King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and their four children attended a Te Deum service at Cathedral of Saints Michel-and-Gudule in Brussels to commemorate Belgium’s Independence Day on Tuesday, 21 July 2020.

The Cathedral was decorated with Origami For Life display symbolises a united Belgium during the coronavirus.

Thousands of artists, through origami, pays tribute to all coronavirus victims.

Independence Day is a national holiday but events were scaled down as no military parades, festivities in the park or fireworks will take park.

A scaled-down celebration was held in the Place des Palais paying tribute to the heroes of the coronavirus and commemorating the 75th anniversary of the end of World War II.

Origin of Independence Day

Belgium had been part of the Netherlands since 1815 but in 1830 an uprising began for the country to become independent.

A Conference of European countries recognised Belgium as an independent country.

The Belgians invited Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg to become their king, after considering several candidates.

Leopold accepted and was proclaimed ‘King of the Belgians’ on 26 June 1831.

On 21 July 1831 Leopold swore allegiance to the constitution in the Royal Palace and this day has been observed as a Belgian national holiday ever since.