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Belgium

Belgium’s past, present and future rulers show support for country’s economy

The King of the Belgians has been pictured with his predecessor and his heir as the country’s royal family continued their very public support for local tourism. King Philippe, King Albert II and Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant were photographed together as Belgium’s royals visited a popular spot to encourage others to holiday at home.

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The family were in the Belgian Ardennes region on June 28th 2020 where they spent time at the Giant’s Tomb, famous for its panoramic views. It was the first public appearance in months for King Albert and his wife, Queen Paola, who are both now in their eighties. They joined King Philippe, his wife, Queen Mathilde, and their four children for a sight seeing visit to help put the focus on the Belgian tourist industry.

Philippe and Mathilde, along with their children, also enjoyed a hike through the area’s famous scenery. Elisabeth, 18, was joined by younger brothers, Prince Gabriel, 16, and Prince Emmanuel, 14, as well as sister, Princess Eleonore, 12, on the walk which took the family through the countryside surrounding the Semois river.

It’s the second day in a row that King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have shown support for tourism in Belgium. On June 27th 2020, they went on a bike ride with their children through the Limbourg region and asked everyone to make the most of local holiday spots as summer gets under way.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.