Heritage: Wedding Car

The limo that Philippe and Mathilde used on their wedding day in 1999 has been donated by Court to the Mercedes Museum in Stuttgart, Germany.

In the past the car was kept in use by the VIP Mercedes Garage of Brussels.

The Mercedes Pullman 600 decapotable was bought by King Baudouin in 1968 and remains available  to be used by the Belgian royals

In 2013 the Mercedes was also used by Philippe & Mathilde for the enthronement of King Philippe.

United Nations Conference on Children's Rights

22 November 2024

As SDG advocate for the UN, Queen Mathilde opened the international Unicef Conference "Children's rights at a crossroads: evolving humanitarian crises" by giving the opening address.

The event took place at the Egmont Palace in Brussels. Mathilde was welcomed by Marc Pecsteen, Belgian permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, and UNICEF Deputy Executive Director Kitty van der Heijden.

Fashion Flashback: Gloves

New Nobles 2024

21 November 2024

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde granted an audience to the Belgians who received a noble title or a honorary distinction this year.

New barons/baronnesses are:

Kasper Bormans, dementia expert.
Choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui.
Anny De Windt of BiJeVa.
Henri Goldberg, President of the Auschwitz Foundation.
Sabine Gössing, Founder of the Alzheimer Liga.
Anne Johansson, Head of Neonatology at the Queen Fabiola Hospital. 
Emilie Meessen, Founder of Infirmiers de rue.
Elisabeth Monard, Professor chemical engineering.
Jean Rubay, heart surgeon.
Artist Charles Emmanuel Schelfhout

Has become Grand Officier de l’Ordre de Léopold: 

Christine Matray 

Have become Commandeur de l’Ordre de Léopold:

chef Peter Goossens
gynaecologist Marleen Temmerman

Have become Commandeur de l’Ordre de la Couronne:

Author Geneviève Damas
Sang Hoon Degeimbre
Author Marie, dite Caroline, Lamarche
Researcher Damya Laoui
Surgeon and founder of a hospital in East Congo, Réginald Moreels
Chef Seppe Nobels
Marie Paquay and Ayan Ramdani of Play4Peace.
Geertrui Serneels, Director of Centrum voor Solidariteit en Trauma (Solentra).
Theofiel, gezegd Theo, Vaes of ArmenTekort.
Paul Van Haver, aka Stromae.

There was a reception afterwards.