Category Archives: Belgium
Belgian Royal Family Sits for Photocall
It may be the end of summer, but the Belgian royals still have time to come together for a family photocall.
Usually, Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde and their four children allow the media to film and photograph them each summer. But this time, nearly all of the Belgian royals took part in the photosession.
Their Majesties, King Albert II and Queen Paola were present, as well as their two other children - including the infamous Prince Laurent - and their spouses. All of their Read more [...]
Princess Astrid Unveils 10 Days Campaign Of 1831 Memorial
Belgium's Princess Astrid was in the town of Houthalen-Helchteren to assist in the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to the 10 Days Campaign of 1831.
The memorial contains two plaques that tell the story of the brief war, which took place between August 2nd and August 12th 1831. It also has a large cross marking the grave site of Dutch and Belgian soldiers.
The campaign was when the Dutch army, led by royal princes, invaded the recently seceded Belgium. The Belgian forces were defeated Read more [...]
Princess Mathilde Checks in on School for UNICEF Project
Belgium's Princess Mathilde spent Tuesday visiting a primary school in Wezemaal as part of the UNICEF project, the 'Day of Change'. Mathilde is the honorary president of the Belgian branch of UNICEF, so it is her position to attend its events.
The communal primary school's teachers and students were very excited by the Princess' visit, as were local officials. Governor Lode Dewitte, Mayor Dirk Claes, director Marc Didden, and vice president Ingrid Van Boven welcomed her in the morning. Several Read more [...]
Belgium’s Princess Astrid Raises Malaria Awareness in Singapore & Indonesia
Princess Astrid of Belgium has been in Southeast Asia for the last couple of days, spreading awareness of malaria which kills 700,000 a year worldwide. She was in Singapore on Monday through Wednesday for her campaign, and was in Indonesia for the remainder of the week.
In Singapore, Astrid, who is a Special Representative to the Roll Back Malaria Partnership - the UN's body for the global fight against malaria - gave a speech which opened the National University of Singapore's Greater Good Read more [...]
Princess Mathilde Visits Health Centers in Albania
Belgium's Princess Mathilde arrived in Albania Wednesday to begin a two day visit to the Eastern European nation for her role as the WHO's Special Representative for Immunization. That role is for her to focus on health care workers and if people are receiving their immunizations against diseases.
Her Royal Highness arrived in Tirana and was greeted by Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha and Health Minister Petrit Vasili. Mathilde sat with them in a round table discussion about the country's Read more [...]
Belgian & Dutch Royals Attend Memorial for Bus Crash Victims
On Wednesday, Belgium came to stand still as it laid to rest the 28 people - including 22 children - who were killed in a bus crash during a skiing vacation in Switzerland. Thousands turned up to remember those who died, including King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium, and Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Maxima of the Netherlands.
The memorial service took place in the town of Lommel, where most of the victims came from, in its community center with television screens placed Read more [...]
Belgian King & Queen Comfort Bus Crash Victims’ Parents
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Belgium went to Melsbroek military airport to personally meet with the parents of the students involved in a horrific bus crash in Valais, southern of Switzerland, that killed 22 children and 6 adults on Tuesday night.
Most of the parents did not know if their children were one of those killed in the worst crash accident in Europe in recent years. King Albert II and Queen Paola were at the airport to meet with them away from the glare of the media, but Read more [...]
Philippe & Mathilde on Economic Mission to Vietnam
The Crown Princely couple of Belgium are currently on a six day economic mission to Vietnam. Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde, along with a Belgian delegation numbering 230, are in the country to tighten the economic relations between the two countries.
Their Royal Highnesses arrived in Hanoi Sunday, and made a brief stop at Hoan Kiem Lake Hanoi.
The next day, Monday, really began their visit. They attended a wreath-laying ceremony at the mausoleum of Ho Chi Minh, the late Vietnamese Read more [...]
Belgium’s Prince Joachim Sworn in as Navy Guard Officer
During a rainy day in Belgium, the second son of Princess Astrid and Archduke Lorenz swore to the Belgian flag to serve his country as a Navy guard officer at the naval base at Zeebrugge.
Prince Joachim, age 20, did this in front of his proud parents and grandmother, Queen Paola aboard the ship Godetia.
Also in attendance were Minister of Defense Pieter De Crem and General Charles-Henri Delcour, the Chief of Defense.
After the swearing in ceremony, Joachim and his family were invited Read more [...]
Philippe & Mathilde Check Out Anti-Bullying Program at School
The future King and Queen of Belgium were in the town of Turnhout Monday, to visit Sint Pietersinstituut, to learn more about the school's anti-bullying project.
The 96 pre-schoolers and 181 elementary students were very excited to see Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde close up.
"The kids are obviously very excited," director Paul Proost said yesterday. "They count the days. It is a very special event that they may never forget. There's not every day a prince comes along to school."
When Read more [...]
