Belgian State Visit to France: October 14 - 16, 2024

[maria-olivia]

I don't remember if King Albert II went on State Visit to France , but I remember the unfortunate State Visit of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola in 1961. President de Gaulle was not happy they came at the Opera evening 45 minutes too late because the evening dress of the Queen did not came in time. The day after Queen Fabiola was not feeling well.

 

[Adda]

King Albert went on a State Visit to France in 2003.

Visit to La Sorbonne university in Paris

https://www.imago-images.com/bild/st/0772559909/m.jpg

Vive l'amour!
Their Majesties pose at the Alexandre III bridge

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2177856271/es/foto/item-the-pont-alexandre-iii-in-paris-on-the-second-day-of-the-official-state-visit-of-the.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=LWIsw_eMHuQ-v01Hf8wIXuCTCqtQWeK1lwkROrudR-E=

https://www.imago-images.com/bild/st/0772651487/m.jpg

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846214991516500391

 

[muriel]

3 Day State Visits are very rare of the late!

That is correct. The norm now seems to be 2 days, or in practice, about 36 hours.

 

[Nico]

I don't remember if King Albert II went on State Visit to France , but I remember the unfortunate State Visit of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola in 1961. President de Gaulle was not happy they came at the Opera evening 45 minutes too late because the evening dress of the Queen did not came in time. The day after Queen Fabiola was not feeling well.

Albert II and Paola were hosted by the Chiracs back in 2003.
As for the 1961 visit, Fabiola did cancel her attendance to the State banquet at Versailles, feeling indeed unwell.

 

[Hannelore]

Thanks! A pity they did not attend the banquet.

As for the dress code: the Dutch monarchs were downgraded to business suits and cocktail dresses IIRC, so this is an improvement. I imagine this must have been the wish of the presidency and not of the court. But it is nice the French presidency has the courtesey to upgrade the dress code for the British monarch.

Elisabeth & her family returned to live in Belgium many years ago. Her two youngest children were born in Brussels.

 

[iceflower]

The return event this evening:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846244428500947402

 

[maria-olivia]

How was life in Paris during the Belgian State Visit ?. it seems that the exits of the Underground on the Champs Elysées were closed since 8.30 and people could not attend their Shop or Office.

 

[Nico]

How was life in Paris during the Belgian State Visit ?. it seems that the exits of the Underground on the Champs Elysées were closed since 8.30 and people could not attend their Shop or Office.

Nothing unusual here as the Metro stations are regurlarly closed in this area due to the State ceremonies and various demonstrations.

It's totally peanuts after the many restrictions of the Olympics. In fact this visit is totally fliying under the radars. I was near the Hôtel de Ville this afternoon and it was business as usual.

 

[PhillyMonarchist]

Some boos in a stadium don't mean two nations hate eachother. Football fans have a long memory, that's all ...

It’s against Marcon

 

[Adda]

Post about the soirée at Centre Pompidou

Belgian Royal Palace on Instagram: "Réception 100% belge au Centre Pompidou pour remercier les autorités françaises de leur hospitalité ! Au programme (et menu) : jazz, surréalisme, spécialités belges et rencontre avec la communauté belge en France.

342 likes, 3 comments - belgianroyalpalace on October 15, 2024: "Réception 100% belge au Centre Pompidou pour remercier les autorités françaises de leur hospitalité ! Au programme (et menu) : jazz, surréalisme, spécialités belges et rencontre avec la communauté belge en France. 🇧🇪 ————— De...

www.instagram.com

 

[Nico]

It’s against Marcon

Considering that the President was not even in the stadium and that it was the Belgian supporters who were actually booing i do think it's some wishful thinking from your part.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I don't remember if King Albert II went on State Visit to France , but I remember the unfortunate State Visit of King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola in 1961. President de Gaulle was not happy they came at the Opera evening 45 minutes too late because the evening dress of the Queen did not came in time. The day after Queen Fabiola was not feeling well.

I believe that this was during Fabiola's first doomed pregnancy, which had not yet been made public.

 

[Adda]

They have arrived in Chantilly for the exposition about Queen Louise-Marie

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2178003348/es/foto/belgiums-queen-mathilde-belgiums-king-philippe-and-french-president-emmanuel-macron-look-at.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=LTuUFUbFRBpwadkjvtIiUfkMffjKUsFeE3QLomg38hE=

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2178000276/es/foto/frances-chief-heritage-curator-mathieu-deldicque-speaks-to-belgiums-queen-mathilde-and-king.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=Qnzva-_SDHpXiKEY69Zjyf-tJBfvs-yUdbUeH6NyCOI=

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846469649841488015

Beautiful images from Chantilly

Belgian Royal Palace on Instagram: "🏰 Le Château de Chantilly est une bâtisse époustouflante qui accueille à partir du 19 octobreune exposition sur Louise-Marie d’Orléans (1812-1850), première Reine des Belges ! 👑 ⏳ La seconde épouse de Léopold Ier,

211 likes, 1 comments - belgianroyalpalace on October 16, 2024: "🏰 Le Château de Chantilly est une bâtisse époustouflante qui accueille à partir du 19 octobreune exposition sur Louise-Marie d’Orléans (1812-1850), première Reine des Belges ! 👑 ⏳ La seconde épouse de Léopold Ier, fille du...

www.instagram.com

 

[An Ard Ri]

Vive l'amour!
Their Majesties pose at the Alexandre III bridge

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2177856271/es/foto/item-the-pont-alexandre-iii-in-paris-on-the-second-day-of-the-official-state-visit-of-the.jpg?s=612x612&w=gi&k=20&c=LWIsw_eMHuQ-v01Hf8wIXuCTCqtQWeK1lwkROrudR-E=

https://www.imago-images.com/bild/st/0772651487/m.jpg

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846214991516500391

What an absolutely wonderful location on the Pont Alexandre III for the photos!

The Exhibition at Chantilly.
PPE Agency

 

[iceflower]

Here are more photos of the final day today, October 16:


** gettyimages gallery ** gtresnews gallery ** rex gallery **

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846535061455183944

 

[Adda]

Official welcome and lunch hosted by the Mayor of Lille at Opera de Lille

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2178017272/photo/france-royals-state-visit-wednesday.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=I-Xp9mhguhl0bsY7JAScej83Z9GfuoiHXpt310w5Loo=

https://media.gettyimages.com/id/2178020486/photo/france-royals-state-visit-wednesday.jpg?s=2048x2048&w=gi&k=20&c=tImL-J2tJTrixIrD1srsl_bRy-yX1umriPfu1edzSc4=

King's speech

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846553304496812066

Posts from the city of Lille

Ville de Lille on Instagram: "🇧🇪 Aujourd’hui, Lille a l’immense honneur d’accueillir le roi Philippe et la reine Mathilde pour une visite d’EuraTechnologies et de l’Opéra de Lille. 👋🏻 Bienvenue à nos voisins Belges !"

1,200 likes, 8 comments - lille_france on October 16, 2024: "🇧🇪 Aujourd’hui, Lille a l’immense honneur d’accueillir le roi Philippe et la reine Mathilde pour une visite d’EuraTechnologies et de l’Opéra de Lille. 👋🏻 Bienvenue à nos voisins Belges !".

www.instagram.com

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846547519838241246

The State Visit has almost ended.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846587515643310485

Now it's officially over.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1846592494990946647

And that's the end of the SV. It was great fun, absolutely loved seeing the Royal Couple inaugurate the exposition about Queen Louise-Marie in Chantilly. We also got to witness Prince Gabriël's debut in a State Gala.

Belgian Royal Palace on Instagram: "🤝 L’histoire de Lille est intimement liée à celle du comté de Flandre, et donc de la Belgique. La plus « belge » des villes françaises est aujourd’hui un important pôle économique et culturel, à quelques encablures

199 likes, 1 comments - belgianroyalpalace on October 16, 2024: "🤝 L’histoire de Lille est intimement liée à celle du comté de Flandre, et donc de la Belgique. La plus « belge » des villes françaises est aujourd’hui un important pôle économique et culturel, à quelques encablures seulement de la...

www.instagram.com

 

[Nico]

And that's the end of the SV. It was great fun, absolutely loved seeing the Royal Couple inaugurate the exposition about Queen Louise-Marie in Chantilly. We also got to witness Prince Gabriël's debut in a State Gala.

Belgian Royal Palace on Instagram: "🤝 L’histoire de Lille est intimement liée à celle du comté de Flandre, et donc de la Belgique. La plus « belge » des villes françaises est aujourd’hui un important pôle économique et culturel, à quelques encablures

199 likes, 1 comments - belgianroyalpalace on October 16, 2024: "🤝 L’histoire de Lille est intimement liée à celle du comté de Flandre, et donc de la Belgique. La plus « belge » des villes françaises est aujourd’hui un important pôle économique et culturel, à quelques encablures seulement de la...

www.instagram.com

From what i've seen and compared to this year's previous State visits it was indeed a very nice one.
It was of course less spectacular than the British one last year but there was enough pump and fomality to avoid the now usual "meh" feeling about the State Visits in France, despite the fact that they were seriously upgraded since President Macron took office (The Albert II visit back in 2003 was rather dull in comparison, but you can't beat the over the top visit of 1961).

 

[maria-olivia]

Alas a lot of critics about the coast of the 3 days State Visit , as French and Belgians have money problems.

 

[Nico]

.

Alas a lot of critics about the coast of the 3 days State Visit , as French and Belgians have money problems.

Frankly, not so much and i expected more outcry. As i previsously said the visit took place in a relative indifference from the general public and the coverage by mainstream medias was minimum.

 

[maria-olivia]

Thanks for your posts. Even indifference a strong Security Service was there.

 

[Sancia]

Considering that the President was not even in the stadium and that it was the Belgian supporters who were actually booing i do think it's some wishful thinking from your part.

And the match took place in Belgium.

 

[Nico]

Thanks for your posts. Even indifference a strong Security Service was there.

For sure ! But far less than the (short) State visit of President Biden back in june and of course the Olympics where Paris was turned into a true fortress !