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 NGOs.
Queen Paola was instrumental in helping set up the organisation and became Honorary Chair of the Committee in January 2014. The queen has long been committed to work against child abuse and exploitation and also played a leading role in the organisation, Child Focus.
In a statement announcing the change, the Royal Palace underlined the importance the role had to Queen Paola.
It’s also been confirmed in recent weeks that Queen Paola’s other daughter-in-law, Princess Claire, will play a bigger role in the work of the Queen Paola Foundation that helps vulnerable children.
Queen Paola is now 85 and broke her arm earlier this year in a fall. She had another fall in the autumn of 2022 but sustained no injuries.
