Their Imperial Majesties Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan hosted a dinner at the Imperial Palace on June 12, 2012, in honor of Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium.
The royal couple are visiting Japan to strengthen economic and bilateral ties between Belgium and Japan.
Source: La Monarchie Belge and Daylife
On June 12, 2012, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium held an audience with the Secretary of State for the Modernization of Public Services and the Deputy to the Minister of Finance and Sustainable Development for Public Service, Mr. Hendrik Bogaert.
Later, the king attended the inauguration ceremony for the new location of the “…cultural and learning center…” L’Alliance Française de Bruxelles: Europe à Bruxelles.
In the evening, His Majesty King Albert II and Queen Paola attended the opera performance of ‘Il Trovatore’ held at the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels.
Source: La Monarchie Belge
On June 11, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium continued their visit to Japan. This afternoon, the royal couple met with His Imperial Highness Crown Prince Naruhito of Japan at Akasaka Palace in Tokyo.
The purpose of the royal couple’s visit to Japan is to strengthen economic and bilateral ties between Belgium and Japan. The trip was “…organized by the Agency for International Trade in collaboration with the Regional Services of International Trade which includes Awex, Flanders Investment & Trade and Brussels Invest & Export…” according to La Monarchie Belge.
Source: La Monarchie Belge
On June 4, 2012, it was announced by Buckingham Palace that His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh has been hospitalized for a bladder infection.
The 90-year-old duke was admitted to “…King Edward VII Hospital in London this afternoon, from Windsor Castle, as a precautionary measure after developing a bladder infection, which is being assessed and treated” according to a palace spokesperson.
He will remain in the hospital “for a few days” and unfortunately will miss the Diamond Jubilee concert as well as Thanksgiving service to be held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
Meanwhile, in Brussels, His Majesty King Albert II held an audience at Château de Laeken with Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo.
Sources: Scotsman, BBC News via Buckingham Palace and La Monarchie Belge
Photo courtesy of Daylife
Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium were in Evere on May 24, 2012, to visit the residential home, Villa Indigo.
Upon their arrival the royal couple were greeted by the management of the home, met with residents, and staff who then gave the prince and princess a private tour of the home.
According to the official website for the home, Villa Indigo offers “… the parents of severely ill children a place to receive support and assistance, relax, and heal…”
Click here and here to view photos.
Sources: La Monarchie Belge and Villa Indigo
On Wednesday, May 23, 2012, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg held an audience with Mr.Wu Bangguo, the Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Assembly (AFN) of the People’s Republic of China (long title) held at the Grand Ducal Palace.
Mr. Bangguo also met with “…the Prime Minister and Minister of State, Jean-Claude Juncker, and members of the Government…” according to the Luxembourg newspaper, Wort.
Meanwhile in Brussels, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium attended the 2012 Concours Reine Elisabeth Violin Finals (a competition) held at the Palais des Beaux-Arts this evening.
This morning, the royal couple along with Queen Fabiola, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz attended a brunch held at the Palais de Bruxelles for “… jury members from the 2012 Concours Reine Elisabeth.”
Click here and here to view photos.
Sources: Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg and La Monarchie Belge
On Monday, May 21, 2012, Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium participated in a workshop, organized by the Princess Mathilde Fund,on the role of fathers in education entitled, The Strength of the Fathers: Partners in Education. The workshop and roundtable discussion, led by the princess was held at the Musée Belvue in Brussels.
Meanwhile, the Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg announced that Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa along with His Royal Highness Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and his fiancée, Comtesse Stéphanie de Lannoy, will attend the baptism of Princess Estelle in Stockholm on Tuesday, May 22, 2012.
Sources: La Monarchie Belge and Cour Grand-Ducale de Luxembourg
The Royal Correspondent 