Private: Shopping with Eléonore

11 April 2026

Posted on a royal forum: 

This afternoon I saw Queen Mathilde with her daughter Eleonore at the Massimo Dutti store on Toison d'Or in Brussels. They were leaving the store with only one escort. Eleonore is very tall, and Mathilde's hair was styled in a backcombed way, though not very voluminous. Mathilde was wearing a plaid blazer, jeans (I think), and heels. I didn't have much time to look closely. Eleonore was wearing slightly baggy jeans and a red t-shirt.

Gabriel at Shooting Championship

Military personnel from across Defence, including the RMA, gathered in Marche en Famenne from 31 March to 3 April to test their marksmanship during the National Championship Defence (NCD) Shooting 2026. A squad from the RMA Shooting Team, which included Prince Gabriel, managed to finish in 4th place. 

Jewels: Hearts Bracelet

Queen Mathilde has been wearing this gold, diamond and gemstone bracelet for many years.

Since the spring of 2018, she's been wearing it with a heart shaped pendant attached to it.

It seems to be some kind of amulet. It's no doubt a jewel with a personal significance for the Queen.

In the first years of her marriage Mathilde used to wear a similar bracelet which also has a matching necklace.

Since the 1980s this kind of bracelet has been a real classic among many royal and noble ladies.

Princess Marie of Liechtenstein

Princess Felicitas of Liechtenstein

Duchess Katharina von Oldenburg

COMING UP Elisabeth Graduates from Harvard

On Thursday 28 May 2026 Crown Princess Elisabeth (24) will graduate from Harvard with a Master in Public Policy. 

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde will be present at this big moment for their oldest daughter.

Philantropy Congress

2 April 2026

Queen Mathilde delivered the opening address of “Be Philanthropy 2026”, a congress organized by the King Baudouin Foundation that brings together philanthropists, notaries, policymakers, and wealth advisors. It was held at Autoworld in Brussels.

Upon her arrival she was welcomed by Brieuc Van Damme, CEO of the King Baudouin Foundation and Nobel Peace Prize winner Denis Mukwege.

"Lors de Notre voyage au Congo, j’ai visité avec le Roi l’hôpital de Panzi et je reste bouleversée quand je pense à toutes ces femmes victimes de violences. J’ai alors pris l’engagement de donner ma voix à celles qui n’en ont pas et je suis donc particulièrement heureuse du soutien accordé par le monde de la philanthropie aux combats du docteur Mukwege."

Mathilde also had a meeting with Dr Mukwege, whom she's known for years. Both the King & Queen are great admirers of the work he does for women in Congo.

Young Professionals: Special Needs Teachers

1 April 2026

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde had 28 young teachers over for dinner at Laeken Castle. The teachers all work at schools for children with special needs.

Claire Pahaut

31 March 2026

Queen Mathilde had a meeting at the Royal Palace with author Claire Pahaut to discuss her book "Ces Dames de Ravensbrück" that relates the fate of the 2.250 Belgian women who were sent to the female concentration camp Ravensbrück.

Emmanuel Changes Study Plans

Prince Emmanuel (20) has made a change in his curriculum. 

Emmanuel had started studying International Business Management and Marketing, in English, at UCLL in Leuven. However it seems he came to regret his choice. He took his exams in January 2026 but has since left the school.

Since March 2026 Emmanuel has been studying at ISTEC, a private French language business, marketing & management school in Brussels. He chose to do the 3-year bachelor "Chargé d’affaires commerciales" (Business Development Manager), a study that's more practice oriented, with internships in companies. If all goes well he'll pass his exams at the end of the year and follow a normal academic path. 

The Royal Palace has confirmed the news. 

Private: Weekend in Madrid

29 March 2026

Vanitates.es reports that King Philippe & Queen Mathilde were spotted in Madrid this weekend.

Together with another couple Philippe & Mathilde were strolling through the old city center. They made a stop at Chocolatería San Ginés, a well known spot to get churros and hot chocolate, which was what the royal couple and their friends did. They were acccompanied by bodyguards. Other customers at San Ginés who recognized Philippe & Mathilde were kindly requested not to take any pictures of them.

It was Palm Sunday, the start of the week leading up to Easter. So just like many times in previous years Philippe & Mathilde had a taste of what Spain has to offer in this time of year.

They have already returned to Belgium, as work continues for them with various activities on the agenda this week. 

Jewels: Mathilde's Rings

At her 1999 engagement to Crown Prince Philippe, Mathilde d'Udekem received a gold ring with diamonds and an impressive dark ruby from Burma. Philippe had it commissioned at Wolfers Jewellers in Brussels.

Ten years later, in July 2009 Princess Mathilde received an equally impressive diamond and sapphire ring, also commissioned at Wolfers.

 

In 2022 Mathilde began wearing another, equally impressive sapphire and diamond ring in a more delicate design.

Apart from her wedding band, these three rings are the only ones Mathilde wears frequently.

However there are a few more that are worn occasionally. Let's have a look. 

First there's this ring with a large kunzite surrounded by diamonds.

Then there's a large emerald.

And then there are two rings by Percossi Papi that Mathilde wears from time to time. First a gold and enamel ring with a cabochon emerald, surrounded by rubies. The second one is the same shape, but with a large opal surrounded by citrines. (First worn in July 2025 by Elisabeth)

On occasion Mathilde has also been seen wearing a few rings without gemstones, like this one from 2006.

Or this one in 1999: