After a busy day of official visits, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were received at a state dinner in the company of a host of French but also Belgian personalities, such as Alexander De Croo, Tatiana Silva and Hadja Lahbib. A meal which coincidentally coincides with the Belgium-France match in the Nations League.
“I don’t know who organized this”
Impossible for the sovereign to miss this detail. The latter underlined this happy coincidence during his speech at dinner. After congratulating France for the “sumptuous” organization of the Olympic Games this summer, highlighting flawless fair play, King Philippe was ironic. “Tonight, as our national football teams compete; it has to be done anyway, I don’t know who will organize this; it is in this same state of mind of friendship and fair play that we will vibrate. Although of course I secretly harbor the hope of a victory. I say secretly because our best players are not playing tonight”, declared King Philip in front of a hilarious crowd.
A speech full of humility and marked with typically Belgian humor, like our sovereign. Unfortunately, the king’s hopes were in vain since Belgium suffered another defeat against France.
