Recap: Back to School

All four of Philippe & Mathilde's children started their schooling at the Dutch speaking Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege in Brussels. First of September meant the first day of the schoolyear, and the only day press was allowed at the schoolgates.

1 September 2004

Elisabeth's very first day of school.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/03/19/kroonprinses-elisabeth-gaat-in-het-verenigd-koninkrijk-studeren/

1 September 2006

1 September 2007

1 September 2008

2 September 2009

1 September 2010

1 September 2011

Eléonore's first day at school.

3 September 2012

2 September 2013

Flashback: World Economic Forum 2006

23 January 2006

Princess Mathilde at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

28 January 2006

With Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF who was made Knight Commander of Most Noble Order of St. Michael and St. George during the Annual Meeting.

Family: Hélène at BRAFA 2022

At the end of June 2022, Mathilde's sister Hélène and her husband Nicolas Janssen were among the guests at the VIP night for the start of the 67th Brussels Art Fair BRAFA. 

Mathilde's lady-in-waiting Clotilde Boël & husband Harold Boël.

Princess Delphine de Saxe Cobourg & Jim O'Hare.
Prince Charles-Louis & Princess Fiametta d'Arenberg.

CEO of RTL Philippe Delusinne and Gerald Watelet.

Entrepreneur Marina Cartalis, Astrid Centner d'Oultremont, CEO of Christie's Belgium and Slin Ben Mehrez of Galerie Kraemer.

Inès van Marcke, Igor Iweins d’Eeckhoutte, Marie Thibault de Maisières and galerist Benjamin Proust.

Philippe Gheluck.

Jacques & Charlotte de Selliers de Moranville.
Author Valentine de le Court and Constantin Chariot, director of the Patinoire royale.

Count Bernard de Launoit, CEO of the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel and his wife (in black) with gallery owner Rodolphe Janssen and his wife Vanessa.

Gabriel Joins the Military Academy

22 August 2022

Two days after his 19th birthday, Prince Gabriel will enroll at the Ecole Royale Militaire, following in his big sister's footsteps.

Court announced two weeks ago that the Prince has succeeded all entrance exams, both physical and theoretical. 

Gabriel was first schooled at the Sint-Jan Berchmans College, a Dutch speaking secondary school in Brussels. In 2019 he changed to the International School of Brussels where all classes are taught in English. After his final year there he took his A-levels in Mathematics, Further Mathematics and Physics at the National Mathematics & Science College in Warwickshire. 

Private: Summer Holidays in Croatia & Italy

11 August 2022

The royal family are currently holidaying in Croatia.

A Belgian tourist found himself on the same boat in the direction of the Croatian island Mljet as King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and their four children. 

A few days later they were seen in Susegana, Italy. Philippe & Emmanuel were seen among a group of friends who took to their bikes to visit the Castello di San Salvatore and its 170 hectares of vineyard, property of Princess Isabella Collalto de Croÿ. 

Isabella is the wife of Belgian Prince Guillaume de Croÿ. They have two children: Emmanuel and Violette. 

Among the group were also Philippe's nephew, Prince Louis of Luxembourg and his son, Prince Gabriel de Nassau. 

Prince Gabriel Turns 19 Today!

20 August 2022

Photo by Bas Bogaerts.

Flashback: UNICEF visit to Tanzania

Princess Mathilde made a four-day UNICEF visit to Tanzania, focusing on the impact HIV-AIDS has on children.

15 February 2006

Princess Mathilde arrived at the State House in Dar Es Salam, where she met Tanzanian President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete.

A visit to Kiwchede, an NGO located in one of the low income areas in Dar Es Salam, working on rehabilitation and re-integration of children who have been sexually exploited.

Entourage: New Secretary General

As of October 2022 Mrs Dominique Mineur will become the new Secretary General at Court, replacing Pol De Witte who will become the new Director at the Egmont Insititute, The royal institute for international relations. 

It's the first time this function is taken by a woman. Mrs Mineur was previously the Belgian ambassador to Saudi Arabia. At the start of her time there she made the news for being a woman in this role, held in a not so female friendly state.

She's also been active at Belgian embassies in the Emirates, at the OSCE in Vienna and in Paris and at the UN in Geneva and in New York. 

During King Philippe & Queen Mathilde's visit to Oman in 2022.