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Belgium

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians has to rummage in her handbag for a cough sweet as her husband almost interrupts historic abdication

By
3rd October 2025
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who wears burgundy, arrive with Princess Elisabeth, in blue, for the abdication of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg

Queen Mathilde of the Belgians appeared to come to the rescue of her husband, King Philippe, as he almost interrupted an abdication with a seasonal cold.

As Philippe and Mathilde entered the room in Luxembourg’s Grand Ducal palace to witness the abdication of his cousin, Henri, as ruler of the tiny country, the King of the Belgians began to cough. He took his seat but the cough persisted and that’s when the Queen of the Belgians swung into action.

Mathilde whispered to her husband and then began to rummage in her designer handbag for a remedy.

King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Queen Maxima and King Willem-Alexander at the abdication of Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg
Queen Mathilde rummages in her handbag for a cough sweet as her husband starts to feel unwell

Like every wife and mother who has ever had to intervene in a situation at the last moment, she had to dig deep. But, moments later, the coughing stopped and the abdication went ahead in peace.

The Belgian king and queen had arrived with their eldest daughter, Princess Elisabeth, for the historic ceremony in which Grand Duke Henri brought his 25 year reign to a close with the stroke of a pen.

Just after 10am local time, he sat down at a gilt edged desk and signed the instrument of abdication. In the time it took to write his name, his throne passed from him to his eldest son, Guillaume, who is now the Grand Duke of Luxembourg.

Henri appeared emotional after he signed his abdication. His wife, Maria Teresa, couldn’t contain her pride as she beamed at their son in the moments that his reign started.

The King and Queen of the Netherlands, Willem-Alexander and Maxima, were also present for the abdication as were the Belgian and Dutch heirs, Elisabeth and Amalia.

The Prime Minister of Luxembourg gave a short speech thanking Henri for his quarter of a century of service as Head of State before welcoming Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stephanie.

Crowds gathered outside the palace as the abdication neared with big cheers for King Philippe and Queen Mathilde on their arrival and shouts and claps for the Dutch royals as they made their way along the red carpet.

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About author

Lydia Starbuck is Editor in Chief 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.