Category Archives: Belgian Royals

Belgian Royals

T.R.H.s Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium Visit the United States

On June 22, 2011, Their Royal Highnesses Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium arrived in New York City for a nine-day economic mission to the United States.  The royal couple travelled along with several hundred Belgian businessman in the hopes of strengthening economic relations with U.S. companies.

According to the newspaper, Nieuwsblad.be:

The Prince, Princess Mathilde, Minister of Foreign Affairs Steven Vanackere (CD & V) and Walloon Minister of Economy Jean-Claude Marcourt (PS) on Wednesday walked through Central Park. They also took some time to stop and eat some local Belgian waffles.

Prince Philip on Thursday morning brings a visit to Swift, the company that manages a super database of financial transactions in the world and has an establishment in the Walloon Brabant La Hulpe. Princess Matilde will have breakfast at the same time at a branch of the Belgian bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien. Later, the couple will visit Ground Zero.

The majority of the delegation consists of some three hundred business people representing 203 Belgian companies. The companies include sectors from pharmaceutical, biotechnology and ICT. Representatives from the financial sector and travel along the Belgian universities.

The next stop on this whirlwind economic mission trip is Washington, D.C. from June 26-29 and ending in Boston on June 30.

To view photos please click the links here and here. 

Source: Nieuwsblad.be

Photo courtesy of: Jason Kempin/Getty Images

Belgian Royals

Their Majesties King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium to Attend the Monaco Princely Wedding. Plus Other News

There were some speculations as to whether or not Their Majesties King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium would attend the princely wedding in Monaco on July 1 and 2, 2011.

Well, it has been confirmed.  According Monaco-Matin, via the Palais Princier de Monaco, the king and queen will attend along with H.R.H. Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, T.R.H.s Prince Laurent and Princess Claire, and H.R.H. Princess Astrid.

To view the updated royal guest-list please click here and scroll down.

Also, to watch a video about the wedding preparations please click the here.  Push the “play” button and roughly a minute and a half into the program the information about the wedding will begin.  If you are having trouble viewing the program, all I can say is sorry.  🙂  Finally, the link will most likely air the princely wedding on July 1 and 2 so you might want to bookmark it if you live outside of France and Monaco.

Source: Monaco Matin

Belgian Royals

T.R.H.s Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium Attend the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels

On May 19, 2011, T.R.H.s Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium attended the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition in Brussels, Belgium.  Founded in 1957 this famous competition, named after Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, is solely focuses on classical music.  The events in the competition range from “… piano, voice, violin, and composition” and is “…considered the world over to be one of the most prestigious and most difficult in existence.” 

To learn more about this competition please visit their official website here.

Sources: Concours Reine Elisabeth.be  Queen Elisabeth Competition, Wikipedia

Photo courtesy of: Daylife by Bruno Fahy/AFP/GettyImages

Belgian Royals

T.M. King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium Visit the Museum aan de Stroom in Antwerp

On May 17, 2011, Their Majesties King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium visited the Museum aan de Stroom (MAS) in Antwerp, Belgium.

The MAS museum was designed by Neutelings Riedijk Architects and completed in mid-2010.  According to the official website for the museum, MAS.be, the structure of the building:

…immediately catches your eye. Antwerp’s latest tower reminds us of the 16th-Century storehouses typical of the city of Antwerp and its port. The MAS is designed as a giant storehouse with stacked containers or “boxes”. These museum boxes are stacked in such a way that they create a spiral tower. As you ascend, you get a constantly changing view of the city. A breathtaking 360° panorama awaits you on the roof.

Since its initial completion it took sometime to move the permanent collections into the museum which officially opened today thus the reason Their Majesties visit.  The museum houses, “… ethnological, maritime, ethnic and art historic collections…” 

To learn more about the Museum aan de Stroom please visit their site here.  To view photos of His Majesty King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium at the MAS this afternoon please click the link here.

Source: MAS.be  Photo courtesy of:  Nieuwsblad.be by Belga

Belgian Royals, Spanish Royals

Belgian and Spanish Royals to Attend the Beatification of the Late Pope John Paul II

According to the Belgian online newspaper, Knack.be, T.M.s King Albert II and Queen Paola of Belgium will attend the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II on May 1, 2011.  Also, T.R.H.s Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias will attend on behalf of the Spanish royal family, according to the newspaper, Rome Reports.

It is unknown at this time if other members of various royal and princely houses will attend, such as Luxembourg and Monaco, but I have a feeling the latter two houses will confirm in the next few days so stay tuned.

To view a video report regarding the royal attendance please click the link:  Video

For more information about the beatification of the late Pope John Paul II please click the links here  and  here.

Source: Rome Repors and Knack.be

Belgian Royals

Another Royal Couple to Attend the British Royal Wedding

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The Belgian royal court recently announced that Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium will attend the upcoming British royal wedding on April 29, 2011.

So, here is the list of royals who have confirmed their attendance thus far:

  1. H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and his fiancée, Charlene Wittstock
  2. Her Majesty Queen Margrethe and H.R.H. Prince Henrik of Denmark
  3. Their Majesties King Harald and Queen Sonja of Norway
  4. Ex-King Constantine and Ex-Queen Anne-Marie of Greece
  5. Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Willem-Alexander and Crown Princess Maxima of the Netherlands
  6. Sheikha Mozah of Qatar
  7. Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Catherine of Serbia
  8. Their Royal Highnesses Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel of Sweden

Source: SkyNet.be Photo courtesy of: Zimbio.com by Bauer Griffin

Belgian Royals

Their Majesties King Albert and Queen Paola of Belgium Visit Maldegem

This afternoon Their Majesties King Albert and Queen Paola visited the East Flemish town of Maldegem, Belgium. Though the visit went well, the royal couple were met with 20 or so protesters who advocate Flemish independence from Belgium.

According to the online Belgian newspaper, Niewsblad.be:

The royal couple were met by Mayor John De Roo and the board of Aldermen were they were received in the House Wallyn. The East Flanders Governor Andre Denys and Defence Minister Pieter De Crem were also present.

The royal couple were given a memento and signed the Golden Book.  After a brief visit they were then greeted by the people of Marktstraat.  Later on, Her Majesty Queen Paola visited the Woon- en zorgcampus Begijnewater home and care campus.  The visit ended with a reception at the local sports Meos.

To view photos as well as to read more about the royal visit to Maldegem please click the link:  Nieuwsblad.be

Source and photo courtesy of: Nieuwsblad.be by Belga