Annie Geeraerts & Ray Verhaeghe

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde received two Belgian actors, Annie Geeraerts and Ray Verhaeghe at the royal palace. Both of them will be 100 this year and they've been playing a couple in the same TV soap opera for the past thirty years.

They've even been listed in the Guinness Book of Records as "oldest soap opera couple". 

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2026/07/15/familie-acteurs-annie-en-ray-bij-koning-filip/

video: https://www.hln.be/showbizz/koninklijke-eer-voor-familie-iconen-annie-geeraerts-en-ray-verhaeghe-op-audientie-bij-filip-en-mathilde-voor-100ste-verjaardag~a9a00d50/

A nice way to underline that every Belgian who turns a hundred years old receives an autographed picture of the King & Queen. Their local authority has to signal this to court, but in most towns and villages this has become a habit. The mayor then hands over the portrait. 

Jewels: Eléonore's Diamond Bracelet

At the Japanese state visit to Belgium in June 2026, Princess Eléonore (18) was wearing this diamond bracelet for the first time. It's new to the family's collection. 

Flashback: Mass for Baudouin

31 July 2003

Ten years after King Baudouin's passing, a commemorative mass was held at the Saints Michel et Gudule catherdal in Brussels.

Princess Mathilde was 8 months pregnant with her second child, Gabriel.

Princess Astrid & Prince Lorenz with their daughter Luisa, followed by Joachim, Laura and Amedeo.
Prince Laurent & Princess Claire.

King Albert II & Queen Paola with Baudouin's widow, Queen Fabiola.

COMING UP Incoming State Visit #16: Denmark

King Frederik & Queen Mary of Denmark will be making a state visit to Belgium.

Tuesday 8 September 2026

Official welcome at the Place des palais in Brussels.

Visit to the Brussels city hall.

King Frederik visits the Parliament and has a meeting with PM De Wever.

State banquet at the castle of Laeken.

Wednesday 9 September 2026

Visit to the Forêt de Lauzelle accompanied by students and researchers of the UCL university. 

King Frederik & Queen Mary meet representatives of some 40 Danish companies in Brussels.

Visit to the Danish church in Brussels that celebrates its 50th anniversary. 

Return event by the Danish royal couple.

Thursday 10 September 2026

Visit to Antwerp.

Lunch onboard the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog, followed by a boat trip throught the port of Antwerp.

Farewell onboard the Dannebrog.

Flashback: Chevetogne

9 July 2000

Prince Philippe & Princess Mathilde visited the Domaine Provincial de Chevetogne.

Summer Shoot 2011: Archéosite

8 July 2011

The annual summer photo shoot took place at Archéosite, an archaeological site in Aubechies-Beloeil. The park houses reconstructions of prehistoric, proto-historic and Gallo-Roman structures based on excavations realized in the region as well as in Northern France.

Jewels: Eléonore's Diamond earrings

These diamond earrings, worn for the first time in public by Princess Eléonore at the Japanese state visit to Belgium (June 2026) were sold at Subastas Segre in Madrid for € 2.600.