Part of a series on the Orders of precedence
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The Belgian order of precedence (French: Liste de préséance en Belgique, Dutch: Lijst van préséance in België) is the formal ranking used at the Royal court during acts of state. Because the EU, NATO and SHAPE all have their headquarters in Belgium, this list is used every year during formal receptions at court.

A distinction is made between Princes of the Royal blood, and Princes of nobility. The same goes for Cardinals who always have precedence, no matter if they are acting as residing bishop. Members of the royal household are given high positions. Many of the people who occupy these positions also have special privileges in Belgium and have the right to use special car number plates.

List Used Until 2023

1. HM King of the Belgians
2. HM Queen of the Belgians
3. HM King Albert of the Belgians
4. HM Queen Paola of the Belgians
5. HRH The Duchess of Brabant
6. HRH Prince Gabriel of Belgians
7. HRH Prince Emmanuel of the Belgians
8. HRH Princess Eleonore of the Belgians
9. HI & RH The Archduchess of Austria-Este
10. HI & RH The Archduke of Austria-Este
11. HI & RH Archduke Amadeo of the Belgians
12. HI & RH Archduchess Elisabeta of the Belgians
13. HI & RH Archduchess Anna Astrid of Austria-Este
14. HI & RH Archduke Maximilian of Austria-Este
15. HI & RH Archduchess Maria Laura of Austria-Este
16. Mr William Isvy
17. HI & RH Archduke Joachim of Austria-Este
18. HI & RH Archduchess Luisa Maria of Austria-Este
19. HI & RH Archduchess Laetita Maria of Austria-Este
20. HRH Prince Laurent of the Belgians
21. HRH Princess Claire of the Belgians
22. HRH Princess Louise of the Belgians
23. HRH Prince Nicholas of the Belgians
24. HRH Prince Aymeric of the Belgians
25. HRH Princess Delphine of the Belgians
26. Mr James O'Hare
27. HRH Princess Josephine of the Belgians
28. HRH Princess Lea of the Belgians
29. HRH Princess Marie Christine, Mrs. Gourgues
30. HRH Princess Marie Esmeralda of the Belgians, Lady Moncada
31. the Belgian Cardinals
32. the Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, the Papal Nuncio
33. the Ambassadors accredited by the court
34. the President of the European Parliament
35. the President of the Chamber and the President of the Senate
36. the President of the European Council
37. the Prime Minister
38. the Vice Prime Ministers
39. the Federal Ministers
40. the President of the European Union
41. the Minister for Foreign Affairs (if foreign diplomats are present)
42. the President of the European Commission
43. the Secretary General of NATO
44. the Foreign Minister
45. the President of the International Court of Justice in the Hague
46. the President of the Court of Justice of the European Union
47. the prosecutor General of the Court of Cassation
48. the President of the Constitutional Court
49. the Presidents of the Parliaments of the Communities and Regions
50. the Minister-Presidents of the Communities and Regions
51. the Secretaries of State
52. the Grand Marshall of His Majesty the King
53. the Vice presidents and members of the European Commission
54. the Belgian Ministers of State
55. the Regional Ministers
56. the Ladies in Waiting of the Queen
57. the Judges of the International Criminal Court of The Hague
58. the Judges and Clerks of the Court of Justice of the European Union
59. the Ambassadors to the European Union
60. the Ambassadors to NATO
61. the President of the Court of Audit (Rekenhof/Cour des comptes)
62. the President of the High Council of Justice
63. the Noble families of the Blue Room.
64. the Dignitaries of the Royal Court
65. HM's Chief of Staff
66. the Head of HM's Military Household
67. the Intendant of HM's Civil List
68. The Chief of the Household of the Royal Princes.
69. The honorary Chief of Staff of His Majesty.
70. The honorary Intendant of His Majesty's Civil List.
71. The honorary Head of HM's Military Household.
72. The honorary Ladies in Waiting of The Queen
73. The President of the Military Committee of NATO.
74. the Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, if not a Cardinal.
75. The Foreign ambassadors of His Majesty
76. The Head of Protocol or the Royal Court.
77. The Governors of the Provinces
78. The Presidents of the Provincial Councils
79. The Bishops of the Belgian Church province.
80. The Commanders in chief of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.
81. The Aide-de-camp of His Majesty.

The official list goes further until 178. Further are mentioned Members of Parliament, Generals, members of the Royal Academies, Burgomasters, ...

See also

• List of Grand Cordons of the Order of Leopold
• Belgian order of precedence (decorations and medals)

Sources

1. Emmanuel COPPIETERS, Protocol, UGA, Heule, 1988.
2. Pierre-Yves MONETTE, Beroep: Koning der Belgen, 2003
3. Eddy VAN DEN BUSSCHE, Praktisch Handboek voor het Protocol, UGA, Heule, 2008.
4. Eddy VAN DEN BUSSCHE, Manuel pratique pour le protocole, UGA, Heule, 2008.
5. Eddy VAN DEN BUSSCHE, Het Protocol in België - Le Protocole en Belgique, UGA, Heule, 2013.