Residence: Swiss Chalet

Each year, Philippe, Mathilde and their children spend a week of skiing holidays in Verbier, Switzerland - just like many other European royals.

Each year, they've been staying at the same place even though it's not theirs. They've been using the  chalet of their close friends, Baron Guy Ullens de Schooten & his wife, Baroness Mimi Ullens de Schooten. This Belgian couple is globally known in the art world as big collectors, specialized in contemporary Chinese artists.

Here's their Swiss chalet where Mathilde & co reside each year.

Billionaire Guy Ullens made his fortune in the Artal Group, which controls several food marketing companies such as Weight Watchers. He ran the group with his cousin, Eric Wittouck.

In 2000 Guy Ullens left the business world. With the money he made by selling 14 Turners (21 million dollars), he & his wife Mimi set up the Ullens Center for Contemporary Art in Bejing, China, which they turned into another financial success story. 

It was one of the places King Philippe & the Belgian delegation visited on their state visit to China in 2015.

Mimi Ullens also had other hobbies besides art: her own clothing brand, Maison Ullens. 

In 2003, Mimi was hit by breast cancer. Luckily she recovered, and set up the 'Foundation Mimi Ullens' that treats female breast cancer patients to free make up sessions, massages and psychological support to make them feel female again, and keep their spirits high.

Guy Ullens had 4 children from his previous marriage to Micheline Franckx: Philippe Ullens (married to Dominique Glorieux), Brigitte Ullens (married to Cédric Guyot de Mishaegen), Yves Ullens (married to Bénédicte Hamoir) and Nicolas Ullens (married to milliner Marie-Sophie de Halleux). 

Mimi Ullens was killed by her stepson Nicolas Ullens on 29 March 2023 in a conflict about money.

Mimi (70), who was sitting in her car next to her husband was shot in the head 4 times and died on the spot. Guy was also hurt by a bullet in the leg. An hour later Nicolas handed himself in to the police. He's currently awaiting his trial.

Guy Ullens died on 18 April 2025, at the age of 90.