When King Albert II touches down at Dublin airport this morning to begin his first state visit to Ireland he will have more on his mind than sinking a pint of Guinness.
The Belgian monarch, who is something of a beer enthusiast, has had a tricky time over the last four months trying to encourage the political parties in Belgium to form a coalition government.
It is now 120 days since Belgians voted in the general election held on June 10th, but so far political divisions between the two main linguistic communities, Francophones living mainly in Wallonia and Flemish (who speak a dialect of Dutch) living mostly in Flanders, have hindered the creation of a new coalition.
The root of the current problem is a squabble over political power. The Flemish, who make up 60 per cent of Belgium's population, are seeking more federal powers to be devolved to their regional government.
Walloons, who in the past dominated political power in Belgium, worry that constitutional change will leave them weaker.
The French-speaking region's economic decline in the past 30 years - it has 20 per cent unemployment to Flanders's 8 per cent - has heightened its fears over a future secession. Yet a viable coalition needs parties from both linguistic communities.
The political stalemate has prompted a huge international reaction with influential publications such as the German weekly Der Spiegel asking "Is Belgium headed for the divorce courts?" while the Economist magazine has argued it is now "Time to call it a day" on the 177-year-old state, which has a population of 10 million people.
Back in Belgium, the media have also succumbed to secessionist arguments with French-speaking newspaper Le Soir fearing "Divorce or separate bedrooms" for the two biggest regions, Wallonia and Flanders.
Even the most likely prime minister-in-waiting, Christian Democrat leader Yves Leterme, is quoted as saying that "The king, the football team, some beers" are the only things common to both Belgian regions.
Throughout the current political turmoil King Albert has played a key role in trying to prompt the political parties to agree a programme for government. Under the constitution he has the responsibility to appoint royal mediators to bring the parties to the negotiating table.
So far he has appointed three men and issued several statements urging both communities to unite for the sake of Belgium, without any breakthrough.
"The talks to form a new government are King Albert's top priority at the minute, and even though his doctors have told him to rest [ he had a hip replacement in June], he will continue to work hard," says palace spokesman Pierre-Emmanuel De Bauw. "The king is important in Belgium because he represents unity . . . he has a close link to the people."
King Albert (73), who assumed the throne in 1993, is generally well liked by both linguistic communities for his down to earth and jovial personality. He is a keen motorcycle enthusiast and has adopted a low-key approach to his reign, which suits an unpretentious Belgian philosophy to life. Polls held on his 10th anniversary on the throne put his personal approval rating at 70 per cent, said the palace. He has also steered clear of controversy, unlike his elder brother and predecessor, King Baudouin.
Extremist Flemish parties, such as Vlaams Belang, regularly criticise the monarchy, which they view as one of the few important symbols holding Belgium together. Yet moderate Flemish parties such as the Liberals and Christian Democrats have also held talks in recent years about restricting the monarchy's role to a purely ceremonial one.
"His moral authority has been reduced somewhat over the past decade," says Carl Devos, politics professor at Ghent University. "People in Flanders do not listen to the monarchy as much as they used to because calls for unity are perceived as self-interest on the part of the King. In fact, his speeches could now prove counter-productive."
A survey of 1,010 Belgians last year by broadcasters VTM and RTL-TVI highlighted that 68 per cent of French speakers feel bonded to the king compared with just 38 per cent of Flemish people.
This represents a turnaround since the end of the second World War. At that time it was the predominantly socialist French-speaking community in Wallonia that forced the abdication of King Leopold III over his perceived disloyalty during the war. In contrast, most of the Flemish were royalists.
Today, as King Albert faces the biggest test of his reign so far, it is the Francophone households in Brussels and Wallonia that are choosing to hang the Belgian flag out of their windows in a public show of their loyalty to Belgium, and, by extension, the king.
The king's reappointment of Yves Leterme (his Flemish Christian Democratic party was a clear winner in the June election) as mediator last week to try to form a new government signals that there may be some movement between the Francophone and Flemish parties. But the long-term future of the country may not be so certain.
Analysts point to structural weaknesses in the political system whereby people living in Flanders can only vote for Flemish parties, while in Wallonia French speakers vote on purely Walloon lists. Brussels remains the only exception.
"The lack of federal parties means Flemish politicians can indulge in negative politics about Belgium without being punished at the ballot box from Walloon voters," says Rudi Janssens, sociology professor at the University of Brussels. "They profit from confrontation," he says.
It is King Albert's difficult task to act as a master conciliator, without appearing to overstep his strict constitutional boundaries.
King Albert II and Queen Paola will meet President Mary McAleese, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, Cathaoirleach of the Seanad Pat Moylan and Dublin Lord Mayor Paddy Bourke.
They will lay a wreath at the Garden of Remembrance and also visit the National Museum and Leinster House.
Travelling to the mid-west on Wednesday, the royals will visit Bunratty Castle and folk park and the Cliffs of Moher before returning home.
A business and academic delegation will also travel with the royal party.