The King of the Belgians, Albert II, has announced his abdication.
In a national televised address on Wednesday, King Albert, 79, said he would step down in favour of his son Crown Prince Philippe, 53, on 21 July, Belgium's national day.
He said his health was no longer good enough to fulfil his duties, and it was time to "pass on the torch to the next generation".
He said Philippe was "well prepared" to be his successor.
State TV reported King Albert met the cabinet earlier on Wednesday to inform them of his decision.
King Albert was sworn in as the sixth king of the Belgians on 9 August 1993, following the death of his brother, King Baudouin at the age of 62.
Belgium has a constitutional monarchy in which the king plays a largely ceremonial role.
One of the duties of the monarch is trying to resolve constitutional crises.
King Albert exercised his authority in advising political leaders on the formation of a government during the 2010-2011 parliamentary stalemate, when Belgium was left without a government for 541 days after elections failed to find a clear winner.
The BBC reports tensions between the Flemish and French language communities sometimes run high and the issue has brought down several governments.
Respect for the royal family, though, is one of the few factors that crosses the communal divide.
