In April, Belgium’s Head of State King Filip turned 65. To mark the occasion the King invited the public to submit questions about things that they had always wanted to ask him. In a video published on Tuesday, King Filip answers some of the questions that were sent in. These included questions about his morning routine, favourite books, parachuting and his family’s pet dogs.
The aim of inviting questions from the general public was to provide the King with an opportunity to establish direct contact with the Belgian people and engage with them in an accessible way. A total of 2,614 questions were submitted, 38 of which he answered in a 40-minute video.
He did so in one of the salons at his family Laken Castle. One of the question King Filip was asked was whether he is obliged to wear a suit every day. He answered that he usually does wear a suit "as a form of courtesy". “I don't usually wear jeans, but when we're on holiday with the family, we also wear casual clothes or trainers”, the King of the Belgians explained.
The Royal Palace said it had received questions from Belgians of all ages about the King's personal life, royal duties and social challenges facing the country. The selected questions covered both serious topics, such as leadership and protocol, and lighter subjects, such as the King’s least favourite food.
Some other questions concerned the King's morning routine. He replied that this includes 15 minutes of meditation and his favourite music. While King Filip is a classical music lover, he is also a fan of the British band Dire Straight. "Dire Straits is absolutely the best for me," said the King. He concluded the video with a word of thanks.