If this visit was on the couple’s agenda, it was not only to allow them to discover the architecture of the building. The Château de l’Oise is currently hosting an exhibition dedicated to the first queen of the Belgians, Louise-Marie d’Orléans, wife of Léopold I and grandmother of Philippe. A work which is also emblematic of the closeness of the links which unite France and Belgium, since many elements presented at the castle come directly from the royal collection.
For her third day of state visit, Mathilde opted for light blue tones, after going through the red of Dior and the green of Natan. The queen wore a coat with a three-quarter sleeve embroidered with flowers in pink tones, worn over a gray dress and accessorized with a hat also in blue tones.
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Visit and goodbye
After the greetings, the royal and presidential couples were given a guided tour of the castle and the exhibition. In addition to portraits and paintings, numerous jewels and furniture that belonged to the queen are exhibited at the castle after having been carefully transported from Belgium. The place was not chosen at random since the Château de Chantilly was formerly the property of Louise-Marie’s brother.
After this visit, the time has come for Philippe and Mathilde to take definitive leave of their hosts. While Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron took the road towards Paris, the Belgian royal couple continued their journey north since they were expected in Lille.
Romantic stroll and photo shoot on the Alexandre III bridge for King Philippe and Queen Mathilde
Last stop in the most Belgian city in France
Arriving in the capital of Flanders early in the afternoon, the king and queen were welcomed by the mayor, Martine Aubry. They then enjoyed a walkabout, with Mathilde greeting the children holding a Belgian flag. Philippe, for his part, wanted to thank the people of Lille for their warm welcome.
The couple then met at the opera for a lunch around the economic and cultural issues that unite Lille and Belgium. At the end of these meetings, they were finally able to return to the Plat Pays, thus putting an end to this state visit which will have made it possible to further strengthen the links between their country and France.
