Official Visit to Thüringen & Sachsen-Anhalt

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde paid an official visit to the German regions Thüringen and Sachsen-Anhalt. On their request, they were joined by Oliver Paasch, Minister President of the German speaking region.

Tuesday 9 July 2019

Arrival at the airport of Erfurt.

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde were welcomed by Minister President of Thüringen, Bodo Ramelow.

🇩🇪🇧🇪 Koning Filip en koningin Mathilde zijn met het Belgische regeringsvliegtuig aangekomen in Erfurt. Ze zijn 2 dagen in Duitsland en zullen de deelstaten Thüringen en Saksen-Anhalt bezoeken. Nu richting Gotha, een van de steden waar de roots van de koninklijke familie liggen. pic.twitter.com/BuwQqo22MY

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) 9 juli 2019

The royal couple visited the town Gotha, cradle of the Belgian royal family. They were joined by Prince Hubertus & Princess Kelly von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha. The families know each other well. King Philippe is godfather to their son Philipp: https://queenmathilde.blogspot.com/2015/11/earlier-this-week-christening-of-prince.html

In this interview Hubertus says the Belgian royal couple is very aware of their historical ties to Gotha. Both families still know each other well. King Philippe is godfather to his son and he sees the royal couple about once or twice a year.

🇩🇪🇧🇪 Erfprins Hubertus (43) van Saksen-Coburg en Gotha noemt het bezoek van koning Filip aan Gotha belangrijk. “Het bewijs dat hij bewust is van zijn familiegeschiedenis.” De Belgische koninklijke familie (vroeger: van Saksen-Coburg en Gotha) heeft haar wortels hier. pic.twitter.com/YQ5za4JSIu

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) 9 juli 2019

Together they visited Schloss Friedenstein.

King Philippe shaking hands with Prince Andreas von Sachsen-Coburg und Gotha. Behind him: his son and heir Prince Hubertus with his American wife, Princess Kelly.

Philippe & Mathilde in front of a portrait of the Duchess of Kent, Princess Victoria von Sachsen-Coburg. She was the mother of Queen Victoria, and a sister of Leopold I of the Belgians.

Princess Kelly was wearing a dress by Belgian brand Essentiel.

Next they visited the concentration camp of Buchenwald.

At Weimar Philippe & Mathilde visited an exhibition on Henry Van de Velde at the Neues Museum, and they were shown the new Bauhaus Museum.

Arrival at Hotel Elephant in Weimar.

The first day of the official visit closed with an evening reception at Schloss Belverdere in Weimar, hosted by Bodo Ramelow.

Here Philippe & Mathilde are seen leaving for the reception, from their elegant "Hotel Elephant" in Weimar.

Wednesday 10 July 2019

The royal couple was welcomed in Lutherstadt Wittenberg by Minister President of Sachsen-Anhalt, Reiner Haseloff.

At the Alten Rathaus the golden book was signed.

The couple was shown a letter written by Leopold I.

The royal couple received a statue of Luther as a present.

They visited the Schlosskirche, the spot where Luther nailed his pamphlet to the door.

Visit to the Lutherhaus.

Then they visited the Bauhaus Institut of Dessau.

While posing for photographers Mathilde couldn't stop giggling...

🇩🇪🇧🇪 Volgens mij beseft koningin Mathilde dat ze weer “spontaan” moet proberen te poseren voor de fotografen, de x-ste keer deze twee dagen. En dan begint ze spontaan te giechelen.

Locatie: de Meisterhäuser van Bauhaus (@Gropiusallee) in de stad @Dessau_Rosslau (Saksen-Anhalt). pic.twitter.com/BH2oYAoTf3

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) 10 juli 2019

And finally, the Belgian delegation stopped at Belgian chemical company Domo Caproleuna in Leuna.