Official Visit to Rheinland-Pfalz

4-6 October 2022

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde are on an official three-day visit to the German region Rheinland Pfalz. In 2019 they made a similar visit to Thüringen and Sachsen-Anhalt. Court stated the Royal Couple will continue visiting German regions in the years to come, to maintain the excellent bilateral relations between Germany and Belgium.

4 October 2022

Private dinner in Mainz with the founders of BioNtech group.

5 October 2022

Visit to BioNtech in the capital Mainz, where the COVID vaccin was developed that was further produced in Puurs (BE). 

Visit to the Gutenbergmuseum followed by a meeting with experts on digitalisation, media and the access to information.

Meeting with Minsiter President Malu Dreyer at the Staatskanzlei.

🇧🇪🤝 Malu #Dreyer begrüßt belgisches Königspaar Philippe & Mathilde in #Mainz: Mit Besuch setzen Sie Zeichen für gelebte Nachbarschaft in #Europa. Belgien & #RLP verbindet vieles. Vor allem das Eintreten für Vertiefung der europäischen Idee und demokratischen Werte. #MonarchieBe pic.twitter.com/jEL5894fY2

— Landesregierung Rheinland-Pfalz (@rlpNews) October 5, 2022

Visit to the BASF plant in Ludwigshafen.

Visit to wine producers Von Winning.

videos: https://www.rheinpfalz.de/lokal/neustadt_artikel,-belgische-royals-lieben-pf%C3%A4lzer-riesling-mit-videos-_arid,5413862.html

6 October 2022

River cruise on the Rhine to discuss sustainability and the impact climate change is having on shipping.

Work meeting at Ehrenbreitstein Fortress in Klobenz on interregional cooperation, smart energy and social initiatives. 

Emmanuel Turns 17

4 October 2022

Happy birthday to Prince Emmanuel!

Philippe & Mathilde's third child is currently a student in the 5th year of secundary school/11th grade at the International School of Brussels.

Flashback: Family Photo Shoot 2006

3 October 2006

Flashback: European Job Days

1 October 2011

Princess Mathilde was at the Berlaymont Building in Brussels to visit to European Job Days, a recruitment & networking event organized by the European Commission. 

Gabriel's Blue Beret Ceremony

30 September 2022

King Philippe handed out the blue berets to the new promotion of soldiers who passed the six week initiation training at the Royal Military Academy. Among the platoon was his son, Prince Gabriel (19). This moment marks the start of their official training.

Queen Mathilde and Crown Princess Elisabeth (20) were also present. 

Elisabeth was sporting a new, shorter hairstyle. She was wearing a new Natan coat dress, her Jimmy Choo pumps and new earrings by Maëlle Laduron (for Natan). She carried one of Mathilde's Dior clutches. 

🇧🇪 King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth arrive at the Blue Beret Parade at the Royal Military Academy.

🪖 Prince Gabriël, 19, has completed his 5-week military initiation phase and can start at academy.

🔹 He will receive his blue beret from his father Philippe. pic.twitter.com/uHISKYjIfp

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) September 30, 2022

Two years ago Elisabeth was in her brother's shoes: https://queenmathilde.blogspot.com/2020/09/blue-beret-ceremony.html  

After the ceremony, Elisabeth & Gabriel posed together for pictures. With a very proud mum looking on!

👨‍👧 Princess Elisabeth reunited with her brother Prince Gabriël after a few weeks of absence.

🪖 The past 5 weeks, he participated at a military camp in Elsenborn.

✅ After completing this initiation phase, Gabriël is officially student at the Royal Military Academy, as she was. pic.twitter.com/SOctSZ50we

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) September 30, 2022

Elisabeth & Gabriel left in one car, Philippe & Mathilde in another.

🇧🇪 After the Blue Beret Parade, Prince Gabriël, 19, and Princess Elisabeth, 20, left in the same car; their parents King Philippe, 62, and Queen Mathilde, 49, in another one. Brother and sister can share stories about the Royal Military Academy - she was student in 2020-2021. pic.twitter.com/Rw17rwiAjk

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) September 30, 2022

Earlier in the day, Court released these pictures from Gabriel's  week initiation at Camp Elsenborn.

Remarkable to notice that Prince Gabriel had been matriculated under the name "van Saksen Coburg", unlike his sister who has served using the name "van België". Court precised later this was to mark the continuity between King Philippe & Crown Princess Elisabeth's days in the military, both as "van België". 

Just like his older sister, Gabriel chose the Dutch language to study at the ERM.