Belgian King and Queen's first duties

One of the first duties the new Belgian King and Queen have performed is to remember a predecessor.  Today is the 20th anniversary of the death of King Baudouin and at the memorial service, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde led the royal family publicly for the first time since the swearing in of July 21st 2013 that made them monarchs.

Queen Mathilde and King Philippe of the

 

Belgians lead the royal family in the memorial to King Baudouin held in Brussels today on the 20th anniversary of his death

 

Next to the new king was the Queen Dowager, Fabiola, who was married to Baudouin for 33 years.  Albert II and Queen Paola were there too but for the first time since his brother's death in July 1993, Albert was able to attend first and foremost as a sibling rather than as a head of state leading official tributes. 

 



 

King Albert II pays tribute to his brother, Baudouin, flanked by Queen Paola and Dowager Queen Fabiola