Queen Mathilde of Belgium

Mathilde
Queen Mathilde in 2013
Queen consort of the Belgians
Tenure	21 July 2013 - present
Born	20 January 1973 Uccle, Belgium
Spouse	King Philippe 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

Belgian Royal Family
HM The King HM The Queen HRH The Duchess of Brabant HRH Prince Gabriel HRH Prince Emmanuel HRH Princess Eléonore HM King Albert II HM Queen Paola HI&RH The Archduchess of Austria-Este HI&RH The Archduke of Austria-Este HI&RH Prince Amedeo HI&RH Archduchess Elisabetta HI&RH Archduchess Anna Astrid HI&RH Princess Maria Laura HI&RH Prince Joachim HI&RH Princess Luisa Maria HI&RH Princess Laetitia Maria HRH Prince Laurent HRH Princess Claire HRH Princess Louise HRH Prince Nicolas HRH Prince Aymeric HRH Princess Léa HRH Princess Marie-Christine HRH Princess Marie-Esméralda

Queen Mathilde of Belgium (born Mathilde Marie Christiane Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz on 20 January 1973) is 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 (though not royalty) 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 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 is 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]

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 a 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.^[2][3] On 25 September 2008, it was announced that the Count had died, aged 72, in Ottignies.^[4]

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.^[5]

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 Thérèse Marie Hélène, Duchess of Brabant, born 25 October 2001
• Prince Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie, born 20 August 2003
• Prince Emmanuel Léopold Guillaume François Marie, born 4 October 2005
• Princess Eléonore Fabiola Victoria Anne Marie, born 16 April 2008

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.

Public life

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.^[6]

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.^[7] The sector changes each year: examples include early years education, women's health, and protecting young people from violence.^[8] She also presides at the ceremony awarding the King Baudouin International Development Prize.

Charity

• Honorary president of Child Focus
• Honorary president of UNICEF Belgium^[9]
• Patron Werk voor het Oosten^[10]
• Patron Royal Balletschool of Antwerpen^[11]
• Patron EURO-CIU symposium^[12]
• Patron Koninklijke steltenlopers Merchtem
• Patron Stichting Lezen
• Patron Nationale Alzheimer Liga

Honours and arms

Honours

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

National honour

•  Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold^{[13][14][15][16]}

Foreign honours

•  Finland: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland^[17]
•  Germany: Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, Special Issue^[18][19]
•  Italy:
  •   Vatican: Dame Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre^[20]
•  Luxembourg: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Adolphe of Nassau^[21][22]
•  Japan: Paulownia Dame Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown^[23][24]
•  Jordan: Dame Grand Cordon of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance, Special Class^[25]
•  Netherlands:
  • Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, 2016.
  • Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau^[26][27]
  • Recipient of the King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal
•  Norway: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav^[28][29]
•  Poland:
  • Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle
  • Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland^[30][31]
•  Portugal: Grand Cross of the Order of Christ
•  Spain: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic^[32][33]
•  Sweden:
  • Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star^[34][35]
  • Recipient of the 70th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf^[36]

Arms

Alliance Coat of Arms of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde

Dual Cypher of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians

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

Coat of arms of Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz

See also

• Princess Mathilde Fund

Ancestors

Ancestors of Queen Mathilde of Belgium

16. Baron Albert d'Udekem d'Acoz 1828-1900               8. Baron Maximilien d'Udekem d'Acoz 1861-1921                       17. Baroness Alice de Kerchove 1838-1877               4. Baron Charles d'Udekem d'Acoz 1885-1968                             18. Gustave van Eyll 1830-1905               9. Jonkvrouw Maria van Eyll 1863-1935                       19. Marie Louise van Goethem 1834-1863               2. Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz 1936-2008                                   20. Ridder Eugène van Outryve d'Ydewalle 1830-1901               10. Ridder Clément van Outryve d'Ydewalle 1876-1942                       21. Laurence de Serret 1836-1910               5. Jonkvrouw Suzanne van Outryve d'Ydewalle 1898-1983                             22. Désiré de Thibault de Boesinghe 1837-1909               11. Jonkvrouw 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. (French) RTL Info – 'Le père de la princesse Mathilde est mourant' Archived 30 March 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
3. ""Vader prinses Mathilde ligt op sterven"". HLN.be (in (Dutch)). Retrieved 2016-10-23.
4. Archived 29 September 2008 at the Wayback Machine.
5. "Królowa polsko-belgijska". Wprost.Pl (in (Polish)). Retrieved 2016-10-23.
6. "Princess Mathilde of Belgium to visit Albania as WHO special representative: focus on frontline health workers and immunization". Euro.who.int. 21 March 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
7. "The Belgian Monarchy". Monarchie.be. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
9. "Erevoorzitster UNICEF - De stijl van toekomstig koningin Mathilde". Skynet.be. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
10. "HOGE BESCHERMING VAN HARE MAJESTEIT DE KONINGIN - Orient Oosten". Orient-oosten.org. 8 February 2015. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
11. "Hoge bescherming". Stedelijkonderwijs.be. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
12. "ONafhankelijk Informatiecentrum over Cochleaire Implantaties". Onici.be. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
13. "Photographic image : Queen Mathilde of Belgium" (JPG). C7.alamy.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
14. "The Royal Watcher : Photo". Royalwatcher.tumblr.com. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
15. "HELLO! Special Zoom". Hellomagazine.com. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
16. "Photographic image : Queen Mathilde of Belgium with King William of the netherlands" (JPG). C7.alamy.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
17. "Finnish President Visit To Belgium - Day One Photos and Images". Getty Images. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
18. "Photographic image : Queen Mathilde of Belgium" (JPG). 4.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
19. "Photographic image" (JPG). 1.bp.blogpsot.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
20. "Archives - sudinfo.be". Sudpresse.be. 2010-06-14. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
21. "Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembou Photos and Images". Getty Images. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
22. "Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg and Maria Teresa, Grand Duchess of Luxembou Photos and Images". Getty Images. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
23. "Belga Image - Editorial". Portal.belgaimage.be. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
24. "Belga Image - Editorial". Potal.belgaimage.be. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
25. "Nuevo duelo de reinas: una Rania muy demodé no puede con una Matilde sublime. Noticias de Casas Reales". Vanitatis.elconfidencial.com. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
26. "Photographic image" (JPG). I.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
27. "Dutch Royal State Visit To Belgium". Getty Images. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
28. "Norwegian State Visit To Belgium". Getty Images. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
29. "Long Live all the magic we made.". Pinterest.com. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
30. "Photographic image" (JPG). 2.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
31. "The Belgian Monarchy". Monarchie.be. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
32. "Photographic image" (JPG). 3.bp.blogspot.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
33. "Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde - Picture Thread - Page 6 - The Royal Forums". Theroyalforums.com. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
34. "Photographic image : Queen Mathilde of Belgium Arrives at the Royal Apalce" (JPG). C7.alamy.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
35. "Photographic image : Crown Princess Mathilde of Belgium and Princess Letizia of Spain" (JPG). C7.alamy.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.
36. "Photographic image : Queen Mathilde of Belgium" (JPG). C7.alamy.com. Retrieved 2016-10-23.

External links

• Official biography from the Belgian Royal Family website