Belgian Introductory Visit to Germany

On February 17th, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde made an introductory visit to Germany.

The Royal Couple, accompanied by Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo and Foreign Minister Didier Reynders, arrived in Berlin at around 11 o’clock. At their arrival in the German capital, they went to the Bellevue Palace. Outside the Presidential Palace, the King and the Queen were greeted by the German President, Joachim Gauck, and the First Lady, Daniela Schadt. King Philippe and President Gauck inspected the guard of honor and the national anthems of both countries were played.

After a walkabout, the Queen and the First Lady greeted school children and visitors who were gathered outside the Bellevue Palace. Then the Royal Couple and the Presidential Couple went inside the Palace where an audience and luncheon took place. The King and the Queen signed the Golden Book.

In the afternoon, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. They had a meeting focused on bilateral relations and European political and international issues.

Then the King and the Queen, with Klaus Wowereit, the Mayor of Berlin, visited the Brandenburg Gate in Pariser Platz. The Brandenburg Gate was one of the symbols of the division of the city in communist East and democratic West.

The last event of the introductory visit was a German-Belgian conference on the future of the European Union with the presence of parliamentarians and academics from both countries.

Filed under Belgium
Tagged Belgian Installation 2013, Bilateral Relations, Chancellor Merkel of Germany, European Union, Germany, King Philippe of the Belgians, President Gauck of Germany, Prime Minister Di Rupo of Belgium, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians.

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