Belgium’s Queen Paola is passing on one
of her most important roles to her daughter in law. Queen Mathilde
of the Belgians will take over as Honorary Chair of the Protection
Committee of Missing Children Europe on January 1st 2023. Missing
Children Europe is the European Federation for missing and sexually
exploited children in Europe. It involves 27 countries and
represents 32…
YEAR IN REVIEW: Belgium's 2022 gives the country hope for the future
28th December 2022
Belgium’s royal year was filled with joy,
grief, and historic firsts. 2022 was opened with the death of
Prince Lorenz’s mother, Princess Margherita of Savoy-Aosta,
Archduchess of Austria-Este, aged 91, on 10 January. Princess
Astrid’s mother-in-law was laid to…
King Philippe of Belgium condemns 'cruel and senseless' war in Ukraine in his annual Christmas Even broadcast
24th December 2022
The King of the Belgians has used his
annual Christmas Eve speech to condemn the ‘cruel and senseless’
war in Ukraine, as the conflict is set to carry on into 2023. In
his address to the nation, His Majesty said that the people of
Ukraine are fighting for…
The Belgian Royal Palace has unveiled a
new family photo for Christmas. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
are pictured with their four children in an image taken by Royal
Palace photographer Bas Bogaerts. The family’s two dogs, Jeep – a
white Westie – and Simba, also feature in this year’s photograph.
The photograph of Their Majesties, Princess Elisabeth, 21, Prince…
The historic background of the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels - setting for many royal weddings
29th November 2022
In September, Princess Maria Laura of
Belgium married William Isvy at the historic Cathedral of St.
Michael and St. Gudula in Brussels, with the whole Belgian Royal
Family in attendance. It was just the latest royal wedding in
Belgium to be held in the famous venue. The…
The Belgian Royal Palace has denied
reports that someone broke into a royal apartment in France. The
French newspaper Le Parisien reported that Queen Paola’s apartment
in Paris was burglarised and “several millions of euros worth of
jewellery and leather goods” were taken. The paper said the
break-in was in Parc Monceau, a wealthy area of the French capital.
The…
Like many modern-day monarchic countries,
the role of the sovereign in Belgium is largely ceremonial today.
The King does not have political powers in that he doesn’t get to
decide which laws get discussed in Parliament nor which issues are
put at the forefront of…
A Belgian princess has thrown her support
behind oil protestors who throw materials on paintings in the name
of activism, calling it “civil disobedience” in a new interview.
Princess Esméralda, the half-aunt of King Philippe, spoke about
last month’s Just No Oil…
King Philippe of the Belgians held an
audience with a very special guest at Laeken Castle on Wednesday,
19 October. The guest in question is 100-year-old Andrée
Damon, who celebrated her milestone birthday on 5 September.
However, it is not her age that makes her so special. She is one of
Belgium’s last remaining World War II veterans; she took part in
the combat operations as a…