Queen Mathilde of Belgium

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Mathilde
Belgian Queen Mathilde.jpg
Queen Mathilde in 2013
Queen consort of the Belgians
Tenure 21 July 2013 - present
Born (1973-01-20) 20 January 1973 (age 51)
Uccle, Belgium
Spouse Philippe, King of the Belgians (m. 1999)
Issue Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant
Prince Gabriel
Prince Emmanuel
Princess Eléonore
Full name
Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine
House Comital House d'Udekem d'Acoz
Father Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz
Mother Countess Anna Maria Komorowska
Religion Roman Catholic

Queen Mathilde of Belgium DHS (born Mathilde Marie Christiane Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz on 20 January 1973) is the Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Philippe, who ascended the throne following the abdication of his father, King Albert II, on 21 July 2013. She is the first Belgian-born Queen consort of the Belgians, and the only member of the nobility by birth among the current queens consort of Europe.

Biography

Early life and family

Queen Mathilde was born Jonkvrouw Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz in Ukkel on 20 January 1973. Though her grandfather and her uncle were barons, she and her father were members of the untitled nobility.

Mathilde grew up at the family estate, Castle Losange in fr (Villers-la-Bonne-Eau), Bastogne.

Mathilde's father was Count (formerly Jonkheer) Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz (Uccle, 28 April 1936 – Ottignies-Louvain-la-Neuve, 25 September 2008), son of Baron Charles d'Udekem d'Acoz (Ghent, 8 March 1885-Proven, 7 December 1968), who was of Belgian noble ancestry; her mother was Countess Anna Maria Komorowska (born 24 September 1946 in Białogard, Poland), daughter of Count Leon Michael Komorowski (Siedliska, 14 August 1907 – 1992) and Polish Princess Zofia María Sapieha of Krasiczyn, Clan Lis (Bobrek, 10 October 1919-Herstal, 14 August 1997). The Komorowski family is well known for Count Tadeusz Bór-Komorowski (1895–1966), Polish Commander-in-Chief and Prime Minister of the Polish government-in-exile and for former President of Poland Bronisław Komorowski.

Upon her marriage to Prince Philippe of Belgium, the Duke of Brabant in 1999, King Albert II of the Belgians elevated the family d'Udekem d'Acoz from the baronial to the comital rank, hereditary in the male lineage. Upon the accession of her husband, Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant to the throne of Belgium she became the first Belgian queen consort of native Belgian nationality.[1][2]

Mathilde is the oldest of five children. She has three younger sisters and one younger brother:

  • Jonkvrouw Marie-Alix d'Udekem d'Acoz (16 September 1974 – 14 August 1997). She died in car crash with her maternal grandmother.
  • Margravine Elisabeth Pallavicini, née Countess d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 17 January 1977) who is married to Margrave Alfonso Pallavicini with whom she has 2 children; Margravine Olympia and Margrave Adalberto.
  • Baroness Hélène Janssen, née Countess d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 22 September 1979) who is married to Baron Nicolas Janssen with whom she has a daughter; Baronne Cordelia Janssen.
  • Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 13 May 1985).

On 29 March 2008, Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz, Princess Mathilde's uncle, told a Belgian newspaper that his brother, Patrick had been admitted to the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, and was dying. The Count was in an irreversible coma and in critical condition. Henri stated that his brother had been ill since January, and his illness had gradually put him into the coma. Henri noted that Mathilde had visited her father in the hospital, as had other members of the Royal Family.[3][4] On 25 September 2008, it was announced that the Count had died, aged 72, in Ottignies.[5]

Education

Queen Mathilde attended secondary school at the Institut de la Vierge Fidèle in Brussels. She then studied speech therapy at the Institut libre Marie Haps in Brussels from 1991 to 1994 and earned a diploma with high honours (magna cum laude).

Mathilde then worked as a speech therapist in her own practice in Brussels from 1995 to 1999. She also studied psychology at the Université catholique de Louvain and earned a master's degree in psychology in 2002 with honours (cum laude).

She speaks French, Dutch, English and Italian. Her mother, who spent most of her life outside of Poland, did not teach her Polish, thinking that it would not be necessary. Therefore, Mathilde knows only a few words in Polish.[6]

Marriage and children

The announcement of Mathilde's engagement to the Belgian heir-apparent Prince Philippe came as a surprise to the country. Mathilde married Philippe on 4 December 1999 in Brussels, civilly at the Brussels Town Hall and religiously at the Cathedral of Saint Michel and Saint Gudula. Mathilde's bridal gown was designed by Edouard Vermeulen. She was made Princess of Belgium on 8 November 1999 (published on 13 November 1999 and effective from 4 December 1999).

The couple have four children:

Princess Elisabeth, the couple's eldest child, is the first in line to the throne and ahead of her younger brothers and sister, who are second, third, and fourth in line to succeed, owing to a change in Belgian succession laws in 1991, allowing for the eldest child to succeed, regardless of gender.

The Queen is also godmother to two princesses: Princess Alexia of the Netherlands and Princess Isabella of Denmark.

Alliance coat of arms of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.

Royal role

As Queen of the Belgians, Mathilde carries out a number of official roles, including representing Belgium on state visits, receiving state visits from abroad, and as patron of many charities. She takes part in the annual World Economic Forum in Davos; since 2007, the Queen has been a member of the Young Global Leaders group.

With King Philippe, she has led economic missions to the USA in 2011 and to Vietnam in 2012.

Since 2009, Queen Mathilde has been the Honorary President of Unicef Belgium. She serves as the World Health Organisation’s Special Representative for Immunization.[7]

She set up the Princess Mathilde fund in 2001, which promotes the care of vulnerable people and awards an annual prize for good works in a particular sector.[8] The sector changes each year: examples include early years education, women's health, and protecting young people from violence.[9] She also presides at the ceremony awarding the King Baudouin International Development Prize.

Charity

  • Honorary president of Child Focus
  • Honorary president of UNICEF Belgium[10]
  • Patron Werk voor het Oosten[11]
  • Patron Royal Balletschool of Antwerpen[12]
  • Patron EURO-CIU symposium[13]
  • Patron Koninklijke steltenlopers Merchtem
  • Patron Stichting Lezen
  • Patron Nationale Alzheimer Liga

Titles, styles and honours

Coat of arms of the House of d'Udekem d'Acoz
Coat of arms of Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz

Titles and Styles

  • 20 January 1973 - 4 December 1999: Jonkvrouw Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz
  • 4 December 1999 - 21 July 2013: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Brabant
  • 21 July 2013- present: Her Majesty The Queen of the Belgians

Before the wedding, by means of a Royal Order of 8 November 1999, Mathilde was made a princess of Belgium in her own right. This Royal Order entered into force on the date of the wedding. The wife of a Belgian prince used to receive this title automatically, but a special creation is now required. In addition, her father and two uncles were elevated to the rank of count.

Honours

See also : List of state visits & List of honours of the Belgian Royal Family by country

Belgian honours

Foreign honours

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.
Ribbon Country Class References
FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR.png Finland Finland (Orders) Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose (2004) (Photo)
OESSG Cavaliere di Gran Croce BAR.jpg Holy See Holy See (Orders) Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre (June 2010) (News : 1, 2)
LUX Order of Adolphe Nassau Grand Cross BAR.png Luxembourg Luxembourg (Orders) Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau (2007) (Photo)
NLD Order of Orange-Nassau - Knight Grand Cross BAR.png Netherlands Netherlands (Orders) Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau (20/06/2006) (Photo 1, Photo 2)
Order Sint Olaf 1 kl.png Norway Norway (Orders) Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav (20/05/2003) (Kongehuset)
POL Order Zaslugi RP kl1 BAR.png Poland Poland (Orders) Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland (2004) (Photo)
PRT Order of Christ - Grand Cross BAR.png Portugal Portugal (Orders) Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (08/03/2006) (Orders website)
ESP Isabella Catholic Order GC.svg Spain Spain (Orders) Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic (12/05/2000) (Photo)
SWE Order of the Polar Star (after 1975) - Commander Grand Cross BAR.png Sweden Sweden (Orders) Commander Grand Cross of the Order of the Polar Star (2001) (Photo)
POL Order Orła Białego BAR.svg Poland Poland (Orders) Dame of the Order of the White Eagle (07/10/2015) (Monitor Polski 1216/2015)

See also

Ancestors

Family of Queen Mathilde of Belgium
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 16. Baron Albert d'Udekem d'Acoz 1828-1900
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 8. Baron Maximilien d'Udekem d'Acoz 1861-1921
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 17. Alice de Kerchove 1838-1877
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4. Baron Charles d'Udekem d'Acoz 1885-1968
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 18. Gustave van Eyll 1830-1905
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 9. Maria van Eyll 1863-1935
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 19. Marie Louise van Goethem 1834-1863
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2. Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz 1936-2008
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 20. Eugène van Outryve d'Ydewalle 1830-1901
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 10. Clément van Outryve d'Ydewalle 1876-1942
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 21. Laurence de Serret 1836-1910
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5. Suzanne van Outryve d'Ydewalle1898-1983
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 22. Désiré de Thibault de Boesinghe 1837-1909
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 11. Madeleine de Thibault de Boesinghe 1876-1931
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 23. Marie Isabelle Frennelet 1843-1881
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 1. Princess Mathilde, Duchess of Brabant 1973-
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 24. Count Leon Wilhelm Komorowski 1849-1900
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 12. Count Michał Komorowski 1875-1950
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 25. Krystyna Antonina Zbijewska 1850-1916
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 6. Count Leon Komorowski 1907-1992
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 26. Ambroży Feliks Teofil Zaborowski 1833/1850-1899
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 13. Maria Zaborowska 1875-1953
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 27. Countess Michalina Miączyńska 1848-1927
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3. Countess Anna Maria Komorowska 1946-
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 28. Prince Władysław Leon Sapieha 1853-1920
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 14. Prince Adam Zygmunt Sapieha 1892-1970
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 29. Countess Elżbieta Konstancja Potulicka 1859-1947
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7. Princess Zofia Sapieha 1919-1997
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 30. Count Michał Sobański 1858-1934
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 15. Countess Teresa Sobańska 1891-1975
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 31. Countess Ludwika Wodzicka 1857-1944
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

  1. ↑ Her predecessors were, in order of succession, French, Austrian, German, Swedish, Spanish, and Italian.
  2. ↑ Lilian, Princess of Réthy was never officially designated as queen consort.
  3. ↑ (French) RTL Info – 'Le père de la princesse Mathilde est mourant'
  4. ↑ (Dutch) Vader prinses Mathilde ligt op sterven
  5. ↑ [1] Archived 29 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ↑ Wprost Weekly, The Polish-Belgian Queen (Krolowa polsko-belgijska) 21 December-28, 2008
  7. ↑ WHO/Europe press release
  8. ↑ Princess Mathilde Fund
  9. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ [2]
  11. ↑ http://www.orient-oosten.org/nl/echos-van-christelijke-nabije-oosten/hoge-bescherming-van-hare-majesteit-de-koningin/
  12. ↑ http://www.stedelijkonderwijs.be/koninklijkeballetschoolantwerpen/hoge-bescherming
  13. ↑ http://www.onici.be/nieuws/240

External links

Queen Mathilde of Belgium
Born: 20 January 1973
Belgian royalty
Preceded by Queen consort of the Belgians
2013 – present		 Incumbent


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