After fighting for independence from the United Kingdom of Netherlands, the mostly Roman Catholic Dutch and French speakers to the south decided to become a constitutional monarchy. After a few failed attempts at headhunting a monarch, Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha agreed to become King Leopold I of Belgium.
He had been living in Marlborough House in London after the death of his wife, Princess Charlotte of Wales, who had been the second in line to the British throne.
King Leopold was crowned on 21st July 1831.
