The flat country comes to France! From October 14 to 16, Philippe and Mathilde of Belgium are in France for a three-day state visit under the sign of friendship between the two nations. For the king and his wife, the program promises to be dense, but exciting.
Monday October 14
The trip begins in Paris with a welcome ceremony organized at the Arc de Triomphe in the presence of Head of State Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. The two couples will then head to the Élysée where a meeting will be held. A lunch will follow at Matignon at the invitation of Prime Minister Michel Barnier. Two highlights can be expected during the rest of the day: the first concerns the First Lady and Queen Mathilde who will visit the Paris Opera in the middle of the afternoon. Finally, a state dinner at the Élysée Palace will be held in the evening in honor of the Belgian sovereign couple.
Tuesday October 15
During the morning, King Philippe and the Queen will participate in an economic forum on the decarbonization of businesses. Then, both will head to Paris City Hall to meet the mayor of the capital, Anne Hidalgo. After a lunch at the residence of the Belgian ambassador, the king and queen will continue their marathon. Among their commitments is a meeting with students at the Sorbonne University on the theme of European alliances. This second day will end with a reception given in honor of the French presidential couple at the Center Pompidou.
Wednesday October 16
On this third and last day of their state visit, Philippe and Mathilde of Belgium will stop at the Château de Chantilly to visit an exhibition dedicated to Louise Marie d’Orléans, French princess who became the first queen of the Belgians through her marriage, in 1832, with the Belgian king Leopold I. After an official welcome and a lunch offered by the mayor of Lille, Martine Aubry, the sovereign couple will go to EuraTechnologies, the largest startup incubator in Europe. Before returning to Belgium, a military ceremony will close this state visit.
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