Davos 2018: Among Royals

A picture we hadn't seen so far: queen Mathilde meeting crown prince Haakon of Norway inbetween sessions.

Sankt-Vith

27 February 2018

The King and Queen visited the Sankt Josef Klinik of German speaking Sankt-Vith where recovering patients receive help from volunteers as well as professional staff.

The hospital cares for patients from both sides of the border, Belgians and Germans.

Afterwards Philippe & Mathilde went on to meeting center Triangel where they watched a performance by Analog, a music band with both abled and disabled musicians.

And meeting other music and dance groups:

To conclude the visit, the Royal Couple took their time to greet the population who were waiting outside the town hall in the freezing cold. Mathilde talked French to the people she met, as her German is not sufficient.

Lindsay Edwards acted as lady-in-waiting.

Krakelingenstoet

25 February 2018

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde attended the folkloric procession 'Krakelingenfeest' in Geraardsbergen.

video: https://www.tvoost.be/nieuws/koningspaar-op-bezoek-in-geraardsbergen-56173

video: https://www.tvoost.be/nieuws/meer-dan-1000-mensen-lopen-mee-in-krakelingenstoet-56166

Lady-in-waiting Clotilde Boël braved the freezing cold as well.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/02/25/krakelingenstoet-geraardsbergen--koning-en-koningin-vieren-mee/

Flashback: Visit to Nieuwpoort

1 October 2002

Mathilde Foundation: Family for Life

22 February 2018

Queen Mathilde visited the choir 'Family for Life' in Godinne. It unites young people from precarious social backgrounds to work on musical projects, and to enhance their self-esteem.

This visit was an activity for the 'Music Connects' project call which is the theme of this year's Queen Mathilde Prize.

Laurence de Ghellinck acted as lady-in-waiting.

What Do You Think?

21 February 2018

As Honorary President of UNICEF Belgium, Queen Mathilde received a delegation of young people who presented her with Unicef's latest "What do you think?" report on children's rights, at the royal palace in Brussels.

This time, young people who moved to Belgium as migrants participated in the survey.

Mass for Deceased Family Members 2018

20 February 2018

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde attended the traditional annual mass for deceased members of the royal family, at the Notre Dame church of Laeken.

They were joined by former King Albert & former Queen Paola, Princess Astrid & Prince Lorenz, Princess Esmeralda, Princess Léa & her son Renaud Bichara, Prince Guillaume & Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg, Princess Marie-Astrid of Luxembourg & Archduke Carl Christian of Austria and members of the late Queen Fabiola's Spanish family.

After the mass, they greeted the people who were waiting outside.