Monday, 25 January 2016

Mathilde's marvellous week

She already had plenty to celebrate as she marked her 43rd birthday in the week. But the past seven days have been pretty special all round for Queen Mathilde of the Belgians. She took on a new role with the UN, enjoyed a high profile at the World Economic Forum in Davos and then ended up centre stage at a concert marking the Dutch Presidency of the EU in Brussels. Mathilde has had a marvellous week.


The photo tweeted by the Belgian royals with a thank you message from Queen Mathilde for her birthday wishes

It all began with an invitation from Ban Ki-Moon, Secretary General of the United Nations, to join the Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group which was officially launched at the World Economic Forum. The group of fifteen people will help the UN work towards realising the objectives on sustainable development it adopted in September 2015. Queen Mathilde accepted the invitation and will now sit on the group alongside Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and pop star, Shakira.





The Belgian queen arrived in Davos mid week for a series of events at the forum which this year took as its focus 'mastering the fourth industrial revolution'. On her arrival, she attended the 22nd annual Crystal Awards at the opening of the WEF and the following day was photographed at a session about humanitarian issues.





Alongside her husband, King Philippe, she hosted the Belgian Power Breakfast at the Forum before the royal couple met Ban Ki-Moon. And, on the same day, Queen Mathilde attended her first meeting of the Advocacy Group.




Her eventful time at Davos was quickly followed by a high profile appearance in Brussels on Friday when she and Philippe welcomed King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to the Palais des Beaux-Arts for a concert marking the start of the Dutch Presidency of the EU.  And her choice of outfit for that event confirmed another success of the week - Mathilde has hit a high fashion moment from a particularly chic blouse and skirt combo at Davos to a grey coat that wowed to this glamourous cocktail frock.




In between all that, she celebrated her birthday - Mathilde Marie Christiane Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz was born on January 20th 1973 in Uccle and married Philippe, then heir to the Belgian throne, on December 4th 1999 in Brussels. On his accession to his country's throne on July 21st 2013, she became the first ever Queen of the Belgians to be born in Belgium.



An official portrait of Mathilde, Queen of the Belgians

As a princess and consort she has been hugely popular and now she can add another successful seven days to that. It's been a marvellous week for Mathilde.

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