In a decree (http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/2019/07/19_2.pdf) signed on 12th July 2019 and coming into force a week later on the 19th in time for Belgium's National Day (but not in time for the graphics on the podium) the Arms of the whole Royal Family (including a king or queen who have abdicated) have been changed with Labels and Bordures. However, the biggest change is the return of the In escutcheon of Saxony on the shoulder of the Belgian Lion on the Shield. Why?
As with the British Royal Family, the Belgians ceased using the Dynastic name Saxe Coburg and Gotha of the House of Wettin after the First World War for reasons already noted elsewhere in these pages. The Belgian Royal Family took on the surname 'of Belgium' in the various languages of the country (“van België” or “de Belgique” or “von Belgien”).
I presume the need is to distinguish the Coats of Arms of the family from the Coat of Arms of the country, especially as the monarch has always been "King (or, in the future, Queen) of the Belgians". But why the Inescutcheon of Saxony?
Having said that, a welcome step is the fact that an abdicated King or Queen will now receive a 3 pointed Label to distinguish them from the reigning monarch, especially as there appears to be no requirement for them to revert to Prince or Princess. This Label is red with a Crown at the centre (rather like The Duke of Windsor's Label). Red Labels have been used before, namely for King Albert I before his accession and his his elder brother Baudouin of Flanders who died before he could come to the Throne, and also their Father Phillipe of Flanders.
The remaining Princes and Princesses retain the colour yellow (with one exception, which I will cover later).
The Duke or Duchess of Brabant, i.e. the heir to the Throne, receives a yellow 3 pointed Label. This position not only retains the general Cadency Mark of what had been the whole of the Royal Family up to now, but is also interestingly now in line with the heirs in the other two Benelux kingdoms (Luxembourg and the Netherlands). This would seem to be in time for Princess Elisabeth's 18th Birthday which is coming up this October when she will be expected to take on fully the reins of an heir and will presumably be granted the Order of Leopold.
All other members of the Belgian Royal Family and, according to Article 4 of the the Decree, are Prince or Princess of Belgium in male and female descent of HM King Leopold I are accorded a yellow Bordure. This has also been used previously, most recently for King Albert II before his accession when he was Prince of Liège. This would presumably include his half sisters Marie Christine and Marie Esmeralda who are equally descendants of Leopold I and are Princesses of Belgium, as well as the present King's siblings and other children. This would also include Princess Astrid's children but they would then, presumably, marshal their Father, Prince Lorenz's Arms somehow.
What surprises me again is Article 5 of the Decree. This states that Princes and Princesses of "our Royal House" (rather than "of Belgium") who are not covered by Article 5 (presumably who are not in male and female descent of HM King Leopold I) carry the Belgian Arms with a purple Bordure.
What does this article actually mean? I can only think that it refers to spouses of Princes or Princesses of the Blood Royal. But does that mean someone like Prince Lorenz will have to marshal the new Belgian Arms with his own. If that means him carrying an Inescutcheon of Austria-Este in pretence on top his Belgian Arms then that makes the Inescutcheon of Saxony rather redundant if not messy. Or will he and others who marry into the Belgian Royal Family and are granted the Belgian titles lose their own family Arms?
I will keep you updated as much as I can, especially on the subject of spouses and other members of "our Royal House". Please just wonder at the speed with which Sodacan has responded with his graphics. As always, I am indebted to his professionalism.