On Thursday, September 19, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium participated in day two of the United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit 2013: Architects for a Better World, conference in New York City.  According to the Belgian royal court, the conference is:

“…chaired by the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.  The United Nations Global Compact Leaders Summit brings together chief executives with leaders from civil society, government and the United Nations to unveil a new global architecture for corporate sustainability.  The summit will set the stage for business to shape and advance the post-2015 development agenda. It will put forward a framework for business to contribute to global priorities, such as climate change, water, food, women’s empowerment, children’s rights, decent jobs and education at unprecedented levels.”

Yesterday, Her Majesty participated in a roundtable discussion under the theme, Children’s Rights are Everyone’s Business, organized by UNICEF and the Global Compact Network Belgium.

Please click here and here to watch a videos.

Click here to view photos.

Photo courtesy of Monarchie Belge

On the morning of Tuesday, September 17, 2013, Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium arrived in the city of Mons in the province of Hainaut for a one-day visit.

Upon their arrival Their Majesties were greeted with cheers and applause from thousands of people who came out to catch a glimpse of their new king and queen.  After receiving formal greetings from various local government officials Their Majesties attended a reception and luncheon held in their honor, participated in a walkabout through the city and much more.

Click the links below to view photos as well as to watch videos from today’s visit.

VIDEO, VIDEO, Photos, Article w/Photos

On the morning of Friday, September 13, 2013, Her Majesty Queen Mathilde of Belgium arrived at the Musée du Louvre-Lens in northern France to view the temporary exhibition, L’Europe de Rubens: 170 Oeuvres de l’Artiste, de ses Modèles et de sees Contemporains.

According to the official website for the Musée du Louvre-Lens the exhibition:

“…contains paintings, drawings, sculptures and objets d’art. The aim is to reconstruct the dynamism of Rubens’ creation and convey the spectacular nature of his inspiration. It also offers some intimate moments, revealing Rubens’ more personal side.  

L’Europe de Rubens is organized into six themes: the Europe of Courts, Religious Emotion and Baroque Faith, Ephemeral Monumentality, Rubens, Emulation and Competition, Ruben and the Republic of Letters, and the Paths of Genius.” 

L’Europe de Rubens: 170 Oeuvres de l’Artiste, de ses Modèles et de ses Contemporains will be open to the public until September 23, 2013.  For more information about the exhibition and the Musée du Louvre-Lens please click here.

To watch videos as well as to view photos from today’s visit please click the links below.

VIDEO, VIDEO w/Photos, Photos

Photo courtesy of Monarchie Belge

On September 12, 2013, His Majesty King Philippe of Belgium arrived at Château de Laeken to attend a special dinner in honor of the Lithuanian Presidency of the European Union according to the Belgian royal court.

Thereafter, His Majesty accompanied by Lithuanian President, Ms. Dalia Grybauskaitė, attended a gala concert held at the Palais des Beaux-Arts.

Please click here and/or here to view photos.

On the evening of September 11, 2013, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Laurent and Princess Claire of Belgium arrived at the Vlaamse Opera in Ghent to attend a gala ball in support of the Comité de Soutien de la Province de Flandre Orientale for the Fondation Roi Baudouin (Support Committee of the Province of East Flanders for the King Baudouin Foundation).

Click here to view photos.

Photo courtesy of Zimbio