Ah, the royal couple of Belgium, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, have just wrapped up their state visit to France with the grace of a ballet dancer—if, of course, the dancer were carrying a crown and had a penchant for officially awarding city medals. Did you catch that? Two days in Paris, a scenic detour through Lille, and an exhibition inauguration at Château de Chantilly. Clearly, they took the ‘high-speed’ train quite literally—this is no leisurely trip to the local boulangerie!
Now, let’s set the scene. Paris, the city of lights, romance, and… well, ego! The couple arrived via Eurostar, which for those who don’t know, is just code for “let’s avoid traffic and get to the croissants faster!” After two days rubbing shoulders with all things Parisian, off they go to Lille. “Why Lille?” you might ask. It’s like Brussels just said, “Hey, that city up north could use a bit of royal flair!” Plus, they wanted to highlight the ‘synergies’ between Belgium and Hauts-de-France. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Synergies are basically what happens when you realize you both like the same type of cheese.
An Exquisite Welcome in Lille
Upon their arrival in Lille, they were greeted by the ever-charming Mayor Martine Aubry. I bet she had a prepared speech that would put even the best TED Talks to shame! Imagine 230,000 locals showing up to see the suave Belgian royals—there might’ve even been a few shouts of “Philippe! Mathilde! Be my Instagram story!” It sounds like a royal crowd-surfing event. Talk about making a lasting impression!
To make things even more exciting, let’s not forget the cultural gems showcased during their visit—a splendid meal, a chat about shared history, and an award ceremony at the Lille Opera House. The Mayor bestowed upon King Philippe the coveted city medal. Yes, that’s right, a medal! Take that Olympics, this is the real prize! The King gave a heartfelt speech about the region’s rich industrial history, coal, and waterways. I mean, who doesn’t want to hear about waterways at a royal gathering? Talk about keeping the crowd riveted!
Reflections on a Well-Executed Royal Visit
In a world where royals often measure success by extravagant parties and diamond tiaras, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have taken a more heartfelt approach. By championing the cultural, economic, and historical ties between Belgium and France, particularly in the north, they’ve done more than just show up in style. They’ve cemented relationships—like a good cementing mortar, ensuring that both Belgium and Hauts-de-France can stand strong together!
And finally, as they concluded their visit with a state dinner at the Élysée, it’s safe to assume that the Belgian cuisine played stage to French culinary prowess. And you know what they say: when in France, always remember to raise your glass and make a toast. If the potential of a Euro-Union toast was ever in question, Queen Mathilde’s brilliant charm at the Centre Pompidou just might snuff that out—leaving everyone saying, “I’ll take two of whatever she’s having!”
So, here’s to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde—a duo who’ve championed not just royal applause but have shown that diplomacy can blend seamlessly with the charm of a well-timed joke or a heartfelt speech. Bravo! Now, let’s all just try to keep up with their very regal pace, shall we?
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium concluded their state visit to France this Wednesday. After two days in Paris, the Belgian king and queen made a detour to Lille before heading to Brussels. The visit to the capital of Flanders aimed to highlight the synergies between Belgium and Hauts-de-France.
Read also: King Philippe at the Chantilly castle of his ancestors to honor the first queen of the Belgians
End of the state visit of Belgian sovereigns to France
King Philippe, 64, and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, 51, arrived by Eurostar in Paris on Monday. After spending two days in the capital, the sovereigns headed north this Wednesday, October 16, 2024. On the way, Philippe and Mathilde of Belgium stopped for a few hours at the Château de Chantilly to inaugurate an exhibition dedicated to the first queen. Belgians. The royal couple arrived in Lille early in the afternoon.
Read also: The second day of the state visit of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde made a neighborhood visit, welcomed to this city which has 230,000 inhabitants by the mayor of its commune, Martine Aubry. The European Metropolis of Lille (MEL) exceeds one million inhabitants and the metropolitan area of Lille (AML), which also brings together Belgian cities influenced by Lille, has more than 3.2 million inhabitants.
Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, the mayor of Lille Martine Aubry, the Minister of Housing Valérie Létard and the prefect of Hauts-de-France, Bertrand Gaume, before the lunch offered by the town hall of Lille (Photo: ABACAPRESS.COM)
Read also: Queen Mathilde brilliant at the Center Pompidou with King Philippe and Prince Eudes of Orléans
Crowd bath and city medal for King Philippe in Lille
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde enjoyed an exceptional crowd, with Lille residents flocking to the city to see the royal couple. Martine Aubry guided her guests, accompanied by the Minister of Housing, to show them some historic and emblematic buildings in her city. This visit was also symbolic for the King of the Belgians and echoed the visit made by his father in 2003. The last state visit of a King of the Belgians to France was the one that his father, King Albert II, made more than twenty years ago, at the invitation of President Jacques Chirac. King Albert II and his wife, Queen Paola, concluded their state visit by visiting Lille.
King Philippe gives a speech of thanks after receiving the city medal (Photo: ABACAPRESS.COM)
Read also: King Philippe and Queen Mathilde invited to a state dinner at the Élysée by Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron
During these few hours spent in Lille, it was a question of honoring the cultural, economic and historical proximity between Belgium and France, and in particular the north of the country. Gastronomy, traditions and even some common linguistic aspects were highlighted during the visit.
At the Lille opera house, a ceremony was organized in honor of this visit. Mayor Martine Aubry awarded the city medal to King Philippe. The new honorary citizen gave a speech of thanks, in which he recalled the history of this large region of Flanders which also includes part of Belgium. King Philip spoke of the coal and waterways that contributed to the industrialization of this region. The sovereign did not fail to address European issues, he who had before him Martine Aubry, daughter of Jacques Delors, one of the great builders of Europe.
Nicolas Fontaine Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. [email protected]
