The Belgian Royal Palace has released two new photographs of Queen Mathilde as she marks her 50th birthday today.
The images were taken by Michel Gronemberger at the Palace of Laeken, and the second photograph features on BPost’s stamp for Her Majesty’s birthday.
The first image sees the Queen in an all-white ensemble standing in the doorway of the palace, while the second photograph shows the famous Laeken greenhouses in the background.
Queen Mathilde was born as Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d’Udekem d’Acoz in Uccle, Belgium, to Count Patrick and Countess Anna Maria d’Udekem d’Acoz.
She is Belgium’s first Belgian-born Queen consort.
Mathilde married Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant, in December 1999; upon her marriage, she became Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant.
Together, the couple has four children: Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant (b. 2001), Prince Gabriel (b. 2003), Prince Emmanuel (b. 2005) and Princess Eléonore (b. 2008).
Philippe became King of the Belgians upon the abdication of his father, King Albert, in July 2013, and Mathilde became Queen Mathilde of the Belgians. She has continued to focus on children and mental health during her time as Queen consort.
The Queen even chose to focus on the importance of mental health in the 50th birthday special and interview she gave to Belgian television ahead of her special day. “Mathilde: in the footsteps of a dedicated queen” will air on VTM and RTL-TV1 this evening.
