The royal speech addressed the major challenges of our time: armed conflict, geopolitical upheaval, climate change and social inequality. In response to questions from the young people, King Philippe urged adults, governments and authorities not to remain indifferent in the face of violations of human rights and international law. He said: « To hope is not to wait passively for a better future. It means making a commitment to build, to move forward together towards a fairer, more respectful world, where every child is welcomed as the most precious of promises. »

Stressing that the ideal of a world without war and suffering remains a noble aspiration despite its utopian nature, the King recalled that collective effort and determination are essential to progress towards this goal. He also paid tribute to the many actors in civil society who, through their work in areas such as health, education, justice and social cohesion, embody this hope and show the way. Their contribution, according to His Majesty, is a source of inspiration for building a future based on unity and solidarity, values that are Belgium’s strength. Finally, the King expressed his optimism for the year ahead, calling for cooperation and responsibility from all Belgian governments to strengthen the confidence of citizens in the future.

In a spirit of renewal and hope, the speech concluded with these warm words: « May this Christmas and New Year period be for each of us a source of inspiration, renewal and hope. » His Majesty King Philippe, the Queen and their entire family sent their Christmas and New Year greetings, once again embodying their role as benevolent and unifying guides for the nation. This message, which is both personal and universal, invites every citizen to participate in building a fairer and more united world, a world of hope for future generations.

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A couple of days ago Prince Gabriel celebrated his 16 birthday.

The Royal Palace has taken the opportunity to share with the public a picture of the Prince on his 16 birthday. They also thanked everyone for the warm birthday wishes.

Merci pour vos vœux d’anniversaire !
Bedankt voor uw verjaardagswensen!
Danke für Ihre Geburtstagswünsche!
Thank you for your birthday wishes! https://t.co/RUC4wdLjUN #BelgianRoyalPalace #MonarchieBe pic.twitter.com/pBn7A2d2c9

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) August 20, 2019

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Even though the palace is not where the royal family resides it remains one of the architectural gems of Brussels.

During the summer opening the public can not only visit the main rooms of the Palace, but also discover several exhibitions under the theme Science and Culture at the Palace.

In collaboration with the Chancellery of the Prime Minister, the ten Federal Scientific Institutions , the National Geographic Institute and the Federal Science Policy offer the Belgian and international public an original vision of art and science, through a surprising discovery of works of art or objects of research from the cultural and scientific heritage federal. This year, the theme of the exhibition is The Moon: Between Dream and Reality.

True to tradition, Technopolis, the Flemish Center for Science and Technology will also be present. This year, he presents The Wonders of Science , an exhibition that focuses on some basic mechanics of physics.

The Royal Dynasty and Cultural Heritage Association, the War Heritage Institute and the King Baudouin Foundation present the exhibition Sovereignty Clothed. Royal uniforms.

The visitor will discover that, far from being a fixed place, the Royal Palace of Brussels is instead a living place that has served and still serves as a setting for a wide range of activities.

Practical information:

– Royal Palace, Palace Square, 1000 Brussels

– Open from Tuesday, July 23 to Sunday, August 25, 2019 from 10:30 to 15:45 (last entries).

– Closed on Mondays

– Free admission

– Security checks will be done at the entrance. It is strongly discouraged to come with a bag (backpack, carrying bag, …)

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He has agreed to submit to a DNA test which was required of him in the paternity case against Delphine Boël.  He was facing a daily fine of 5,000 euros for refusing to submit to the DNA test.

The Brussels Court of Appeal issued their first judgement on October 25, declaring that Delphine Boël is not the biological daughter of Jacques Boël.

Albert’s DNA test will now be compared to Delphine Boël’s to determine whether he is her biological father.

The sample DNA will be kept in a safe at the Erasme Hospital where the test was completed.

It has been reported that « the findings of this expert report will remain strictly confidential until a new court decision. » Everything is suspended until the decision of the court de cassation.

If it is determined that Albert is her father, will Delphine take the title of princess?

The post King Albert II agreed to a DNA test in the paternity case appeared first on Brussels Express.

He has been asked to submit his DNA samples to a forensic expert. If he does not agree, he will have to pay a penalty of 5,000 Euros per day.  The penalty will apply starting from the first day of delay after the date of convening the expert.

Delphine Boël claimed that Jacques Boël was not her father. Albert II was asked to submit to DNA tests in order to establish whether or not he is the father of Delphine Boël on October.  He appealed in court, which is still pending, as he considered this analysis premature.

As soon as the DNA samples are submitted, the expert who was appointed by the Court will carry out comparative DNA analysis of Delphine Boël, her mother Sybille de Selys Longchamp and King Albert II.

Delphine Boël’s lawyer stated:  « This problem of the penalty is for me very secondary. The King challenged the scope of the first decision. Today the Court of Appeal has confirmed this decision. It is unimaginable that a former head of state does not respect the rule of law ».

Meanwhile Alain Berenboom, the lawyer of King Albert II, added that considering that the DNA results will be kept secret pending a decision of the court of appeal, the King could accept this test. He added that the King « was not opposed in principle, but considered it premature ».

« I have not yet been able to consult with him, I will see him on Monday, and I will communicate his answer earlier this week,«   stated Berenboom.

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The greenhouse complex was designed in the second half of the 19th century by architect Alphonse Balat at the request of Leopold II.

Outside the greenhouses, the public can visit Queen Elizabeth’s studio. The public will also be able to discover the recently restored Neptunus fountain. It is located a few hundred meters from the greenhouses.

The entrance is through the gates of honor of the Château de Laeken, avenue du Parc Royal. The entrance fee is set at 2.5 euros per person (free for children under 18). « The money collected will be entirely devoted to the Queen’s Works, restoration operations and the acquisition of works of art from the Royal Collection », explained the Royal Palace.

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Korea and Belgium have a long history of friendship, and enjoy strong political and economic, but also academic and cultural ties. It is the second state visit of Belgium to Korea. The last one dates back to 1992, when King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola visited the country. Two years after the Belgian Economic Mission with Princess Astrid, this visit offers an excellent opportunity to further strengthen those ties and continue the great cooperation between our countries. During four days the visit will allow for political contacts at the highest level, knowledge sharing and the promotion of further economic, academic and cultural cooperation.

Some highlights of the visit

– Summit Talks with the President of the Republic of Korea, Moon Jae-in at the “Blue House”
Commemoration ceremonies at the National Cemetery and the War Memorial of Korea.
– Meeting with Speaker Moon Hee-Sang and opening of an exhibition with diplomatic archives on Belgium-Korea relations at the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea.
– Ceremony at the City Hall where King Filip will be offered the honorary citizenship of the City of Seoul.
– Investment and trade promotion events on life science & healthcare, smart cities, digital media, the 4th industrial revolution and other subjects.
– Multiple cultural, academic and social activities, with a focus on sustainability, social entrepreneurship, innovation and… taekwondo!

I/ Political Ties – A long lasting friendship

Korea and Belgium first established diplomatic relations in 1901. Suspended for a few decades during the Japanese occupation, relations resumed when Belgium was one of the first nations to recognize the South Korean government after its establishment in 1948. The political ties between our two countries are built upon our shared values of peace, democracy, freedom, human rights and international cooperation.

From 1951 to 1953, Belgium participated in the Korean War within the United Nations Command, with 3,171 volunteers, with more than 100 casualties and almost 500 injured. During the state visit, Their Majesties will pay tribute to all patriots and martyrs fallen during the Korean War at the National Cemetery and at the War Memorial of Korea.

Our two nations maintain a true and long-lasting friendship. During the state visit, an exhibition of some of the most important archives in the diplomatic relations between both countries will be on display at the National Assembly.

Belgium supports the current inter-Korean peace dialogue and congratulates President Moon for his efforts to reduce the tension on the Korean peninsula. However, this does not mean that the EU or Belgium, as a member of the Security Council, favors sanctions relief at the moment. Unfortunately, the DPRK has not taken any real steps yet towards comprehensive, irreversible and internationally verified denuclearization so far.

II/ Economic ties – Strong trade partners

Apart from high level official exchanges, another objective of the state visit is to introduce our companies to the innovative Korean market, to strengthen existing ties and explore new economic opportunities. According to the latest trade statistics, South Korea is the 35th most important export market for Belgium, with 1.6 billion euro of exports. It is also the 25th supplier of Belgium with 2.5 billion euro of imports. The main export goods from Belgium to South Korea are: chemicals, plastics, machines and transport equipment, and food products. Imports from South Korea to Belgium consist mainly of transport equipment, base metals, machines and plastics.

Also on the investment front our ties are strong, with several important Belgian investments in Korea. Solvay has been in Korea for nearly 45 years and is the biggest Belgian investor with more than 500 employees. Another big investor is Umicore that has a battery factory and an R&D-center in Cheonan. In 2014, ABInBev purchased the Korean brewer Oriental Brewery and also many other Belgian companies are active in Korea.

Major Korean companies (Hyundai, Samsung, KIA, Doosan and many more) have also invested significantly in Belgium. Mobis Parts Europe distributes original parts of Hyundai and Kia Motors from Belgium to the rest of Europe. Hyundai Heavy Industries Construction Equipment and LG their European and Benelux headquarters in Belgium. Furthermore, Kangstem Biotech conquers the European market with cell therapy products from its Belgian production unit and several Korean companies have opened a representative office in Brussels or made large property investments in Brussels.

Technological innovation is one of the key aspects for the future cooperation between Belgian and Korean companies. The three Regional Governments (Flanders, Wallonia and Brussels), together with some key partners, will organise several investment and trade promotion activities in innovative sectors such as life sciences and healthcare, smart cities, digital media and the 4th industrial revolution.

III/ Academic, cultural and people-to-people exchanges

Both our countries are known for their excellent universities and innovative research institutes. More and more Belgian students find their way to Korean universities through exchange programs. Belgian institutions are, in turn, increasingly interested in attracting Korean students and researchers to Belgium. The Belgian Embassy in Seoul receives approximately 150 applications for student visas each year. In 2014, Ghent University Global Campus (GUGC), the first European campus in Korea, started with three bachelors in Life Sciences.

The academic delegation that is accompanying Their Majesties the King and the Queen on their state visit, will have the opportunity to meet with their Korean partner universities during a top-level academic breakfast. Furthermore, they will attend a joint Korean-Belgian conference on artificial intelligence in the health sector, organised on the campus of the Seoul National University.

Their Majesties also reserved ample time for culture. Cultural exchanges between Korea and Belgium are very frequent in all kinds of artistic fields. In terms of classical music the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition in Brussels is considered as one of the most prestigious competitions for classical music worldwide. Her Majesty the Queen, who is honorary president of this yearly competition, will visit the Korea National University of Arts, who has many alumni who performed exceptionally well with most recently soprano Sumi Hwang and violinist Ji Young Lim winning first place in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

Throughout their visit, Their Majesties will, on several occasions, pay tribute to the rich cultural history of Korea. On the first day they will visit the Furniture Museum, where they will take part in a traditional Korean tea ceremony. Later on in the visit the King will attend a unique taekwondo demonstration at Kukkiwon, the World Taekwondo Headquarters.
At the end of the state visit, Their Majesties will officially open the Belgian Life Festival, where, during three days, Koreans can get a taste of Belgium: diamonds, beers, meat and concerts of Belgian artists.

The Belgian community in South Korea is estimated around 400-500 people. The vast majority of Belgians live in Seoul and the Gyeonggi province. During their visit, Their Majesties will meet several Belgian residents in Korea. One of them is Marie-Hélène Brasseur who works as a doctor in the Jeon Jin Sang Clinic in Seoul where, together with her team, she has founded one of the very first palliative care units in the whole of Korea.

IV/ Common Global Challenges

His Majesty the King has always shown a particular interest in inclusive growth. Therefore, during the state visit he will pay specific attention to social and innovative entrepreneurship. He will lead the discussion between Korean and Belgian start-ups and change-makers at the premises of Root Impact.

As an Advocate of the UN sustainable development goals (SDG’s), Her Majesty the Queen will meet former Secretary-General of the UN, Ban Ki-moon and policy-makers to learn more about Korea’s efforts to promote the SDGs. She will visit the smart city of Songdo and discuss climate change with Korean youth ambassadors of UNICEF.

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Since its independence in 1830, the Kingdom of Belgium has only had queen consorts or women married to the sovereign king. No woman has ever commanded the Belgian monarchy.

Under old Belgian laws, only men were allowed to sit on the throne. As such, the queen consort was expected to bear the king a son who would inherit the crown.

It was only in 1991 that the Belgian constitution abolished this inherent discrimination against female first-borns of the monarchy. Under the adopted system of absolute primogeniture, first-borns now have a right to the throne regardless of gender.

Today, the next in line to the Belgian throne is Princess Elisabeth, first child of the incumbent King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. When the day comes, she will become the first female monarch of Belgium. But until then, let’s not forget the seven Queens of Belgium who laid out the path for her.

1.     Louise of Orleans

Louise-Marie Thérèse Charlotte Isabelle was meticulously chosen to be the first Queen of the Belgians for two political reasons.

One, she was the daughter of Louis-Philippe I, King of the French. The newly-established Kingdom of Belgium needed the support of France to bolster its legitimacy.

Two, she was a Roman Catholic. Since the first chosen King of the Belgians was a German Protestant, a Catholic queen was necessary to ensure the support of Belgium’s predominantly Catholic population.

In 1832, Louise of Orleans married King Leopold I who was 22 years older than her. It was a marriage she described as “a painful sacrifice.”

Nevertheless, the young queen would eventually come to admire the king whom she described as “a kind man with strong and endearing qualities that alone could satisfy my heart.”

Queen Louise was a dutiful queen and wife. She was an active and influential intermediary between Belgium and France. She bore the king four children, including Leopold II who became the next King of the Belgians. And she remained devoted to a husband who was, by many accounts, unaccustomed to fidelity.

Most of all, Queen Louise was much loved for her charitable and compassionate nature. She paid regular visits to the poor and offered them relief and financial support. Her benevolent pursuits set an example of royal charity for the succeeding queens of Belgium.

2.      Marie Henriette of Austria

At the young age of 16, Marie Henriette entered into an arranged marriage with the 18-year old Prince Leopold II in 1853.

Just like Queen Louise, she was chosen because she was a Roman Catholic from a prestigious family, the Habsburg dynasty of Austria.

The marriage was problematic right from the start. As the story goes, Leopold II was sick on the day of the wedding so a stand-in groom had to take his place at the altar.

The royal couple proved to be hopelessly incompatible. The princess was a lively and adventurous woman who enjoyed horseback-riding while the prince was grim and distant.

By the time Leopold II ascended to the throne in 1865, the couple already had two children, a daughter and a son. But in 1869, the 10-year-old Prince Leopold Ferdinand died of pneumonia.

The king and the queen tried to have another child in the hope of producing an heir to the throne. But after the birth of another daughter in 1872, the couple gave up and their marriage fell apart.

In 1895, Queen Marie Henriette retreated to her private estate in Spa where she tended to her collection of Hungarian horses. She also pursued charitable causes and promoted music and the arts until her death in 1902.

3.     Elisabeth of Bavaria

“Behind every great man is a great woman.” But in this case, Elisabeth of Bavaria was the great woman beside the great Albert I. Together, they were one of the most highly-esteemed royal couples of their time.

In 1900, Duchess Elisabeth of Bavaria married Prince Albert I, nephew of King Leopold II. She became Queen of the Belgians in 1909 when her husband ascended to the throne.

The royal couple changed the face of the Belgian monarchy.  Unlike their predecessors, they were happily married and equally passionate about serving their people.

Thanks to Queen Elisabeth, the reputation of the scandal-ridden monarchy greatly improved. Through charitable, cultural, and social activities, she restored dignity to the royal court.

When World War I broke out in 1914, the queen worked as a nurse on the front and established a hospital for wounded soldiers and civilians while the king led the war effort against the Germans. They were both hailed as heroes of the war.

After the war, Queen Elisabeth continued supporting many charities and social welfare organizations. She also encouraged developments in the fields of science, the arts, and music. She herself was a talented violinist.

Together with the king, she advanced efforts to improve and modernize the Congo, which became a Belgian colony under the reign of Leopold II. The city of Elisabethville in Lubumbashi was named in her honor.

After King Albert I died in a mountain climbing accident in 1934, the queen withdrew from public life but remained devoted to her causes.

She also travelled to other parts of the world. The queen’s controversial visits to the former Soviet Union and China earned her the label, Red Queen.

Queen Elisabeth lived to the ripe old age of 89 and passed away in 1965. Until today. her legacy is remembered through the yearly Concours Reine Elisabeth, an international classical music competition held in Brussels every spring.

4.     Astrid of Sweden

The fourth Queen of Belgium was greatly admired for her beauty. elegance, and endearing character.

Her marriage to Leopold III, son of King Albert I and Queen Elisabeth, is often described as one born of pure love and no political consideration. They were a fairy tale a couple.

According to the story, it was a classic case of love at first sight when Prince Leopold III and Princess Astrid met in 1926 at a ball in Amalienborg, Denmark.

They were married in the same year and became the King and Queen of the Belgians in 1934. The royal couple had three children, including future kings Baudouin and Albert II.

Queen Astrid was a champion of disadvantaged women and children. She sponsored programs for maternal and child welfare. She visited nurseries and poor settlements in Belgium.

When an economic crisis hit Belgium in 1935, Queen Astrid launched a nationwide relief campaign that yielded an outpouring of donations for the poor. Her sudden death soon after brought immense sorrow to the Belgians.

The queen died in a car accident while on vacation with King Leopold III in Switzerland. After only two years of reigning, Queen Astrid left the world at the young age of 30.

5.      Fabiola of Spain

If Queen Elisabeth was the Red Queen of Belgium, Fabiola de Mora y Aragón was called the White Queen for her habitual white outfits.

After marrying King Baudouin in 1960, one of the first things Queen Fabiola did was to sell all her wedding gifts and create a mutual assistance fund called Oeuvres de la Reine or the Queen’s Charities.

The queen initiated several projects providing assistance to women and children, and promoting the integration of mentally-handicapped people.

After five unsuccessful pregnancies, the royal couple remained childless until the death of King Baudouin in 1993. He was succeeded by his brother, Albert II.

Queen Fabiola continued sponsoring assistance programs through the Queen’s Charities. In 2001, she received the Ceres medal from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization for extending aid to poor women in developing countries.

Before her death in 2014, Queen Fabiola bequeathed all her private assets to the mutual assistance fund she built during her early days as Queen of the Belgians.

6.     Paola Ruffo of Calabria

Meet the mother of King Philippe, current monarch of Belgium.

The Italian Princess Paola Ruffo di Calabria married Albert II in 1959, and became the sixth Queen of the Belgians in 1993.

In 1992, she launched the Queen Paola Foundation to support integration and education programs for the socially-disadvantaged youth.

Aside from her foundation’s activities, the queen is also invested in the protection and preservation of Belgium’s heritage, and the advancement of the local artisanal industry.

A patron of the arts, Queen Paola paved the way for local contemporary artists to display their works in the halls of the royal palace.

The 81-year-old queen has become less active after suffering a stroke last year. But according to the royal family’s website, she still enjoys collecting art, going on nature walks with Albert II, and spending time with her grandchildren.

7.     Mathilde of Belgium

At last, Belgium has a queen who is actually Belgian.

Her Majesty Queen Mathilde was born in Uccle into the D’Udekem family belonging to the nobility of Belgium. She married into the Belgian monarchy in 1999 and became Queen of the Belgians in 2013 when King Albert II handed the crown to his son, Philippe. 

Since her wedding day, the indefatigable and hyperactive Queen Mathilde has been dedicated to numerous development projects in areas concerning children’s rights, empowerment of women, health, education, and good governance.

Aside from mobilizing the Queen’s Charities, she is an Honorary President of several organizations including UNICEF Belgium, the Breast International Group which supports breast cancer research, and the Child Focus Foundation.

In 2016, Queen Mathilde became an ambassador for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She also received the Honorary National German Sustainability Award in 2017.

But aside from her humanitarian activities, Queen Mathilde is also into art, music, dance, and sports. She is a pianist, a cyclist, a swimmer, and a tennis player.

The post International Women’s Day: Hail to the 7 Queens of Belgium appeared first on Brussels Express.

Belgium has celebrated the Royal Holiday (Fête du Roi) ever since November 15th, 1866, when Leopold II decreed it a special day. Nowadays the Royal Holiday is not a bank holiday but most government offices are closed on the day.

It’s the name day of Leopold (in the Germanic calendar) and Albert (in the general calendar).

It is also known as ‘Dynasty Day’ or the ‘Feast of the Dynasty’. The name Feast of the Dynasty (Fête de la Dynastie) was used during the regency of Prince Charles. This name was erroneous, however, as noted in a letter from the Minister of the Interior in 1953.

Background History

The holiday was celebrated for the first time in honor of King Leopold I (1790-186), who was the first monarch of Belgium.

King Leopold I was named after St. Leopold, whose name day is celebrated on this day in the German liturgical calendar.

Since 2001, the Belgian Federal Parliament holds a ceremony in honor of the King, in the presence of members of the Belgian Royal Family and other dignitaries. It is recognized as the official birthday of the King.

Fun fact

In Belgium the King and the Queen do not actually attend the King’s Feast, as the custom is that they should not be seen to celebrate themselves. Other members of the royal family will attend instead.

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