Condolences for Queen Margrethe

Court communicated that the king and queen have sent their condolences to queen Margrethe II of Denmark, on the passing of her husband, prince Henrik of Denmark, and expressed their sympathy to the members of the Danish royal family and the people of Denmark.

Family: Gala for La Fontaine

On 23 October 2017, Countess Hélène d'Udekem and her husband, Baron Nicolas Janssen were among the 600 guests at the gala night for the La Fontaine homes in Brussels that help homeless persons.

The evening was organized by Princess Amaury de Merode for the Order of Malta.

The guests watched the play "Loin de Linden" and attended the tombola. Among the guests were also Princess Sibilla of Luxembourg & her youngest son, Prince Jean, the Princess de Ligne, Princess Nathalie de Merode and Archduchess Anna Gabriele of Austria Este.

Baron & Baroness Buysse.

Skiing in Verbier

12 February 2018

Philippe, Mathilde and the children are spending this week of school holidays in Verbier, Switzerland.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/02/12/koning-filip-en-zijn-gezin-brengen-krokusvakantie-op-de-latten-i/

SDG Visit to Ghana

Queen Mathilde made a visit to Ghana as SDG advocate for the UN. She focused on local good practices that benefit the education of girls, female empowerment, gender equality and mental health care. Queen Mathilde was accompanied by Belgian Minister for Development Cooperation, Alexander De Croo.

7 February 2018

With the Belgian ambassador for the region, Hugues Chantry.

8 February 2018

Visit to the Teshie Presby High School where an e-learning project is set up with the help of Belgian funds.

At the Makola market in Accra.

At noon there was a lunch with the first lady of Ghana, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/02/08/koningin-mathilde-ziet-toe-op-duurzame-ontwikkeling-in-ghana-tij/

Then the queen and her delegation visited a vocational support centre where girls are being trained to become hairdressers, fashion designers or beauticians. Mathilde was accompanied by the German ambassador and EU representatives.

The queen was able to talk to a young woman who had been married off as a teenager. For Mathilde this was the most emotional part of her work trip to Ghana. To a reporter she said: "Did you notice how the girl never smiled? She's the same age as my daughter: sixteen. It was very hard for me to think about that. But the good thing is: it's out in the open and debatable." She added: "I always talk about my work with my children, also with my husband - so the SDGs are present at home too. They're everywhere. We're all of us responsible to make the future better for the next generation."

Afterwards, Mathilde was shown a fair trade cocoa factory that works with local suppliers.

9 February 2018

The day started with a visit to Promush Mushroom Project that ensures sustainable produce and employment for women and young people. 

At the Sunflower School, just outside Accra, the project "Recycle Up Ghana" teaches young people about pollution and a clean environment.

At noon, Mathilde's fellow SDG advocate, President Nakufo Addo of Ghana hosted a lunch. 

Queen Mathilde delivered a keynote speech at the University of Ghana.

video: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2018/02/09/koningin-mathilde-heeft-in-ghana-tweehonderd-studenten-toegespro/

A meeting with the people of "Farmerline", who won the King Boudewijn Prize for Development in 2017.

At night a Belgian-Ghanese reception concluded the visit.