“A great bond unites them. They are quite complementary in their job as king and queen. That’s why it works well because they are deeply involved in their work”analyzes Patrick Weber, journalist and specialist in royalty. “In the past, the queen or the prince consort was much more reserved.”
But discretion does not mean lack of affection. “There is a lot of complicity between them. One starts a sentence and the other finishes it.remembers Patrick Weber who interviewed the royal couple on the occasion of their 20th wedding anniversary. “It’s a royal pair. Philippe was very proud because no one introduced Mathilde to him. He didn’t want an arranged marriage but a love marriage.”
Of course, Mathilde doesn’t come from nowhere. “It’s a world where you have to know a little about the rules of the game or be willing to learn them. Mathilde wants to be queen. She was well appreciated when she joined the royal family.”comments the specialist. “She is a woman of character. She knows what she wants. She is also a hard worker, she leaves nothing to chance and is very demanding of herself, her team and her children.”
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde invited the Sultan of Oman to Brussels (PHOTOS)
Family and education are very important to the royal couple. For the specialist, the queen and the king form “an exemplary and modern couple”. “They set an example when it comes to raising children, which is not easy. Just the choice of schools is new. They did not opt for education in the palace. Military training and international openness with studies in Wales and the United States… The Belgian example is followed by Spain and Norway.explains Patrick Weber.
A united and close-knit family, the king and queen have four children (Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eléonore). “Philippe told me that he was sad and happy because the children are going to leave the family nest. And today it is.”termine Patrick Weber.
