Page "Monarchy of Belgium" Paragraph 20

Belgium is the only current European monarchy that does not apply the tradition of the new monarch automatically ascending the throne upon the death or abdication of the former monarch.

According to the Belgian constitution, the monarch accedes to the throne only upon taking a constitutional oath.

The present king did not become monarch on 31 July 1993 ( the day his brother died ) but on 9 August 1993 when he took the constitutional oath.

In all other European monarchies, the monarch assumes the title the moment the predecessor dies or abdicates.

The Belgian constitutional oath is as follows: " I swear to observe the Constitution and the laws of the Belgian people, to maintain the national independence and the integrity of the territory.

", which is taken in the three official languages: French, Dutch and German.