Each year, members of the Belgium Royal Family attend a memorial service for deceased members of the royal family. The service is held at The Church of Our Lady of Laeken, where the Royal Crypt is located. Many past monarchs, consorts and other members of the royal family are buried there.

The annual service is held on or around February 17th. The first service was held on February 17, 1935, to mark the first anniversary of King Albert I of Belgium*. King Albert I had died at age 58 in a climbing accident in Marche-les-Dames. 

The “Foreign Royals” in attendance are all extended family, usually with close family members buried in the Royal Crypt. 

The dress code is not restricted to black. We usually see royals dressed in black or other other neural colors. Hats are allowed but not required. 

Reign of King Philippe

Table 3: 2025-2029

Table 2: 2020 – 2024

Notes:

• 2020 – First service since death of Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg. 
• 2021 – No Service due to the pandemic, instead members of the Royal Family just visited the Royal Crypt. Princess Delphine’s 1st time attending, following being recognized as King Albert’s biological daughter. 
• 2022 – Reduced number of guests and seating was “socially distant” during service. This is the first official Royal event Princess Delphine attended together with her father, King Albert.    

Table 1: 2014 – 2019

Notes: 

• 2014 – First Service during King Philippe’s reign
• 2015 – First service since death of Queen Fabiola
• 2017 – Queen Paola was in the hospital at the time with a broken hip.