National Day 2017

21 July 2017

The royal family started the National Day by attending the traditional Te Deum at the Saints Michel et Gudule cathedral in the centre of Brussels.

video: https://www.facebook.com/PlaceRoyale/videos/10154571245027161/

video: https://nieuws.vtm.be/vtm-nieuws/binnenland/roze-de-koninklijke-kleur-op-21-juliviering

Afterwards they greeted the crowds. Melissa Maas acted as lady-in-waiting.

video: https://twitter.com/Rick_Evers/status/888325833772998657

In the afternoon they were joined by princess Astrid, prince Lorenz, prince Laurent and princess Claire for the Military Parade on the Place des Palais, in front of the royal palace.

video: https://nieuws.vtm.be/vtm-nieuws/binnenland/nonkel-laurent-krijgt-applaus-na-kussen

Later the king and queen made a stop at dance festival 'Tomorrowland' in Boom.

video: https://nieuws.vtm.be/cultuur-media/knuffels-voor-vorstenpaar-op-tml

In the evening king Philippe, queen Mathilde and crown princess Elisabeth watched the fireworks at the Place des Palais. They were joined by Astrid, Lorenz and their daughters Laura and Laetitia.

Prelude to the National Day 2017

20 July 2017

Queen Mathilde, king Philippe, princess Astrid and prince Lorenz attended the anual classical concert on the night before the National Day, at Bozar in Brussels.

Opening of the Royal Palace

20 June 2017

A day before the National Day, king Philippe and queen Mathilde took a look at the small exhibitions that are part of the traditional free opening of the royal palace to the general public in the summer months.

Expo "Le Musée Absent"

14 July 2017

Queen Mathilde visited the exhibition "The Absent Museum" at Wiels Contemporary Art in Brussels.

Libelle

13 July 2017

Queen Mathilde visited the offices of women's magazine "Libelle" in Mechelen.

She was given a tour and attended an editorial brain storm on child poverty.

video: http://www.rtv.be/artikels/koningin-mathilde-op-bezoek-bij-libelle-a41573

video: https://twitter.com/WDehandschutter/status/885430155417718784

video: https://twitter.com/WDehandschutter/status/885437678052933632

Private: a first summer holiday?

Early July 2017

Maxime Dumont tweets that his father was seated next to queen Mathilde and her daughter on a plane.

Has she left for a first holiday break this summer? Her last activity was on the 1st of July, the next one will only be on the 13th of July.

Rescue Exercise & family photo opp

1 July 2017

King Philippe, queen Mathilde and their 4 children were due to attend a rescue exercise on Westende beach. The exercise was cut short however because of a real accident with a sailing boat.

video: http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/videozone/nieuws/binnenland/1.3013998

Prior to the rescue activity, the family visited the historic sailing boat "Mercator" in Ostend. This was the anual photo opportunity for the press to photograph the king and his family.

video: http://deredactie.be/cm/vrtnieuws/videozone/programmas/journaal/2.50733?video=1.3014090

video: https://nieuws.vtm.be/vtm-nieuws/binnenland/filip-en-mathilde-bezoeken-de-mercator