Queen Mathilde of Belgium facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz |
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Queen Mathilde in 2024
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| Queen consort of the Belgians | |
| Tenure | 21 July 2013 – present |
| Born | Jonkvrouw Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz 20 January 1973 Edith Cavell Hospital, Uccle, Belgium |
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| House | d'Udekem d'Acoz |
| Father | Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz |
| Mother | Countess Anna Maria Komorowska |
Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 20 January 1973) is the Queen of the Belgians. She is married to King Philippe and is the first queen in Belgium's history to be born in the country.
Before becoming queen, Mathilde worked as a speech therapist. Today, she is a mother of four and uses her role to help people. She focuses on important issues like education, helping children in poverty, and supporting women.
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Early Life and Family
Mathilde was born in Uccle, a part of Brussels, Belgium. Her parents were Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz and Countess Anna Maria Komorowska. Mathilde grew up in a castle called Château de Losange with her three sisters and one brother.
When she was 17, she and her sisters moved to an apartment in Brussels. This gave her a chance to experience city life before starting her university studies.
Education and First Career
Mathilde went to primary school in Bastogne and high school in Brussels. When she was 18, she spent six weeks doing volunteer work in the poor neighborhoods of Cairo, Egypt.
From 1991 to 1994, she studied to become a speech therapist at the Institut Libre Marie Haps in Brussels. She did so well that she graduated with high honors. For the next four years, from 1995 to 1999, she ran her own speech therapy practice and also worked in local schools.
Even after starting her career, she continued her education. In 2002, she earned a master's degree in psychology. She was the first member of the Belgian royal family to graduate from a Belgian university. Queen Mathilde speaks French, Dutch, English, and Italian, and also knows some Spanish.
Marriage and Becoming a Princess
Mathilde met Prince Philippe in 1996 while they were playing tennis. Their relationship was kept private for a few years. In September 1999, the Royal Court surprised the nation by announcing their engagement.
On December 4, 1999, Philippe and Mathilde got married in Brussels. They had a civil ceremony at the Brussels Town Hall and a religious service at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. On her wedding day, Mathilde became Her Royal Highness Princess Mathilde of Belgium, Duchess of Brabant.
The Royal Children
Queen Mathilde and King Philippe have four children:
- Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, born on October 25, 2001.
- Prince Gabriel, born on August 20, 2003.
- Prince Emmanuel, born on October 4, 2005.
- Princess Eléonore, born on April 16, 2008.
Their oldest child, Princess Elisabeth, is first in line to the throne. A law changed in 1991 allows the oldest child to become the monarch, no matter if they are a boy or a girl. This means Elisabeth is set to become Belgium's first-ever queen to rule in her own right.
Queen Mathilde is also a godmother to Princess Alexia of the Netherlands and Princess Isabella of Denmark.
Becoming Queen of the Belgians
On July 3, 2013, King Albert II announced he would step down from the throne. On July 21, 2013, his son Philippe was sworn in as the new King of the Belgians.
When Philippe became king, Mathilde became the Queen of the Belgians. She made history as the first Belgian-born queen consort. A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king.
The Queen's Work and Causes
Queen Mathilde is dedicated to helping others and supports many social causes. She is especially passionate about education, children's well-being, and women's rights.
Supporting Children and Health
Since 2009, Queen Mathilde has been the honorary president of UNICEF Belgium. She also works with the World Health Organization as a Special Representative for immunization, helping to promote vaccines. She is also the honorary president of a group that supports breast cancer research.
In 2001, she started the Princess Mathilde Fund (now called the Queen Mathilde Fund). This organization helps vulnerable people and gives out an annual prize to groups doing great work in the community. She is also the honorary president of Child Focus, a foundation that helps find missing children.
Global Development and Education
Queen Mathilde is a strong supporter of the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. These are 17 goals aimed at creating a better and more sustainable future for everyone. She often travels to promote these goals and attends the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
She is also a patron of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, a famous international contest for young musicians. In 2023, she received an Honorary Doctorate from Hasselt University for her work.
Honours and Awards
As Queen, Mathilde has received many honours from Belgium and other countries around the world. These awards recognize her work and her position as a representative of Belgium.
National Honour
Belgium: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold, the highest order of Belgium.
Foreign Honours
Queen Mathilde has received high honours from many countries, including:
Denmark: Knight of the Order of the Elephant
France: Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour
Germany: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Japan: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown
Netherlands: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion
Norway: Grand Cross of the Order of Saint Olav
Poland: Knight of the Order of the White Eagle
Portugal: Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry
Spain: Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Sweden: Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star
Royal Symbols
 The combined coat of arms of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. |
 The royal monogram of the King and Queen, showing their initials. |
.svg) The coat of arms of the d'Udekem d'Acoz family. |
 The personal coat of arms of Queen Mathilde. |
See also
In Spanish: Matilde de Bélgica para niños
