandchildren, in addition to King Albert's two half-sisters Marie-Christine and Esmeralda of Belgium.

"But the royal family is becoming too large. The title of Prince of Belgium is in danger of losing its value," warns the royal palace. King Philippe therefore announced in the Royal Decree published on Tuesday that he will put a limit on the number of future princely titles.

Under the new decree, only the future grandchildren of King Philippe will be given the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium, meaning the (hypothetical) children of the still minor Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eleonore. In the next generation, only the grandchildren of Elisabeth (pictured), Prince Philippe's elder daughter, will bear the title, while the grandchildren of her sister and brothers will not.