Flashback: Incofin

25 April 2012

For the 20 years existence of Incofin, Princess Mathilde attended a conference at by Incofin at De Bijloke in Ghent. Cooperative society Incofin grew from VDK savings bank and is a recognized development fund for microfinance in developing countries. Small loans and financial services are provided to poor people who wish to start a small business or expand an existing one. They do not qualify for financing through the conventional banking system.

 

MUN Society

23 April 2026

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde received 53 young people, members of MUN Society Belgium, who represented Belgium at the Harvard WorldMUN. 

Harvard WorldMUN is an international debating competition, organized by the United Nations. Students from all over the world debate global themes and negociate as if they were professional diplomats. The Belgian delegations have been ranking among the absolute best for many years. The Belgian students obtained a record-breaking 5th consecutive victory at Harvard World Model United Nations 2025 in Manila.

Royal Titbits #12

In February 2026, Mathilde's cousin Martin de Brabant became the mayor of Schaerbeek, one of the 11 localities that constitute Brussels. Martin is a member of the MR. He replaces Audrey Henry who's become secretary of state for the Brussels region.

During her time at the Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege Elisabeth van België was part of the schoolpaper team. In December 2014, when she was in the second year of highschool, she interviewed a new teacher for school newspaper "Pandora". 

A few months ago: Mathilde's lady-in-waiting Countess Véronique de Limburg Stirum & husband Count Maximilien de Limburg Stirum at an event of the Queen Paola Foundation, hosted by Princess Claire, Prince Laurent and their children.

In January 2026 at art fair BRAFA: Mathilde's lady-in-waiting Clotilde Boël & husband Harold Boël with Baron & Baroness Marnix Galle, current neighbours of Mathilde at the castle of Stuyvenberg. 

Flashback: Fed Cup

22 Aoril 2006

Prince Philippe & Princess Mathilde of Belgium watched the quarter final tennis Fed Cup game Belgium vs Russia in Liège.

Queen Mathilde Award + Baillet Latour Biomedical Award 2026

21 April 2026

In the morning Queen Mathilde handed out the annual award of her own Queen Mathilde Foundation, at the royal palace in Brussels.

From its establishment in 2000, Mathilde's Foundation has been supporting and awarding initiatives that help children and young people. In doing so she and her team have always used the principle "By young people, for young people", letting the new generations be part of the decision process. 

This year, the Queen Mathilde Foundation launched a new three-year cycle entitled “Let's Breathe!” to support projects related to early parenthood. In other words: giving (very) young parents breathing space by helping them with their challenges. 

Prior to the award ceremony, the Queen spoke with representatives of the selected projects, together with the chairpersons of the youth jury, who designated the laureate, Service d'accompagnement Périnatal "Pré-en-bulles".

In the afternoon a second award ceremony took place in Mathilde's presence.

At the Palais des académies in Brussels she presented the Baillet Latour Biomedical Award to Professor Charlotte Scott for her valuable contributions to the research on metabolism and the gastrointestinal system.

The Baillet Latour Biomedical Award aims to support the careers of promising young researchers in Belgium within the biomedical sciences. The support spans a period of 5 years and amounts to 1 million euros. 

Flashback: Dementia

20 April 2001

For the 20th anniversary of care home De Wingerd in Leuven, Princess Mathilde attended a symposium at KU Leuven university on dementia among the elderly population.

Happy 18th Birthday, Eléonore!

16 April 2026

Today Belgium's youngest princess turns 18! To mark the occasion, court published these gorgeous new photos of her by Vlad VDK. 

And there's this series made by Loan Silvestre.

A series of cute pictures from when she was a baby until today were also shared on the Monarchy's social media.