Crown Prince Philippe & Princess Mathilde made an official three-day visit to Paris. The fact that Mathilde was two months into her first pregnancy was still a well kept secret.
26 March 2001
The couple and their entourage took the Thalys train from Brussels to Paris.
First stop was the Elysée Palace where they had an audience with President Jacques Chirac and his wife Bernadette Chirac.
They visited the Bibliothèque Nationale.
27 March 2001
Visit to the Académie Française where they had Hélène Carrère-d'Encausse as a guide.
For the reopening of the Belgian student house "Fondation Biermans-Lapôtre" they were joined by Grand Duke Henri & Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
29 March 2001
Visit to the neurological department of the La Salpêtrière Hospital.
Lunch at the Belgian embassy where Philippe & Mathilde were presented to Belgian artists living in Paris.
A visit to the Lelong Art Gallery with Pierre Alechinsky.
After these final official activities, the couple stayed on a bit longer in Paris for some private time together. Paparazzi did however manage to snap a few pictures of them.
