Royal Profile: Queen Mathilde of Belgium

Queen Mathilde of Belgium was born on 20 January 1973 as Jonkvrouw Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz,  the daughter of the Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz & Countess Anna Maria d'Udekem d'Acoz{Source}.
She has three younger sisters and a younger brother{Source}:

1. Jonkvrouw Marie-Alix Suzanne Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz (1974-1997, car accident)
2. Countess Elisabeth Marie Hedwige Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz (1977)
1. Margrave Alfonso Pallavicini (m.  2006)
1. Margravine Olympia Edoarda Matilde Pallavicini (2008)
2. Margrave Adalberto Domenico Carlo Patrizio Maria Pallavicini ( 2009)
3. Margravine Constanza Carla Maria Pallavicini (2012)
3. Countess Hélène Marie Michele Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz(1979)
1. Baron Nicolas Janssen (m. 2011)
1. Baroness Cordélia Janssen (2012)
2. Baron Alistair Janssen (2013)
3. Baroness Sophie Janssen ( 2016)
4. Count Charles-Henri Marie Ghislain d'Udekem d'Acoz (1985)

She was educated in Belgium{Source}. She attended primary school in Bastogne, and attended the "Institut de la Vierge Fidèle" {Source}.  From 1991-1994, she studied to be a speech therapist at the "Institut Libre Marie Haps" in Brussels, graduating magna cum laude{Source}. In 1999, she returned to school for a masters degree in Psychology at the Catholic University of Louvain, graduating cum laude in 2002{Source}.Upon graduation, she embarked on a professional career as a speech therapist, setting up a practice in Brussels{Source}. 

Queen Mathilde has taken patronage of many organizations, especially children. In 2000, just a short year after marrying into the Royal Family, the "Fund Princess Mathilde" was created{Source}.
In addition, Princess Mathilde has given her patronage to several associations dealing with issues of concern to vulnerable people{Source}. She also attaches prime importance to educational subjects, the empowerment of women and supports projects to fight illiteracy{Source}. In May 2002, she was a member of the Belgian delegation at the UN Conference on Children in New York{Source}. Since 2009, Princess Mathilde has been the Honorary President of UNICEF Belgium{Source}. She has been on several humanitarian missions to countries including Niger and Mali {Source}. She is an UNICEF and UNAIDS special representative for their world campaign for orphans and other vulnerable children affected or infected by HIV/AIDS, and has visited Tanzania, China and Senegal on their behalf{Source}. Queen Mathilde was also a UN emissary for the International Year of Microcredit 2005 and visited in that capacity projects in China, Mali, India and Washington/USA{Source}. In 2007, the Princess became a member of the Young Global Leaders of the World Economic Forum{Source}.

She married Prince Philippe of Belgium, The Duke of Brabant on 4 December 1999, thus becoming Princess Mathilde of Belgium, The Duchess of Brabant{Source}. They have two daughters and two sons{Source}:
Princess Elisabeth, The Duchess of Brabant (2001)
Prince Gabriel (2003)
Prince Emmanuel (2005)

Princess Eléonore (2008)

Queen Mathilde often accompanies her husband abroad for various duties, mostly to promote Belgium for its commercial and economical interests{Source}.

She enjoys classical music, and playing the piano{Source}. In her spare time, she enjoys playing tennis, swimming, and enjoying nature and open-air activities{Source}.
She is also a fan of literature{Source}.

She speaks several languages, including French, Dutch, English, Italian and some Spanish{Source}.

Queen Mathilde is a godmother to:

• Princess Alexia Juliana Marcela Laurentien of The Netherlands (2005){Source}
• Princess Isabella Henrietta Ingrid Margrethe of Denmark, Countess of Monpezat (2007)
• Miss Zaineb Tebbi-Sadki (2016) {Source}

She is close friends with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands.
Her astrological sign is Aquarius.