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}:
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}:
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:
She has three younger sisters and a younger brother{Source}:
- Jonkvrouw Marie-Alix Suzanne Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz (1974-1997, car accident)
- Countess Elisabeth Marie Hedwige Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz (1977)
- Margrave Alfonso Pallavicini (m. 2006)
- Margravine Olympia Edoarda Matilde Pallavicini (2008)
- Margrave Adalberto Domenico Carlo Patrizio Maria Pallavicini ( 2009)
- Margravine Constanza Carla Maria Pallavicini (2012)
- Countess Hélène Marie Michele Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz(1979)
- Baron Nicolas Janssen (m. 2011)
- Baroness Cordélia Janssen (2012)
- Baron Alistair Janssen (2013)
- Baroness Sophie Janssen ( 2016)
- 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.
Her astrological sign is Aquarius.
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