On 20 January, Queen Mathilde of Belgium celebrates her 50th birthday. The Queen has chosen to use this milestone birthday to bring attention to an important cause.
Queen Mathilde has taken part in a special television programme highlighting the importance of providing mental health support.
“Mathilde: in the footsteps of a dedicated queen” will be airing on VTM and RTL-TV1 on Friday evening.
Starting in July of 2022, Mathilde completed walks or bike rides across each of the Belgian provinces. When walking, she walked a minimum of 20 kilometres, and when biking, she biked a minimum of kilometres. While she was walking or biking, she would talk with individuals and organisations who are working to provide mental health support in their communities and individuals who are struggling with their own mental health issues. The project was called “Let’s Move Together for Mental Health.”
The television programme was filmed during Queen Mathilde’s visits, and in addition to her discussions with others, she has shared insights into her own life.
In the interview, she shares that she “wanted to use the occasion of my 50th birthday to emphasise this message… After all, can anyone truly say they are not susceptible to mental health challenges?”
She also discusses how she maintains a private life.
Queen Mathilde is married to King Philippe of Belgium; they married in 1999. She was born Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d’Udekem d’Acoz to a Belgian count and a Polish countess and is the first native-born Queen of the Belgians.
Prior to her marriage, she trained as a speech therapist but did not continue to pursue her career after marrying Philippe. Philippe ascended the throne after his father’s abdication in 2013. The couple have four children, Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel, and Eléonore. Princess Elisabeth is the Duchess of Brabant and heir to the Belgian throne.
