Belgian State Visit to Portugal

~ Saad719

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are on a 3-Day State Visit to Portugal at the request of the Belgian Government to celebrate and build diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties from October 22nd to the 24th. 

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were welcomed by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa in an Official Welcome Ceremony at the Praça do Império in Lisbon, after which the Royal Couple attended a wreath laying ceremony at the tomb Luís de Camões in the Church of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos before making their way to a meeting with the President at the Palácio de Belém.

Embed from Getty Images

Following, the King and Queen attended a Luncheon in their honour by Prime Minister António Costa at the Palacio Foz, before meeting the President of Assembleia da República at the Palácio Nacional de São Bento, the Parliament, and the Mayor of Lisbon at the Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, the City Hall. Later, they participated in a Wreath laying ceremony at the Monumento aos Mortos da Grande Guerra.

In the evening, President Rebelo de Sousa hosted a State Banquet in honour of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at the Palácio de Ajuda. Both the King and the President gave speeches. The Duke and Duchess of Braganza, the Duke of Anjou and the Duchess of Cadaval were also in attendance.

Embed from Getty Images

For the daytime events, King Philippe wore a dark suit with a striped tie and the pin of the Order of Infante D. Henrique. Queen Mathilde wore a grey dress and lace coat with a Philip Treacy grey hat, pearl earrings, and the miniature of the Order of Infante D. Henrique. At the banquet, King Philippe wore White Tie with the sash, star, and collar of the Order of Infante D. Henrique. Queen Mathilde wore a pale gown with the Laurel Wreath Tiara, fringe earrings, and the sash, star, and collar of the Order of Infante D. Henrique.

At the Banquet, the Duke of Braganza wore White Tie with Order. The Duchess wore a pink gown with her Floral Necklace Tiara with the sash and star of the Order of Saint Isabel. The Duchess of Cadaval wore her Wedding Tiara. The Portuguese President wore the Belgian Order of Leopold, awarded to him that morning!

On the morning of the 2nd day, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde visited the Oceano Azul Foundation and Oceanarium in Lisbon, before the King visited the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and attended the opening of the Portuguese-Belgian Business Meetings before attending a luncheon at the residence of the Portuguese Ambassador, while the Queen went to the Champalimaud Center for the Unknown and attended a lunch with representatives of various sectors and groups of the Portuguese society at the Palácio Verride. In the afternoon, King Philippe visited the Impact Hub and roundtable with Belgian and Portuguese social entrepreneurs, while Queen Mathilde visited the Associação Cultural Moinho da Juventude.

In the evening, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde hosted a Return Concert by ‘Huelgas Ensemble’ for President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa at the Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, which was followed by a cocktail dinner.

22

 

Leave a Reply