King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium will begin their State Visit to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg later today, where they will be hosted by their cousins, the Grand Ducal Family. To mark the visit, we are taking a look at previous Belgian-Luxembourg State Visits.
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The Belgian Royal Family and the Luxembourg Grand Ducal Family have a close family history, which was further cemented when Princess Charlotte of Belgium married Hereditary Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg in 1953.
State visit of Belgian King Baudouin to Luxembourg (1959).
From left: Prince Charles, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean, Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte (born Princess of Belgium, sister of King Baudouin), King Baudouin, Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Félix.
© Belga pic.twitter.com/IwbMbZUkT4
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State visit of Belgian King Baudouin to Luxembourg (1959).
From left: Prince Charles, Hereditary Grand Duke Jean, Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte (born Princess of Belgium, sister of King Baudouin), King Baudouin, Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Félix.
© Belga pic.twitter.com/IwbMbZUkT4
In 1959, Grand Duchess Charlotte and Prince Félix, along with Hereditary Grand Duke Jean and Hereditary Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte, hosted King Baudouin of Belgium (brother of Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte) on his State Visit to Luxembourg. In 1967, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola hosted Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte on their State Visit to Belgium.
Embed from Getty Images1999: Luxembourgish state visit to Belgium.
From left: Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg (born Princess of Belgium), her brother King Albert II of the Belgians, Queen Paola of the Belgians and Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg.
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© Anouk Antony pic.twitter.com/L9KA7Op66V
— RoyalArjan (@RoyalArjan) October 26, 2018
1999: Luxembourgish state visit to Belgium.
From left: Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte of Luxembourg (born Princess of Belgium), her brother King Albert II of the Belgians, Queen Paola of the Belgians and Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg.
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© Anouk Antony pic.twitter.com/L9KA7Op66V
In the next reign, King Albert II (younger brother of the Grand Duchess) and Queen Paola were hosted by Grand Duke Jean and Grand Duchess Joséphine-Charlotte on their State Visit to Luxembourg in 1994, HERE, and in turn hosted the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess on their State Visit to Belgium in 1999, HERE.
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The most recent State Visit between the two families was when Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg (wearing the Luxembourg Empire Tiara) were hosted by his uncle and aunt, King Albert and Queen Paola (in the Nine Provinces Tiara). Other members of the family in attendance included Queen Fabiola, Prince Nikolaus of Liechtenstein and Princess Margaretha of Luxembourg, Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde, The Archduke of Austria-Este and Princess Astrid.