Who did Philippe & Mathilde choose to be the witnesses on their wedding day in 1999?
Archduke Simeon of Austria
Simeon (°1958) is a son of the late Archduke Rudolf of Austria and his first wife, Countess Xenia Czernichev-Besobrasov (1929-1968). In 1996 he married Princess Maria of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, a daughter of Prince Carlos de Bourbon and Princess Anne d'Orléans. Between 1997 and 2007, the couple had five children: Johannes, Ludwig, Isabelle, Carlotta and Philipp. Both families are very close and have gone on holidays together.
Henri (°1955) is Philippe's first cousin. From 2000 to 2025 he was Grand Duke of Luxembourg. With his wife, Cuban María Teresa Mestre, he has five children: Guillaume, Félix, Louis, Sébastien and Alexandra. The couple have nine grandchildren: Princes Charles and François of Luxembourg, Gabriel and Noah de Nassau, Amalia, Liam and Balthazar de Nassau, and Victoire and Eli Bagory.
Elisabeth (°1977) is Mathilde's younger sister. A former speech therapist turned private jewellery designer, Elisabeth married Margrave Alfonso Pallavicini in 2006. They have 4 children: Olympia, Adalberto, Constanza and Annabella. The family lives in Brussels. Elisabeth is involved in various upper class charities and no longer works. Her husband is a successful banker.
Elisabeth on the left
Baroness Stéphanie de Radiguès de Chennevière
Stéphanie (°1975) is a close personal friend of Mathilde. The two friends are still close and often go walking together. Stéphanie married Tanguy van de Werve de Schilde (and thus is an inlaw of Mathilde's lady-in-waiting, Vicountess Laurence de Ghellinck), who's the director general of EFAMA, the European Fund and Asset Management Association. They have three children: Edmond, Olivia and Antoine. Sadly, Olivia died in 2011, at the age of 7. The family lives in Schaerbeek, Brussels.
Prince Laurent of Belgium
Laurent (°1963) is Philippe's younger brother. In 2003 he married Claire Coombs. They have three children: Princess Louise and twins Princes Aymeric & Nicolas. The family lives in Tervuren. Laurent's relationship with both the royal family and Belgian government has been unstable for years. The royal activities he performs are related to his own patronages and charities.
Charles-Henri (°1986) is Mathilde's younger brother. After having studied law in Brussels and Paris he is now working for a law firm in Brussels. He's married to French Caroline Philippe. They have a son and a daughter.
Dutch Christiaan (°1971) is a professor in philosophy. He's currently leading the International Catholic Legislators Network (ICLN) to provide Christian politicians with faith formation, educational programs and networking opportunities. He' s also a Knight in the Order of Malta. Christiaan is married and has five children.
Christiaan Alting on the left
Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein (°1947) is a younger brother of the reigning Prince of Liechtenstein, Hans-Adam. In 1982 he married Philippe's first cousin, Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg. The couple have four children: Léopold, who died at birth, Anunciata, Astrid and Josef. They have six grandchildren, Althaea and Aloisia Worthington, Prince Léopold and Prince Nikolai of Liechtenstein, and Georgina and Constantino Musini. Nikolaus & Margaretha live in Brussels. Nikolaus was an ambassador of Liechtenstein for 35 years.
Princess Astrid of Belgium
Philippe's younger sister Astrid (°1962) married Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, head of the imperial house of Habsburg, in 1984. They have five children, three of whom are living abroad: Amedeo, Laura, Joachim, Luisa & Laetitia de Belgique. They have four grandchildren: Anna Astrid, Maximilian and Alix von Habsburg-Este, and Albert Isvy. The couple lives at Villa Schonenberg on the royal estate of Laeken, Brussels. Astrid still fulfills royal duties while her husband is a retired private banker.
Philippe's younger sister Astrid (°1962) married Archduke Lorenz of Austria-Este, head of the imperial house of Habsburg, in 1984. They have five children, three of whom are living abroad: Amedeo, Laura, Joachim, Luisa & Laetitia de Belgique. They have four grandchildren: Anna Astrid, Maximilian and Alix von Habsburg-Este, and Albert Isvy. The couple lives at Villa Schonenberg on the royal estate of Laeken, Brussels. Astrid still fulfills royal duties while her husband is a retired private banker.
Mathilde's youngest sister (°1979) is married to Baron Nicolas Janssen, a former diplomat who's now an MR politician. They have three children: Cordélia, Alistair & Sophia Janssen and live in La Hulpe on the estate of Nicolas' father, Baron Daniel Janssen. Hélène studied law and has worked as a corporate lawyer for Sofina. She later retrained as a stage actress. She's involved in a charity that raises money for children with cancer, after her son successfully recovered from a brain tumor. Hélène is also the administrator of the Association Belge contre la Tuberculose.
Hélène on the left
Agnès du Parc Locmaria
Agnès is a personal friend of Mathilde. She's married to Jean-Marie Huyghues Despointes. They have four children: Blanche, Auriane (married to Antoine Scheid), Clémence and Isaure Huyghues Despointes. Just like Philippe & Mathilde, they like to spend their summer holidays on the French Ile d'Yeu.
Princess Helene von Bayern
Duchess Helene in Bayern (°1972) is the youngest of the five daughters of Duke Max & Duchess Elizabeth in Bayern. She's in a relationship with Sebastian Leiner.
Agnès is a personal friend of Mathilde. She's married to Jean-Marie Huyghues Despointes. They have four children: Blanche, Auriane (married to Antoine Scheid), Clémence and Isaure Huyghues Despointes. Just like Philippe & Mathilde, they like to spend their summer holidays on the French Ile d'Yeu.
Duchess Helene in Bayern (°1972) is the youngest of the five daughters of Duke Max & Duchess Elizabeth in Bayern. She's in a relationship with Sebastian Leiner.
