Flashback: Trade Visit to Russia

Crown Prince Philippe & Princess Mathilde led a 5-day Belgian trade visit to Russia.

26 June 2006

Opening coktail with the Belgian delegation.

27 June 2006

Meeting with Vice Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Alexander Zhukov & his wife Ekatarina Zhukova at the Frienship House of Moskow.

Visit to the Novodevichy Monastery in Moscow.

28 June 2006

A visit to the Guylian Belgian Chocolate Cafe in  Moscow.

Meeting with the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov.

Walkabout on the Red Square.

The same day Belgian police found the bodies of two young girls who'd gone missing. 

Prince Philippe told the press, "As parents ourselves, we want to express our feelings with the parents of the girls. To demonstrate our respect there will be no statements about the mission and our walk here will be shortened.”

Later in the evening there was a reception for the Belgian delegation and Russian guests at the Metropole Hotel.

29 June 2006

Princess Mathilde left for Belgium, to be present at her children's final day of the schoolyear. Prince Philippe finished the mission and stayed on for another day.