Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium was at the Palais d’Egmont in Brussels this afternoon to participate in the 5ième édition des Assises de la Coopération Belge au Développement (5th Edition of the Foundations of the Belgian Development Cooperation) conference.

The theme of today’s opening session focused on the “…consistency of policies for development.”  According to the Belgian royal court, Princess Mathilde gave a lengthy speech which:

… emphasized the importance of the health and education sectors and the economic role of rural women in the agricultural sector and the food supply.

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Source: La Monarchie Belge

On Monday, May 7, 2012, His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium was at the Université Libre de Bruxelles to attend the inaugural lecture of the Chaire Internationale d’Histoire de la seconde Guerre Mondiale (International Chair of History of the Second World War) as well as to participate in presenting the Prix Baron Velge 2012 (Baron Velge Prize 2012).

According to the official website for the Université Libre de Bruxelles the International Chair of History of the Second World War is:

…organized by the faculty of Philosophy and Letters through the generosity of the late Baron Jean-Charles Velge who died on May 29, 2010, to honor the memory of Mr. Jean Vanwelkenhuyzen, a historian of the Second World War.  Each year a researcher is invited to come to the University to give a series of lectures to students and faculty about the Second World War...source

The recipient of the Prix Baron Velge 2012 goes to author and Yale University professor of History, Mr. Timothy Snyder.  In 2010, Professor Snyder published the critically acclaimed book, Bloodlands: Europe Between Hitler and Stalin.  Afterward, the professor will give a series of lectures at the Université Libre de Bruxelles until May 11, 2012.

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Sources: La Monarchie Belge and Université Libre de Bruxelles

On May 3, 2012, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium was in Florennes where he visited the Jean Offenberg military airbase.

According to the Belgian online newspaper, 7Sur7, His Majesty “… attended several briefings as well as a demonstration of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA)…”  He was also informed about the operations in Afghanistan and Libya.

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In Brussels, Her Majesty Queen Paola visited the Kunsthumaniora Brussel to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary.  Whilst there the queen toured various classes in session including art education, music, dance and theatre.

And, finally, Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde attended a gala dinner organized by the Breast International Group (BIG) in Brussels.  According to the royal court of Belgium, the BIG  organization:

…brings together academic groups who conduct research on breast cancer. It stimulates also the collaboration between its members and other networks around the world, to avoid overlapping in their research activities. The princess has been involved in the fight against breast cancer and to raise awareness for many years..

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Source: La Monarchie Belge

On April 26, 2012, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium visited the European Parliament (EP) in Brussels headquarters at the invitation of the President of the EP, Mr. Martin Schulz.

It is unknown at this time what His Majesty and Mr. Schulz spoke about in their private meeting.  Perhaps he informed the king about the realistic scenario of a European Union “collapse”.  Or, maybe they discussed their favorite vacation spots.   🙂

Click here to watch a video. (in French)

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince Philippe participated in the European Business Summit held at the Square Brussels Meeting Centre in, where else, Brussels.

And, finally, on Wednesday, April 25, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium attended a gala dinner hosted by the 10th European Business Summit held at the Palais des Beaux-Arts.

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Source: La Monarchie Belge

On April 24, 2012, His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium attended the 1st Annual Masterclass held at the Résidence Palace à Bruxelles (residence Palace in Brussels).  Today’s event was:

…organized for the benefit of the winners of seven editions of the Belgodyssée competition.

The ‘Masterclass’ is a project in collaboration between Radio 2 and the Prince Philippe Fund with the support of the Chancellery of the Prime Minister. Participants had the opportunity to listen to speakers on the theme of ‘Journalism and social media.’

Meanwhile at the Palais Royal in Brussels, Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde presented the 2012 Princess Mathilde Prize from her personal foundation:

Each year, the Princess Mathilde Fund presents the prize to a particular initiative to strengthen the autonomy of persons who, because of their location, are more vulnerable than others.

For the second consecutive year, the Princess Mathilde Fund decided to engage in the fight against youth poverty, convinced that it must be stopped from the earliest age.

This year’s winner was ASBL Service Brussels.  Click here to view a photo as well as to read an article about today’s event (in French.)

Source: La Monarchie Belge

On Monday, April 23, 2012, His Majesty King Albert II of Belgium held an audience with the Belgian Prime Minister, Mr. Elio Di Rupo.  Later, His Majesty along with Her Majesty Queen Paola of Belgium held an audience with Baron Toots Thielemans and his wife, Huguette, at Château de Laeken.  Mr. Thielemans, a well-known jazz musician, will celebrate his 90th birthday on April 29, 2012.

Meanwhile, His Royal Highness Prince Philippe of Belgium visited the Universitaires Saint-Louis (FUSL) in Brussels. Whilst there the heir to the Belgian throne attended an academic session “… on the 20th anniversary of the creation… “ of the university’s multilingual training program in collaboration between the FUSL and Hogeschool Universiteit Brussels (HUB).

Source: La Monarchie Belge

Photo courtesy of Daylife

On April 15, 2012, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium hosted two separate dinners in honor of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-moon and his wife, Mrs. Ban Soon-teak visit to Brussels.

The prince hosted his dinner at the Château de Val Duchesse while the princess hosted her dinner for Mrs. Ban Soon-teak held inside the greenhouse at Château de Laeken.

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Source: La Monarchie Belge