( CNN ) -- Former Crown Prince Philippe was sworn in as king of Belgium on Sunday after his father abdicated the throne an hour before . Albert II of Belgium gave up his throne over concerns about his advanced age . `` I have noticed how my age and my health have not permitted me to exercise my duties the way I would like to , '' the 79-year-old said in an address to the nation . King Philippe , 53 , was educated in public schools in Belgium 's two major languages , Flemish and French , and later attended the royal military academy , where he trained to be a fighter pilot . Belgium , which is home to the European Union capital of Brussels , has also gained a queen in Mathilde , Philippe 's wife . She is the daughter of a count and countess and graduated with a degree in speech therapy . Albert 's abdication follows that of the Netherlands ' Queen Beatrice earlier this year and that of Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican . European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso has praised Albert for the move . `` I wish to express to him my sincere thanks for his tireless efforts in the service of Belgium and Europe , '' Barroso said in a statement . Throughout his 20-year reign , Albert `` has never ceased to be a staunch defender of the values that are the basis of the European construction , '' Barroso said . The Belgian royal family has had less luck promoting cohesion within its own country , which is culturally split between ethnic Flemish Dutch people in the north , ethnic French people in the south and a small group of ethnic Germans in the east . Separatist ideas have sprouted particularly in the Flemish region , which has a stronger economy . Opinion : Why Queen Elizabeth wo n't step down . CNN 's Neda Farshbaf contributed to this report .
Prince Philippe is sworn in as king of Belgium on Sunday in Brussels . His father , Leopold II , stepped down an hour earlier . Belgium also gained a queen , Philippe 's sister Louise .