(4 Jul 2013)
AP TELEVISION
1. Wide of pedestrians
2. Mid of man picking up newspapers from kiosk
3. Pan of newspapers headlines about King Albert's abdication
4. Close of front page with photo of King Albert, headline reading: (French) "Thank you Sir"
5. Mid of woman taking newspaper
6. SOUNDBITE (French) Vincent, no last name given:
"I think that symbolically it is important (to have a king) and that during all the crisis we have this kind of unity behind our king. We already saw some symbols of separatism yesterday surrounding the abdication but the force that gravitates around the king for the moment overshadows the turbulence."
7. Close of front page with photo of Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde, future King and Queen of Belgium
8. SOUNDBITE (French) Melanie, no last name given:
"I think he will be able to do good things, to well represent Belgium on the national and international stages, and we are with him, we will try to support him any way we can in order for him to move forward in the right direction."
9. Low angle of newspapers
10. Close of Belgian flag on top of Royal Palace
11. Wide of Royal Palace
STORYLINE:
Belgians on Thursday expressed support for their incoming royal ruler, a day after King Albert abdicated in favour of his son, Crown Prince Philippe.
Frail at 79, King Albert announced on Wednesday that he will be handing over the throne to Prince Philippe, who is 53.
Albert said his age and health no longer allow him to carry out his functions as he would want to.
"I think that symbolically it is important (to have a king), and that during all the crisis we have this kind of unity behind our king," said one Brussels resident.
"We already saw some symbols of separatism yesterday surrounding the abdication but the force that gravitates around the king for the moment overshadows the turbulence," he added.
One woman, from the town of Nivelles, said she expected fellow Belgians to support their new king.
"I think he (Prince Philippe) will be able to do good things, to well represent Belgium on the national and international stages, and we are with him, we will try to support him any way we can in order for him to move forward in the right direction."
Philippe will ascend the throne on July 21.
The prince, who is seen by many in his nation of 10.5 (m) million people as awkward and reclusive, says he is conscious of the responsibility ahead.
Philippe will become the second crown prince to ascend a European throne this year, following in the footsteps of Willem-Alexander, who became king of the neighbouring Netherlands on April 30 when his mother, Beatrix, abdicated.
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