Handicap Visuel Formation Emploi

12 January 2024

Queen Mathilde visited HVFE in Montignies-sur-Sambre.

HVFE helps blind and partially sighted adults to integrate in society by learning them IT skills.

video: https://www.telesambre.be/info/la-reine-mathilde-decouvert-le-travail-de-lasbl-hvfe-pour-les-deficients-visuels/61943

Entourage: Véronique de Limburg-Stirum

Since the end of 2023 Queen Mathilde has been accompanied by a new lady-in-waiting.

The lady in question is Countess Véronique de Limburg Stirum.

Born  in 1965 as Véronique de Spot (daughter of Jean de Spot & Chantal t'Kint de Roodenbeke), she married Maximilien de Limburg Stirum in 1999.

Her husband is the Executive Chairman at SFI (Société Familiale d'Investissements) and closely linked with AB Inbev. Upon his marriage, Maximilien inherited the medieval Adornes estate in Bruges. Maximilien de Limburg-Stirum is a direct descendant of Anselm Adornes, 17 generations after the Italian knight and ambassador of the Dukes of Burgundy.

Véronique & Maximilien were the first to open the estate to the public for visits and private or art events. Véronique has been managing the premises.

Before starting out on this heritage adventure, the Countess worked in the banking industry. She holds a degree in commercial engineering.

The couple has three sons: Hadrien (°2001), Gabriel (°2002) and Edgar (°2005) de Limburg-Stirum.

Family: A Son for Charles-Henri

Mathilde's brother Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem & his wife, Caroline Philippe became the parents of a son, Paul.

The baby will be baptized at the Saint-Pierre church of Bastogne next Sunday. No doubt his royal aunt will be present at this important moment. 

Paul's full name is Count Paul Patrick Grégoire d'Udekem d'Acoz.

Belgian Presidency of the Council of the EU

5 January 2024

Back at work after the holidays!

At 20:30 King Philippe & Queen Mathilde attended the opening concert of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, at Bozar in Brussels.

Among the performing artists were violinist Lorenzo Gatto, pianist Jef Neve and singers Selah Sue and Charlotte Adigéry.

The presidency of the Council rotates among the EU member states every six months. This one lasts from 1 January to 30 June 2024.

Flashback: Europalia Bulgaria

4 October 2002

To celebrate the opening of arts festival Europalia Bulgaria, Crown Prince Philippe & Princess Mathilde accompanied Bulgarian President Georgi Parvanov & his wife to a concert.

2023: The Year That Was

2023 was the year Mathilde celebrated her 50th birthday. Although she would surely have preferred to keep her birthday completely private, she shared her milestone with the wider public via new offical photos ...

... and two interviews: https://queenmathilde.blogspot.com/2023/01/mathilde-50-interview.html

The Queen received a Doctor Honoris Causa title from the KUL University in Leuven, for the efforts she makes for those who suffer from poverty and exlusion.

King Philippe celebrated his 10 year reign with a garden party and the unveiling of new busts ...

... an extra festive National Day ...

... new official photos ...

... a government lunch and two concerts.

In 2023 Mathilde visited twelve countries.

1. There were two separate visits to Vatican City: a first one to attend emeritus Pope Benedict XVI's funeral and a second one to meet Pope Francis.

2. Again for a funeral, King Philippe & Queen Mathilde travelled to Greece.

3. From there they travelled straight on to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum in Davos.

4. In February Mathilde's work as SDG advocate for the United Nations brought her to Bangladesh.

Interview: https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/kijk/2023/02/08/videotip-mathilde-bangladesh-bezoek-koningin-arvato_55138186/

5. In March Mathilde & her daughter Elisabeth visited Egypt, in the archeological footsteps of ancestor and predecessor Queen Elisabeth. Mathilde took a step back to let the Crown Princess shine.

Interviews with mother & daughter: https://www.hln.be/royalty/kijk-prinses-elisabeth-geeft-eerste-interview-in-vier-jaar-die-druk-van-de-media-daar-praat-ik-over-met-mijn-ouders-br~a66fde57/

6. Mathilde had also been to France to prepare for the Egypt trip.

No doubt the Royal Family has also spent time at their holiday home on the Ile d'Yeu during various moments of the year.

7. Early in the year the Queen had crossed the Channel to visit exhibitions with her daughter.

In May Mathilde was back in Britain for the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

In June King Philippe & Queen Mathilde spent the night at Windsor castle as King Charles III & Queen Camilla's guests. During the day they had attended Founder's Day at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.

8. In March the King & Queen made their first state visit of the year, to South Africa.

9. The Easter holidays held no surprise: like each year Philippe & Mathilde spent them in Spain, walking part of the Compostella trail.

10. In May Mathilde was in Vietnam, representing UNICEF Belgium.

11. She visited Germany for the wedding of Amélie von Württemberg in summer.

And she was back in winter for a state visit.

12. Finally, the SDG summit in New York, USA in September was a must for SDG advocate Queen Mathilde.

Like most years, there were two incoming state visits.

The first one: King Willem-Alexander & Queen Maxima from the Netherlands.

The second one: President Rebelo de Souza from Portugal.

Mathilde attended 3 weddings this year.

Duchess Amélie von Württemberg married Baron Franz von Feilitzsch in September. As a close friend of  the bride's mother, Mathilde was a guest of honour.

Family friend Baron Renaud van der Elst married Cynthia Wu in September.

In October Archduke Alexander de Habsbourg-Lorraine married Natacha Roumiantzoff at Belœil. Mathilde attended the evening reception.

There were 3 funerals.

The new year started off with Pope Benedict XVI's funeral in Vatican City, Rome.

Barely two weeks later the Royal Couple attended the funeral of Constantinos, the last King of the Hellenes 

Mathilde also lost her uncle & godfather, Count Raoul d'Udekem. 

Crown Princess Elisabeth turned 22. 

She is still happily immersed in student life. We discovered she even takes part in Oxford's famous rowing competitions!

Even tough she lives in Britain, Elisabeth takes the time to connect with the public and fulfill official duties when she visits Belgium. In March she went on a working visit to Egypt with her mother, to highlight the Belgian archeological digs, just like her great great grandmother Queen Elisabeth did in 1923, a hundred years ago.

It was the occasion for Elisabeth to give her first real spoken interviews, in Dutch and in French: https://www.hln.be/royalty/kijk-prinses-elisabeth-geeft-eerste-interview-in-vier-jaar-die-druk-van-de-media-daar-praat-ik-over-met-mijn-ouders-br~a66fde57/

Throughout the year we witnessed Elisabeth mingling with fellow royals at big events: the Coronation Reception for King Charles III, the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein & Princess Rajwa of Jordan and Prince Christian of Denmark's 18th birthday gala. 

Another milestone for the Crown Princess: she took the oath as Officer in the Belgian army.

Prince Gabriel turned 20 this year. 

We saw the Prince with his father in French Guyane, at the Ariane 5 rocket launch.

Prince Emmanuel turned 18.

Princess Eléonore turned 15. 

She accompanied dad to Motril in Spain, to open the museum dedicated to King Baudouin.

And she was mom's sidekick at the Queen Elisabeth Competition finale and at the opera.

Over to the fashion side of royal life: let's enjoy Mathilde's gala looks one more time.

Let's not forget the dazzle Elisabeth had in store for us this year!

And finally, 18 hats were taken out of their boxes.

This one was worn twice 

Elisabeth had just one occasion to wear a hat, but what a stunner it was!

Now what does 2024 hold for the Royal Family? 

A state visit to Vietnam has been announced. 

Pope Francis will visit Belgium. 

Crown Princess Elisabeth and Prince Emmanuel will both be graduating.
Elisabeth will hold her bachelor's degree from Oxford. She'll surely be pursuing further academic degrees or diplomatic experience.
Emmanuel will obtain his International Baccalaureate, and will undoubtedly go on to higher studies.

And 2024 is also the year when Philippe & Mathilde will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary!