article from Story ed. May 20-26, 2006
After 6 years of loyal service, Mathilde says goodbye to Machteld
Some changes are about to take place in the "house" of Filip and Mathilde. After 6 years of loyal service, Machteld Fostier will no longer be Mathilde's advisor. A pity, but that's the way it goes in the world of diplomacy and the royal court.
It will be an adjustment for Mathilde to no longer see Machteld Fostier as the first person to come into her office each morning. After six years, her advisor's carreer takes another turn. And that will no doubt be a royal promotion, because she did a more than excellent job. Machteld was a promising career woman in the diplomatic world when she was asked by the princess to come and work for her. She had represented Belgium by working a few years for the UN in New York and had been stationed in Geneva and Manilla. Humanitarian affairs and human rights were her specialty. A 46 year old hardworking woman, no husband or kids and above all: 100% Flemish. Her first and most important task was: to talk only Dutch with the princess. Because Mathilde came from a francophone nest, and if she ever wanted to be accepted in the North then she'd have to learn fluent Dutch.
It worked out just fine: in no time Mathilde was, if this is possible, even more popular north than south of the language border. The Mathilde-mania of those first years seemed to be without end: the engagement, the joyeuses entrées, the fairytale wedding... it all made the heart of the true royalty fan beat louder. But there was also the realization that this euphoric atmosphere probably woudn't last. That the princess needed more to win the lasting respect and sympathy of the Belgians.
From the beginning it was clear that Mathilde wasn't going to be just a glamour princess, a fashion icon or "princess smile". Mathilde wanted a more profound role and to achieve this she concentrated on the social aspect of our society, and she gratefully used Machteld's background, because it was also the world her advisor came from.
At the time of their wedding, Filip & Mathilde had asked that, in turn of presents, money would be donated, and with this money the Princess Mathilde Fund was established a year later. It was a shot in the bull's eye! People still wonder today what the Prince Albert Fund or the Prince Filip Fund stand for, our which goals the queen Paola or queen Fabiola Foundations serve, but Mathilde's aim was clear from the start: to protect the vulnerable persons in our society - women and children above all. Her speeches, and the kind of visits that Mathilde planned together with her advisor clearly showed her priorities, and how she intended to use her royal title to make a difference. First in our own country, where there's after all still a lot of hidden injustice and poverty. But also abroad, where Mathilde is asked to help more and more. The princess wanted to be more than a modest former speech therapist working with children. She plunged herself in the problematics of HIV and aids and became a Unicef ambassador. UN president Kofi Annan personnally asked her to work worldwide for microfinance projects. This initiative grants small loans to woman in developping countries so they can start their own small business, which in turn brings them dignity and independance. The 'empowerment of women' were words that continuosly appeared in the princess's speeches, with the approaval of her advisor.
Machteld's big concern was also that Mathilde wanted to be too much and everything at the same time: the perfect wife, a good princess and the best mother. And when asked how she succeeded in being all of this, Mathilde always modestly replied she was surrounded by the best people. And with this she certainly meant Machteld, who constantly protected the princess against the driven and demanding outside world. Machteld is a charming, petite woman, a good deal smaller than the princess, but at the same time a fury and nearly a bodyguard when she has to. Nobody touches 'her' princess. She decidedly turns down the press when once again they seem to have only attention for the princess's hairdo, her dresses or a possible pregnancy. When receptions seem to go on forever and too many people try to get too much attention from the princess, she's there. And together they have become champions in 'disappearing'. Nobody disappears as unnoticed from a party as Mathilde, who needs her sleep and knows that the hours before midnight count double.
On average the advisors of our crownprincely couple stay on for four years. At Mathilde's urgent request Machteld stayed six years. Of course more good advisors and collaborators will follow, but she will never forget Machteld because she was the first, the woman who guided her safely through the first hectic years. A confident, a friend. yes, Mathilde will surely miss Machteld.
