UNGA81

From 20 September to 23 September 2026 Queen Mathilde was in New York. As an SDG advocate, she participated in the United Nations' 81st General Assembly.

20 September 2026

Queen Mathilde was staying at the Intercontinental Hotel.

Meeting with UNDP administrator Alexander De Croo.

With Mirjana Spoljaric, chairwoman of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Queen Mathilde visited the 9/11 Memorial, 25 years after the terrorist attack on the twin towers.

Queen Mathilde & her team (new private secretary Marleen Steenbrugghe and SDG collaborator Jean-Louis Six) on their way from the hotel to the UN building.

With Tom Fletcher, UN Under-Secretary-General for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief.

 

Meeting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Speaking at the event 'Invisible Architecture: Building Safe Digital Systems for Children - Advancing Global Standards and Shared Responsibility'.

Next to Mathilde: Turkish first lady, Emine Erdogan.

With Luke Lindberg, Executive Director of the World Food Programme.

With UNICEF director, Catherine Russell.

With the director of the WHO, Tedros Ghebreyesus.

In the evening she attended the Rising Nations Gala Dinner, part of the Climate Mobility Summit 2026. Other guests included Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and President Macron of France.

22 September 2026

With Queen Maxima at opening session of the General Assembly.

With Minister for foreign affairs, Maxime Prévot.

At the Food Security event "United Against Hunger: Realigning Global Action for Food Crises in Times of Disruption".

🗣️ “Hunger is not merely a humanitarian challenge, it is a profound test of our collective humanity, our solidarity and our willingness to uphold our shared responsibilities”

Powerful words from Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium @MonarchieBe at our #UNGA81 side event. pic.twitter.com/yhjDqIp1FW

— Global Network Against Food Crises (@fightfoodcrises) September 23, 2026

With members of the Pakistan Polio Eradication Programme.

Stip It

21 September 2026

Before leaving for New York (so probably somewhere last week) Mathilde had a meeting with five primary school children who are taking part in the "Stip It" campaign, a anti bullying campaign that's been running for a number of years.

They did a dance for the Queen and presented her with a Kintsugi plate. All of the children have at some point in their young lives been the victim of bullying.

The videos were made by Flemish children's TV chain Ketnet who will start airing "STIP IT : Kintsugi" from 5 October 2026 on KETNET & VRT MAX.