Philippe sworn in as king of Belgium

Prince Philippe was sworn in before parliament as Belgium's seventh king on Sunday, the country's national day, after his 79-year-old father Albert II abdicated. Philippe took his oath in Dutch, French and German, the country's three official languages. "I swear to observe the constitution and the laws of the Belgian people, to preserve national independence and the integrity of the territory," Philippe said shortly after Albert II signed the act of abdication at the royal palace after a 20-year reign. Albert II announced his abdication decision on July 3, citing "age and health" as the reasons for not continuing to carry out his duties. Albert II was sworn in as Belgium's sixth king in 1993, succeeding his brother Baudouin who died at the age of 62, and has become the first Belgian king to voluntarily step down. Philippe, 53, is a fighter pilot and parachutist with degrees from the world's top universities.