King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in Mons

On Tuesday September 17th, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visited Mons in the Province of Hainaut.

Arriving in Mons at 11:00, the Royal Couple were welcomed at the Provincial Palace by the Mayor of Mons, Elio Di Rupo, the Governor of the Province of Hainaut, Tommy Leclercq and the Walloon Minister-President Rudy Demotte.

At the Town Hall, the King and the Queen signed the Golden Book of the Province and then they attended a working meeting about the project “Mons 2015 European Capital of Culture”.  After lunch, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde made an appearance on the balcony of the City Hall and then they took a walk in the Grand Place to meet the people who were gathered to greet them.

During the walk the Royal Couple visited the Guardhouse Monkey, a small iron statue of a monkey, symbol of the city of Mons who, according to some historians, brings luck to the city and its inhabitants. As tradition, the King and the Queen stroked the head of the monkey statue.

Filed under Belgium
Tagged Belgian Installation 2013, King Philippe of the Belgians, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians.