Queen Mathilde: State Visit #8: Portugal

Prior to the state visit, Chef of Protocol Alain Gerardy briefed participants during an info session at the Royal Palace.

Monday 22 October 2018

8:00 Departure from Melsbroek Airport.

10:15 Arrival at Lisbon Military Airport of Figo Maduro.

11:20 Wreath laying ceremony at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos followed by a visit of the monastery and signing the book of honour.

🇵🇹🇧🇪 Koning Filip sluit even de ogen.

Bij de graftombe van Portugals grootste dichter Luís de Camões (1524-1580) in het Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Hiëronymietenklooster) in Lissabon. #BelPort2018 pic.twitter.com/ZJoFD3wwnX
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) 22 oktober 2018

11:45 Official welcome at Palácio de Belém.

Exchange of gifts.

Tête à tête with the president.

12:50 Lunch hosted by PM António Costa at Palacio Foz.

14:40 Visit to Parliament.

15:40 Ceremony and Meet & Greet at the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa.

Photo moment at Miradouro de Santa Luzia.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/10/19/met-filip-en-mathilde-op-staatsbezoek-naar-portugal-in-4-vragen/

17:20 Wreath laying ceremony at the WWI Monumento aos Mortos da Grande Guerra.

20:00 State dinner at the Palácio Nacional da Ajuda.

The Duke & Duchess of Bragança.

Duchess Diana de Cadaval & husband Prince Charles-Philippe d'Orléans (who used to date Mathilde's sister Elisabeth d'Udekem in the early 2000s)

Leaving the hotel with lady-in-waiting Melissa Maas.

on the right: Belgian ambassador in Lisbon Genevière Renaux, a former economic advisor of King Philippe.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/10/22/koning-filip-ik-heb-zelf-portugees-bloed-in-mijn-aderen/

video of the president's speech: http://www.presidencia.pt/?idc=10&idi=154232

The King & Queen, as well as the rest of the delegation were staying at the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade Hotel.

Tuesday 23 October 2018

9:20 Visit to the Oceano Azul Foundation & Oceanarium. The Belgian delegation got a tour and was informed about ecological solutions and water sanitation.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/10/23/koninklijk-paar-bezoekt-indrukwekkend-aquarium/

10:40 Visit to oncological clinic and research centre Fundaçao Champalimaud.

12:30 Luncheon at Palácio Verride - Santa Catarina.

We thank Queen Mathilde of Belgium for gracing us with her visit and taking the time to sign our Book of Honour. #RoyalVisit #lisbon @visitportugal pic.twitter.com/JlqaVvECfI
— Verride Sta Catarina (@VerrideSC) 24 oktober 2018

15:30 Visit to the Associação Cultural Moinho da Juventude - Cova da Moura.

🇵🇹🇧🇪 Een wel erg warm welkom voor koningin Mathilde in Alto da Cova da Moura, een buitenwijk in Lissabon. Knuffels en kussen van een bewoonster met Kaapverdische roots. #BelPort2018 pic.twitter.com/xHaNwmKkkK
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) 23 oktober 2018

The fight against poverty has long been one of Her Majesty's priorities. Belgian Godelieve Meerschaert founded Moinho da Juventude for the rehabilitation of the Cova da Moura neighbourhood, in the outskirts of Lisbon. She set up various social projects to enable local residents to improve their quality of life.

Mathilde was wearing the earrings she had received from the Portuguese President yesterday.

🇵🇹🇧🇪 Koningin Mathilde en kinderen: altijd een succesformule voor fotografen (ook als de kleintjes haar -ondanks herhaaldelijk aandringen- geen aandacht willen geven).

Mathilde is nu in Alto da Cova da Moura, een buitenwijk in Lissabon met een Creoolse gemeenschap. #BelPort2018 pic.twitter.com/8YFyreyUWR
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) 23 oktober 2018

20:00 Concert by Huelgas Ensamble and Cocktail Dinner offered by the Belgian King & Queen at the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian.