Kings, queens and kisses

His father's last act as king was to send a big kiss to his queen consort.  And as Philippe took over from Albert II as king of the Belgians, his first act was to plant a kiss on the cheek of his own consort, Mathilde.  She returned the gesture and for a moment it looked like they might even give us the first coronation on the lips smacker.  But they resisted and waved instead.  Belgium's abdication and accession has proved to be a royal romance.

 

A kiss for his queen - Mathilde and Philippe greet the crowds at the Place des Palais in Brussels less than an hour after his formal accession as King of the Belgians