The two have been sharing joys and sorrows in Laeken for 24 years!
It has been 24 years since King Philippe and Queen Mathilde tied the knot. Shortly after announcing their engagement in September 1999, the royal couple married in their capital Brussels. In honor of their almost silver wedding, we look back on the big day of the Belgian royals.
Tennis court
In 1996, Filip’s and Mathilde’s crossed paths on the tennis court. The king then managed to keep his sweetheart hidden for no less than three years. In September 1999, he then surprised friend and foe when he introduced Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz to the nation as his fiancée. Speech therapist Mathilde had ‘the sweetest smile’, didn’t wear a nice dress, but casual trousers and toasted the press with tomato juice. Events follow each other in quick succession and a few months later they are married.
The wedding
They married on December 4, 1999 in the St. Michael and St. Gudula Cathedral in Brussels. There they exchanged wedding rings and kissed each other on the cheek: the highlight of a two-hour mass attended by no fewer than 1,200 guests in the renovated medieval church. The video below proves what kind of event this royal wedding actually was, including royal guests who came from far and wide to see the Belgians tie the knot. We see King Charles of Great Britain, but we also spot Emperor Naruhito of Japan. Princess Rahma bint El Hassan of Jordan is also present, as is Queen Sophia of Spain.
What Filip likes so much about his newlywed wife, he later hints during a state visit to Poland: “Thanks to my wife’s Polish roots, I am fortunate to be confronted every day with the mix of charm and determination that you people in this way.” Cute!
Family man
Although King Philip himself had anything but a rosy childhood, he is now proving to be a real family man. Together with his wife Mathilde he has four children: Elisabeth (2001), Gabriël (2003), Emmanuel (2005) and Eléonore (2008). With each child, Filip becomes happier and more confident and from 2013 onwards he has fulfilled the role of king beyond expectations.
In response to the book ‘King’s Issues’ by RTBF journalist Frédéric Deborsu, which suggested that their marriage was arranged and that their children were not processed naturally, Filip said: “The day Mathilde said ‘yes’ was the happiest day of my life. Since that day, our marriage has given us four children, whom we surround with love, love which they give us in abundance.” Happy anniversary, Your Majesties!
Source: Glamial archive, Libelle, Blauw Bloed | Image: NL Image
