2019: The Year that Was

CROWN PRINCESS ELISABETH: Mathilde's eldest daughter took her place in the spotlight this year

At her 18th birthday, crown princess Elisabeth captured many hearts with her grace, positivity and self assurance during an official ceremony at the royal palace.

Furthermore she accompanied her father on a visit to the Brussels Fire Brigade, she made her first humanitarian visit abroad accompanying her mother to Kenya for UNICEF, and she turned up behind the scenes at her father's National Day speech. She also accompanied her parents to the state funeral of her great-uncle, grand duke Jean of Luxembourg.

There were official photo shoots, and a new stamp in her honour.

INTERNATIONAL QUEEN: in 2019 Mathilde visited fourteen countries

France for an exhibition on Knopff in Paris.

Luxembourg for the funeral of grand duke Jean, and on a state visit.

Switzerland for the World Economic Forum in Davos, and for a visit to the WHO in Geneva.

Mozambique for a humanitarian visit as a UN SDG representative.

South Korea on a state visit.

Austria for the informal meeting of the German Speaking States.

Germany for an official visit to the German regions Thüringen and Sachsen-Anhalt, and for the Bambi Awards in Baden-Baden.

Kenya for a UNICEF visit. Crown princess Elisabeth was with her.

Holland for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.

Italy for the Venice Art Biennale.

New York, USA for the UN General Assembly.

Japan for the enthronement ceremony of Emperor Naruhito.

Family holidays were spent in Egypt, France and Spain.

HEADS OF STATE

King Philippe & queen Mathilde officially welcomed president Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo of Congo, and his spouse Mrs. Denise Nyakeru-Tshisekedi at the Royal Palace in Brussels.

The king & queen hosted a lunch for the president of Poland, Andrzej Duda and his wife, Agata Kornhauser-Duda.

Queen Mathilde joined her husband for a lunch with Romanian president Klaus Iohannis at the royal palace in Brussels. Together they opened Europalia Romania cultural festival.

HONOURS

Mathilde was made a new honorary member of the Royal Belgian Academy for Medecine, granting her royal protection to the institution.

And she received the German Bambi Award for her efforts in promoting children's rights all over the world.

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS. The king & queen frequently receive groups of young professionals at the castle of Laeken, as a means of showing their appreciation.

Young police officers

Young judges

Young Social Workers

Young Civil Servants

Young employees of Public Transport Services

FAREWELL: Sadly there were three funerals to attend in 2019.

Count Philippe de Lannoy, father of hereditary grand duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg.

Former cardinal Godfried Danneels.

Former grand duke Jean of Luxembourg.

CELEBRATIONS

60th wedding anniversary of king Philippe's parents, Albert II & Paola in France.

20th wedding anniversary of the royal couple.

INTERVIEWS: Mathilde talked to the press about her work, life and passions.

In Mozambique, where queen Mathilde made a visit as SDG advocate for the UN, she talked about the importance of quality education for girls - and about getting boys involved in this.

An interview for the queen Elisabeth Competition on attending the concerts with the late queen Fabiola, the love of the entire family for music and being a strict mum when it comes to bedtime!

https://www.canvas.be/video/koningin-elisabethwedstrijd-2019/koningin-mathilde-met-fabiola-was-het-een-uitdaging-om-te-zwijgen

Mathilde & Elisabeth both talked to the press while on UNICEF visit to Kenya. The queen talked about the importance of quality education for girls and about her own volunteer work in Egypt, before she became a royal.

https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2019/06/27/kroonprinses-elisabeth-de-keniase-meisjes-van-mijn-leeftijd-to/

German ZDF was allowed to film & follow the queen for a documentary. She talked to the journalists about the German origins of the Belgian royal family.

https://www.zdf.de/dokumentation/dokumentation-sonstige/beruf-koenigin-mathilde-von-belgien-102.html#xtor=CS5-21

For their 20 years of marriage, Philippe & Mathilde gave a look inside their married life. Details about the engagement, the wedding and the first fears of an empty nest were shared.