Queen Mathilde: State Visit #13: South Africa

Wednesday 22 March 2023

Departure from Melsbroek airport.

video: https://www.hln.be/royalty/in-beeld-na-het-schouwen-van-de-militairen-filip-en-mathilde-vertrokken-naar-zuid-afrika~aaee3646/

Arrival in Pretoria, South Africa.

Thursday 23 March 2023

Because of the unstable political situation in South Africa, last minute changes have been made to the program: the joint press meeting of King Philippe and President Ramaphosa has been cancelled, the visit to the Freedom Park will be shortened and the state banquet has been downsized.

Welcoming ceremony hosted by President Ramaphosa at the Unions Buildings in Pretoria.

Visit to Freedom Park.

video: https://www.hln.be/royalty/koningin-mathilde-trekt-alle-aandacht-in-zuid-afrika-met-opnieuw-opvallende-hoed~a10502c9/

Meeting of Belgian and South African academics and entrepreneurs for a discussion on social entrepreneurship.

State Banquet in the evening. Because of a motion of (no) conficence against the government, The number of guests invited to the dinner was reduced from sixty to twenty.

Mathilde was wearing her diamond bow brooch in her hair.

Friday 24 March 2023

At the Emuseni Day Care Centre in Soweto, Johannesburg. Here the Belgian non-profit VVOB helps to ensure that at least 6 million children acquire foundational skills by the end of primary education.

The morning ended with a visit to the Hector Pieterson Museum, which was established in Soweto, Johannesburg next to the spot where 12-year-old Hector Pieterson was shot and killed by apartheid police in 1976. The Museum recalls the anti-apartheid uprising in Soweto, during which 15.000 students demonstrated against the introduction of Afrikaans as the language of instruction in black schools. Police opened fire on the crowd and killed more than 170 students.

Philippe & Mathilde were given more information by Hector's sister, who is also visible on the photo.

Belgian company Skateroom works with renowned artists to make unique skateboards, and invests 10% of its income in social projects around the world. Skateistan Skate School in Johannesburg is one of them.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/kijk/2023/03/24/vorstenpaar-bezoekt-skateschool-staatsbezoek-zuid-afrika-arvato-/

At the site of Belgian company BEKA Schreder, the Sovereigns were introduced to South-Africa's leading outdoor lighting manufacturer. The company develops sustainable lighting solutions that reduce energy consumption and increase safety on the streets.

In the evening the King and Queen hosted a jazz concert with Belgian and South African musicians.

Saturday 25 March 2023

The Belgian delegation travelled to Cape Town.

🇧🇪🇿🇦 Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrive in Cape Town for the last stop of their State Visit to South Africa.

☂️ And they brought the rainy, windy Belgian weather with hem.

🗓️ Today and tomorrow appointments in Cape Town, on Monday return to Brussels. pic.twitter.com/7sUtsjiM05
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 25, 2023

First the Royal Couple had a meeting with the Premier of the Western Cape, Alan Winde.

Lunch.

Then they visited Afrigen Biologics. The South-African biotech company receives Belgian financial support and collaborates with two Belgian companies, Univercells and eThERNA, to develop African-owned mRNA-vaccines.

At the University of the Western Cape, to talk about digital inclusion.

In the evening there was a reception at ZeitzMOCA where the King and Queen visited the exhibition "When We See Us: A Century of Black Figuration in Painting" and met Belgian CEOs and their South African partners.

Clotilde Boël was Mathilde's lady-in-waiting during this state visit.

Sunday 26 March 2023

Visit to Philippivillage: a former cement factory in the township Philippi that is now home to a diverse community of entrepreneurs and small business owners with retail, office and event space as well as sporting, educational and cultural facilities.

Philippe finished a mural which he signed with his artist's name "Pilip".

For lunch, Philippe & Mathilde visited restaurant Den Anker in Cape Town, run by Belgian chef Piet Huysentruyt.

A walk in the Kirstenbosch botanical gardens, a world heritage site.

During the visit, the King handed over two extremely rare breadfruit trees which were raised at the Botanic Garden of Meise in Belgium. These are species that existed at the time of the dinosaurs, but are today critically endangered.