The Belgian Royal Family welcomed the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on this day in 1966, during their State Visit to Belgium, which was the last State Visit between the British and Belgian Royal Families to date. King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola visited Britain in 1963, and the Queen later attended the Funeral of King Baudouin in 1993, the only Funeral of another monarch she has attended during her reign.More recently, the Queen had tea with King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium at Windsor Castle.
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Following the Official Welcome, the highlight of the first day was a State Banquet hosted by the King Baudouin (in the Order of the Garter) and Queen Fabiola (wearing the Nine Provinces Tiara and her Aquamarine Suite) in honour of the Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara, Cambridge Emerald Parure, and the Order of Leopold) and Duke (in the Order of Leopold) at the Royal Palace of Brussels. Prince Albert (in the Royal Victorian Order) and Princess Paola (wearing Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau) were also in attendance.
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Following a visit to King Leopold III and the Princess de Rethy, the Queen (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara) and Duke of Edinburgh joined King Baudouin, Queen Fabiola (in her Spanish Wedding Gift Tiara and Wolfers Necklace), Prince Albert and Princess Paola (wearing Queen Elisabeth’s Diamond Bandeau) for a Gala Performance at the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels. The Duchess of Grafton (in her Pearl and Diamond Tiara) was in attendance alongside a host of Belgian Nobility.
