Prince Philippe and Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz made a surprising announcement in September 1999: they had been in a secret relationship and were now engaged to be married. Mathilde, a member of the Belgian nobility, would eventually become the first Belgian-born Queen of the Belgians.
[getty src=”52113189″ width=”594″ height=”415″ tld=”ca”] [getty src=”52112693″ width=”594″ height=”369″ tld=”ca”]The couple married on 4 December 1999 in two ceremonies – a civil ceremony at Brussels Town Hall and a religious ceremony at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula.
[getty src=”662244″ width=”422″ height=”354″ tld=”ca”]After their marriage, the couple began representing Belgium on the international stage.
[getty src=”542259696″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”ca”]The couple in Lier, 2000.
[getty src=”51504680″ width=”594″ height=”390″ tld=”ca”]The couple is pictured here in Rockerfeller Plaza on an economic mission to New York in 2000.
[getty src=”799274″ width=”221″ height=”354″ tld=”ca”]Here, they’re pictured attending the accession ceremonies for Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg in 2001.
[getty src=”110162340″ width=”594″ height=”404″ tld=”ca”]At the Wat Phrakeo in Bangkok, Thailand, in February 2001.
[getty src=”992579″ width=”594″ height=”342″ tld=”ca”]The couple attended Wimbledon in July 2001.
[getty src=”173830451″ width=”594″ height=”399″ tld=”ca”] [getty src=”1694370″ width=”471″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]On 25 October 2001, the couple welcomed their first child. Princess Elisabeth, who recently turned 18, is the heir to the Belgian throne following a law that changed the line of succession to the Belgian throne.
[getty src=”113942075″ width=”397″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]The couple attended the wedding of Prince Willem-Alexander and Máxima Zorreguieta on 2 February 2002 in Amsterdam.
[getty src=”1129946″ width=”594″ height=”390″ tld=”ca”]On a visit to Durbuy, Belgium in July 2002.
[getty src=”173830476″ width=”594″ height=”387″ tld=”ca”]Biking through Brussels on European Car Free Day in September 2002.
[getty src=”1762022″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”ca”]Leaving the Goldene Kamera Film Awards in Berlin in February 2003.
[getty src=”1926556″ width=”594″ height=”483″ tld=”ca”]The couple attends the April wedding of Prince Laurent to Claire Coombs in Brussels.
[getty src=”2179322″ width=”544″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]In July 2003, the Belgian Royal Family attended a garden party to mark King Albert II’s first ten years on the throne.
[getty src=”2418447″ width=”384″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]Their second child, Prince Gabriel was born on 20 August 2003.
[getty src=”459096383″ width=”594″ height=”412″ tld=”ca”]The couple visited Oman in early 2004.
[getty src=”115140943″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”ca”]On 14 May 2004, they visited Copenhagen to attend the wedding of Crown Prince Frederik and Mary Donaldson.
[getty src=”158082042″ width=”335″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]A few days later, on 22 May, they visited Madrid for the wedding of Prince Felipe to Letizia Ortiz.
[getty src=”51031261″ width=”594″ height=”393″ tld=”ca”]Posing for a photo in La Roche, July 2004.
[getty src=”533608226″ width=”594″ height=”395″ tld=”ca”]The couple attended a gala dinner for the President of Poland’s visit to Brussels in October 2004.
[getty src=”51789054″ width=”594″ height=”407″ tld=”ca”]On an economic mission to China, pictured here in Shanghai, in November 2004.
[getty src=”51870684″ width=”594″ height=”416″ tld=”ca”]Attending a Christmas concert, 16 December 2004.
[getty src=”52120258″ width=”370″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]In February 2005, the President of Greece paid a State Visit to Belgium. Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde attended the gala dinner.
[getty src=”52157981″ width=”594″ height=”481″ tld=”ca”]Watching a Mardi Gras parade in Binche, Belgium, 2005.
[getty src=”53266287″ width=”594″ height=”507″ tld=”ca”]Attending National Day celebrations in July 2005.
[getty src=”55888113″ width=”437″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]Their third child, Prince Emmanuel, was born on 4 October 2005.
In June 2006, the couple attended 60th anniversary commemorations for the King of Thailand’s accession to the throne.
[getty src=”73093121″ width=”594″ height=”491″ tld=”ca”]The couple are pictured at a reception at the Royal Palace of Brussels in January 2007 to receive local dignitaries.
[getty src=”75433686″ width=”594″ height=”431″ tld=”ca”]Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde with their children on a stroll through Dochamps, Belgium, in 2007.
[getty src=”75585024″ width=”594″ height=”440″ tld=”ca”]Celebrating National Day in 2007.
[getty src=”78598163″ width=”594″ height=”442″ tld=”ca”]When they attended the Christmas concert at the Royal Palace in December 2007, Princess Mathilde was expecting their fourth child.
[getty src=”80743354″ width=”594″ height=”395″ tld=”ca”]Princess Eléonore was born on 16 April 2008.
[getty src=”90187054″ width=”594″ height=”414″ tld=”ca”]In August 2009, the Belgian Royal Family celebrated the anniversaries of several marriages. Though their anniversary wasn’t until December, Philippe and Mathilde joined in to celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary.
[getty src=”102223006″ width=”418″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]On 19 June 2010, the couple attended the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria to Daniel Westling in Stockholm.
[getty src=”118497322″ width=”594″ height=”446″ tld=”ca”]A family photo in Hainault, 2011.
[getty src=”113272071″ width=”378″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]The couple attended the wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton on 29 April 2011 in London.
[getty src=”117116018″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”ca”]On 22 June 2011, the couple visited New York City and posed for this picture in Central Park.
[getty src=”132398798″ width=”412″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]They attended the wedding ceremony of Prince Albert and Charlene Wittstock in Monaco on 2 July 2011.
[getty src=”139771878″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”ca”]A lovely pose at a Verbier photocall in January 2012.
[getty src=”154431184″ width=”396″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]On 19 October 2012, they attended the wedding of Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Stéphanie de Lannoy in Luxembourg.
[getty src=”167806474″ width=”594″ height=”395″ tld=”ca”]At the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima in 2013. A few months later, King Albert would abdicate in favour of his son.
[getty src=”174103609″ width=”594″ height=”395″ tld=”ca”]The soon-to-be King of the Belgians and his consort attended a concert on 20 July 2013 for the abdication of Albert II and the inauguration of King Philippe.
[getty src=”174157787″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”ca”]King Philippe and Queen Mathilde appear on the balcony for the first time as monarch and consort on 21 July 2013.
[getty src=”179686314″ width=”594″ height=”416″ tld=”ca”]King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visit Leuven on 6 September.
[getty src=”487315099″ width=”526″ height=”594″ tld=”ca”]An April 2014 visit to Stockholm.
[getty src=”501610910″ width=”594″ height=”395″ tld=”ca”]The Belgian Royal Family poses for a family photo following the Christmas concert at the Royal Palace in December 2015.
[getty src=”631958688″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”ca”]King Philippe and Queen Mathilde frequently attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. They’re pictured here in Davos in 2017.
[getty src=”1177995711″ width=”594″ height=”396″ tld=”ca”]On 25 October 2019, their daughter, Princess Elisabeth, celebrated her 18th birthday with a speech and a special event at the Royal Palace. Here, her proud parents look on as she gives her first speech.
On 4 December 2019, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde marked their 20th wedding anniversary. The Belgian Royal Family YouTube account posted an interview with the couple to celebrate.
