Belgian King and Queen Begin State Visit to Portugal

At the invitation of the President of the Portuguese Republic, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde began today, Monday October 22, a three-day state visit to Portugal along with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Didier Reynders, the Secretary of State for Foreign Trade Pieter De Crem and leaders of the federal states.

Upon their arrival in Portugal the Royal Couple was officially welcomed by President Rebelo de Sousa in the courtyard of the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, the Presidencial Palace, in Belem, Lisbon. The King and the President inspected the guard of honour and the national anthems were played.

Début de la Visite d'Etat au Portugal avec bienvenue à la Praça do Império et un accueil au Palais de Belém par le Président de la République, S.E. Marceloà Rebelo de Sousa.#BELPORT2018 #pracadoimperio #belgianroyalpalace #MonarchieBE pic.twitter.com/J6Im970zDz

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) October 22, 2018

Muito nos honra a visita de Estado dos Reis dos Belgas a #Portugal. Partilhamos a ideia de #Europa, como um projeto de paz, solidariedade e de progresso económico e social. Esta visita, com empresários e reitores das universidades belgas, dará um novo impulso às nossas relações. pic.twitter.com/QiRsKZ6gyd

— António Costa (@antoniocostapm) October 22, 2018

Then the King and the Queen laid a wreath at the tomb of Portugal’s greatest poet, Luís de Camões, buried in the Church of Santa Maria inside the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos. After the Royal Couple toured the Church and the Cloisters and signed the Guest Book.

Back at the Presidential Palace, the King and the Queen posed with the President for the official pics, signed the Book of Honour and then took place a private meeting followed by a short press conference with the King and President Rebelo de Sousa. At lunchtime the Prime Minister Antonio Costa hosted a lunch in honour of the Royal Couple at the Presidential Palace.

In the afternoon King Philippe and Queen Mathilde paid a visit to the Portuguese Parliament, Palácio de São Bento, where they were received by its President, Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues. Then the Royal Couple was received at the Lisbon City Hall by the Mayor of Lisbon, Fernando Medina, and then a reception took place in the Noble Hall where the mayor presented to King Philippe the Key of the City and then the King and the Queen signed the Lisbon Book of Honor.

Presentation of the key of the city in the Praça do Municipio. Overhandiging van de sleutel van de stad in het Praça do Municipio. — Présentation de la clé de la ville sur la Praça do Municipio.#praçadomunicipio#BELPORT2018 #belgianroyalpalace #MonarchieBE pic.twitter.com/6QjZXc1ws6

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) October 22, 2018

Iconic tram ride and visit to the Miradouro de Santa Luzia with a beautiful view. Iconische tramrit en bezoek aan de Miradouro de Santa Luzia met een prachtig zicht. Balade en tram emblématique et visite du Miradouro de Santa Luzia avec une vue magnifique.#BELPORT2018 pic.twitter.com/Pmy2ZpA0OT

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) October 22, 2018

Afterwards the Royal Couple, accompanied by the Presiden and the Mayor, toured the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon by the electric tram.  Later the King and the Queen laid a wreath at the Monument to the Dead of the Great War.

In the evening President Rebelo de Sousa hosted a state banquet to the King and the Queen at the Palácio da Ajuda.

Eerste dag van het Staatsbezoek wordt afgesloten met een staatsbanket aangeboden door ZE President @marcelorebelo_.#PalaciodaAjunda #UE #EU #UniaoEuropeia #EuropeanUnion #Europa #Lisbao #Lisbon #Portugal #Belem #BELPORT2018 #belgianroyalpalace #MonarchieBE pic.twitter.com/XonM7LSu7b

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) October 22, 2018

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