At a ceremony commemorating the beginning of the First World War, King Philippe of Belgium paid tribute on Monday to the "courage and dignity" of those who lost their lives in the conflict.

The King was speaking at a memorial service in the eastern Belgian city of Liege, which was the first place to see an outbreak of hostilities, exactly 100 years ago.

The King spoke at a gathering of over 80 representatives from countries that participated in the conflict, including the Belgian prime minister, the Duke of Cambridge and the presidents of France and Germany.

King Philippe paid tribute to "an entire generation of young people from Europe and elsewhere, who came here to fight side by side with us" in Belgium.

The King said what united them all was that they fought under the "banner of suffering."

"We commemorate that suffering today", he said.

"We also remember the distance that has been covered since then. This commemoration is of vital importance for building the future more effectively", he added. Enditem

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