Europe's newest and longest serving monarchs

He is the newest king in Europe while she is the longest serving queen on the continent. Today King Philippe of the Belgians and Elizabeth II met at Buckingham Palace as part of the new monarch's tour of Europe.

Philippe of the Belgians meets Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace

And on one of the sunniest days in London so far this year, the royals on show lived life in black and white.  Elizabeth II was perfectly in tune with her guests, choosing a white dress with customary black handbag which matched Mathilde's black and white two piece with matching accessories to a tee - for tea.  The Belgians royals have also been at the Houses of Parliament as part of their trip where they were greeted by officials in traditional dress which just happened to be black and white.

Philippe and Mathilde of the Belgians at the Houses of Parliament on their one day visit to London

Two centuries ago, Philippe's great, great, great grandfather, Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld, came to England to marry the girl who many thought would be queen - Princess Charlotte of Wales.  Her death in childbirth in 1817 led to a crisis which resulted in her uncle, Edward, marrying Leopold's widowed sister - their daughter, Victoria, did become queen.  Leopold, meanwhile, was asked to become king of the Belgians and today his descendant met the great, great granddaughter of Victoria for tea at Buckingham Palace.  The new king and the long serving queen have a shared destiny as monarchs and a shared history through the House of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld.