Consecration of a New Archbishop

12 December 2015

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde assisted at the consecration mass for archbishop Jozef De Kesel, at the Sint-Rombouts cathedral in Mechelen.

They were accompanied by lady-in-waiting Clotilde Boël.

King Baudouin Foundation

11 December 2015

Queen Mathilde had a work meeting at the King Baudouin Foundation in Brussels. She was briefed about recent studies and met members of staff.

New Royal Warrant Holders 2015

8 December 2015

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde met the new royal warrant holders at the Royal Palace in Brussels. They have been appointed for a 5 year term.

Rode Neuzen

6 December 2015

Queen Mathilde sent a letter to charity TV show "Rode Neuzen" to support their efforts on mental health care among young people.

Radicalized Youngsters

3 December 2015

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde hosted a round table discussion at the Royal Palace on the radicalization of youngsters in Belgian society.

Meeting the Families of Terror Victims

1 December 2015

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde had a meeting at the Castle of Laeken with the Belgian families of the terror attack victims in Paris and Bamako.

Private: Spa Weekend in Quiberon

1 December 2015

Paparazzi photos emerged of King Philippe & Queen Mathilde at the spa of the Sofitel Hotel in Quiberon, France.

Because they were taken ten days earlier when Brussels shut its metro and public places due to an enhanced terror alert, they caused a stir in the French and Belgian press. The weekend get-away had been planned long beforehand but wasn't cancelled by the couple. They did however leave a few hours earlier on Sunday night.

It's remarkable that French satirical paper Le Canard Enchaîné was able to publish these photos. In the politically very tense days after the mass shooting in Paris, the Elysée was keen to divert the attention to Belgium, the home country of some of the terrorists.

Davis Cup Final

29 November 2015

Queen Mathilde joined the Duchess of Gloucester at Flanders Expo in Ghent for the finale of the Davis Cup, opposing Belgium to Britain.

Laurence de Ghellinck acted as lady-in-waiting.

It were the Brits who won.

Davis Cup + Up With People

27 November 2015

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde watched the Davis Cup tennis match at Flanders Expo in Ghent, opposing Belgium to Britain.

Mathilde was accompanied by her lady-in-waiting, Lindsay Edwards.

The Duchess of Gloucester was also present.

Earlier in the day, Queen Mathilde had granted an audience to M.J. Blanton Belk, the founder of "Up With People" at the Castle of Laeken.

Burnout + Voorleesweek 2015

25 November 2015

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde hosted a roundtable at the royal palace on burnout.

In the afternoon Queen Mathilde was meant to participate in the Read Aloud Week by reading to children in the public library of Laeken, Brussels. Because of the enhanced terror threat in Brussels the library cancelled the activity. Mathilde did however insist the children come to the Royal Palace so she could still read them a story.

A small boy who got a little overwhelmed was immediately comforted by the Queen.

video: http://www.brusselnieuws.be/nl/video/tvbrussel/voorleesweek-start-met-koningin-mathilde-verhalen-halen-ons-even-weg-van-realiteit

Changing Titles

24 November 2015

Court announced that in future the royal title "Prince of Belgium" or "Princess of Belgium" will only go to the children of the reigning King (or Queen) and to the children of the Crown Prince (or Crown Princess).

This means that Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eléonore's children will all bear the title while their cousins' children no longer will.

While Elisabeth's grandchildren will also be Princes, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eléonore will pass the title to their children but not to their grandchildren.

Book: Albert II

In 2012 photographer Olivier Polet published a  photo book on the royal family, called "Albert II".

In a number of photos, taken at the castle of Ciergnon, Mathilde and family are also pictured.