Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde - Current Events part 16


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
See posts with no answers
Status
Not open for further replies.
Yesterday prince Filip opened 'Het Grote Seksperiment' (the great sexperiment); the 3rd great scientific exhibition at the Royal Palace. Goal of the experiment is that girls/women are as good in science as boys/men, to prove that the cliche that men are better in this area will be disproven.

An article and pictures from HLN here.

And a clip here.
 
Marengo said:
Yesterday prince Filip opened 'Het Grote Seksperiment' (the great sexperiment); the 3rd great scientific exhibition at the Royal Palace. Goal of the experiment is that girls/women are as good in science as boys/men, to prove that the cliche that men are better in this area will be disproven.

An article and pictures from HLN here.

And a clip here.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the photos. I think that it is very admirable that Prince Phillippe was there to lend his support to this exhibition. It is wonderful that attention is finally being paid to the issue of the attitudes of society toward girls and science.
 
Marengo said:
Yesterday prince Filip opened 'Het Grote Seksperiment' (the great sexperiment); the 3rd great scientific exhibition at the Royal Palace. Goal of the experiment is that girls/women are as good in science as boys/men, to prove that the cliche that men are better in this area will be disproven.

An article and pictures from HLN here.

And a clip here.
Click to expand...

Forgive me, if I have missed something on this thread, but it seems to me that your Crown Princess Mathilde is very interested in women's rights. I noticed she hosted a lunch on The International Womens Day in March, but can anyone tell me why she has chosen to put her efforts into that line of work? So many Eurtopean Crown Princesses have gone for the charity work, so I find it quite refreshing that Mathilde is doing something different!:flowers:
 
Villemann said:
Forgive me, if I have missed something on this thread, but it seems to me that your Crown Princess Mathilde is very interested in women's rights. I noticed she hosted a lunch on The International Womens Day in March, but can anyone tell me why she has chosen to put her efforts into that line of work? So many Eurtopean Crown Princesses have gone for the charity work, so I find it quite refreshing that Mathilde is doing something different!:flowers:
Click to expand...
You are right, Mathilde has done quite a lot in this field of activity. The Princess Mathilde Fund focussed on women´s rights and related topics back in 2004 (women and the multicultural society), 2005 (women and economics) and 2006 (women and health). IIRC the first women´s day lunch was hosted in 2007. Mathilde also participates in many events of Markant, a network of enterprising women in Belgium (being a former enterprising woman herself during her days as speech therapist). During economic trips she tries to support the businesswomen in attendance and also gets in touch with local women: e.g in South Africa (alongside with Mrs. Mbeki) she visited a SAWID(=South African Women in Dialogue) project and delivered a speech. Not sure if she also zoomed in on female topics during her study of psychology, but it would fit into her profile.
As for her motivation: As far as I understood she emphasizes the power of women due to her understanding of the underestimated and yet central role of women in society. Women´s rights are not taken for granted, neither is gender equality. Women are still disadvantaged and yet they have a lot to offer and this is what is highlighted by awarding projects with the Princess Mathilde Prize for example. So it´s her small contribution to boost the (self-)esteem of women in our society I guess.
 
johann said:
You are right, Mathilde has done quite a lot in this field of activity. The Princess Mathilde Fund focussed on women´s rights and related topics back in 2004 (women and the multicultural society), 2005 (women and economics) and 2006 (women and health). IIRC the first women´s day lunch was hosted in 2007. Mathilde also participates in many events of Markant, a network of enterprising women in Belgium (being a former enterprising woman herself during her days as speech therapist). During economic trips she tries to support the businesswomen in attendance and also gets in touch with local women: e.g in South Africa (alongside with Mrs. Mbeki) she visited a SAWID(=South African Women in Dialogue) project and delivered a speech. Not sure if she also zoomed in on female topics during her study of psychology, but it would fit into her profile.
As for her motivation: As far as I understood she emphasizes the power of women due to her understanding of the underestimated and yet central role of women in society. Women´s rights are not taken for granted, neither is gender equality. Women are still disadvantaged and yet they have a lot to offer and this is what is highlighted by awarding projects with the Princess Mathilde Prize for example. So it´s her small contribution to boost the (self-)esteem of women in our society I guess.
Click to expand...

Thanks, it is good to see a European Crown princess trying to branch out into other fields than "just" charity done the traditional way.:flowers:
 
I agree! It is great to see Mathilde heading in this direction. She is not afraid to stand up for what she believes in.
 
Princess Mathilde is named by Vanity Fair as one of the best dressed women int he world. We have a seperate thread about that and I moved the posts from this thread there. Look at the thead in the royal house of Fashion, here.
 
It's very interesting that Princess Mathilde has decided to focus her energies on women's rights and women's entrepreuneurial efforts. It is indeed a very worthy cause, not as well advertised in western countries as it should be. It struck me as a bit out of character at first because she is such a perfect mother, such a natural with children that I would have thought children would have been her cause of choice, but on second thought, her previous experience and her firm yet non-aggressive style will serve her well. How does it compare with Queen Rania's efforts in that direction ? I am just curious, and you can refer me to the appropriate threads.
 
I was wondering if Princess Mathilde is going to Beijing? I apologize if this has been stated in another thread, but I couldn't find it.
 
Yesterday I was watching the opening cerimony on tv and when the Belgian team came into the stadium the television camera focused on CP Philippe, but he was alone. I saw also Willem-Alexander and Maxima(they were so happy and cheerful):clap:with and orange flag for him and for her a scarf, obviously orange. King Harald and Queen Sonja, on the contrary were so serious;there were also Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia with the tipical fans and the Grand Dukes of Luxembourg.
 
I didn't see CP Mathilde either, and in the press they only named CP Philippe as going the the Olympics, so I guess she stayed home with the kids.
 
Mathilde and the kids are holidaying at the Belgian North Sea coast while Philippe is in Beijing. They were spotted out and about in Knokke-Heist some days ago. According to local rumours Philippe and Mathilde probably own a house there.
 
And there will be a change in Mathilde´s office on September 1st. Mathilde´s current advisor Anick Van Calster is appointed as new Belgian ambassador in the United Arab Emirates. Van Calster was Mathilde´s advisor for the last two years and served as the court’s socio-economic advisor prior to this position. Mathilde´s new advisor is a familiar face though: Machteld Fostier. She was Mathilde´s first advisor from June 2000 till September 2006. She then moved to Washington, served as deputy chief of the Belgian embassy and now returns to her old position.
 
Princess Mathilde hits the cinemas in Mexico and Latin America within the framework of the latest World Aids Conference (Mexico City, August 3-8). Mathilde, in her capacity as UNAIDS and UNICEF Special Representative for Children and AIDS, delivers a 60 sec video message in Spanish on the sad thematic of children and Aids. If I got it right she highlights that children, youngsters and their parents are keyplayers in the fight against Aids.
The video message will be aired in 1.500 Cinepolis cinemas in Mexico and Latin America prior to the feature movies and they hope to reach 90% of all 35 Million cinema-visitors in this region with it.

This initiative is made possible by the support of Alejandro Ramirez, CEO of Cinepolis. Alejandro Ramirez and Mathilde have been appointed as Young Global Leaders back in 2005/06. They both attended the Young Global Leaders meeting in Dailan/China last September, just like Pieter Piot the UNAIDS director, so I assume the three of them did a bit of brainstorming and set up this project back then. It seems UNAIDS and their royal representatives CP Mette-Marit (who is participating in a poster campaign) and Princess Mathilde are into media campaigns now, a proved instrument to raise awareness.
The message was recorded a few months ago when Mathilde was still pregnant with her fourth child. Not sure if Mathilde can speak Spanish or if Queen Fabiola just taught her how to fake she can speak Spanish, but it doesn´t sound bad to my non-Spanish ears.

The video clip is available at the homepage of Unicef Belgium (click on video next to Mathilde`s thumbnail pic)
Go to www.unicef.be choose Nederlands or Francais and then the main page should show up with the video link below the headline “Prinses Mathilde tegen HIV/Aids” (Dutch version) or “La Princesse Mathilde sur la SIDA” (French).
 
Thanks a million for posting this, johann! :flowers: I wonder who learned Mathilde to speak Spanish (I mean even if it's for this thing only, I'm not doing the same trick half as good...). Fabiola? Máxima? ;)
 
In her CV they say she speaks french, dutch, english and italian
 
It is really great from her that she does this for UNICEF. Nice to hear her speak spanish.
 
Since she speaks French and Italian, it would be possible for her to learn Spanish quickly. It is similar to French and Italian.
 
Congratulations to Belgium. Will the CP/King receive the Olympic team at the palace or will they see each other privately?

---
Princess Mathilde will be installed as the patron lady of the Archery guild (?) (schuttersgilde) of St. Sebastian. She will recieve it on September 18th.

Source: De Standaard
 
I believe they will be received formally at the Palace (it's sort of tradition, if I'm not mistaken), but as to when and who will be there, I have no idea. This will probably happen soon after they have returned. It would only be right to honour them like that, after all, Belgium didn't lose face completely now.
 
LadyLeana said:
I believe they will be received formally at the Palace (it's sort of tradition, if I'm not mistaken), but as to when and who will be there, I have no idea. This will probably happen soon after they have returned. It would only be right to honour them like that, after all, Belgium didn't lose face completely now.
Click to expand...
I agree, Albert better makes sure there´s a red carpet for these 5 women who successfully engaged in damage control. :belgiumflag:

I´m pretty sure they get a reception at Laeken, the relay girls already got one with Albert when they finished with a bronze medal at the World Championship last year. And Kim Gevaert will get a farewell ceremony during the Memorial Van Damme in Brussels (Sep 5th) and this athletics event is usually attended by Philippe too. So I don´t think they will see each other privately, Marengo - even if they had a sweet phone call. :lol:
 
Marengo said:
Princess Mathilde will be installed as the patron lady of the Archery guild (?) (schuttersgilde) of St. Sebastian. She will recieve it on September 18th.

Source: De Standaard
Click to expand...

Apparently she got this honour more or less thanks to her hubby. According to a newspaper article Philippe was so enthusiast during his last visit to the St. Sebaastiansgild (along with Prince Philip in 2006) that he promised to ask an important person to pay a visit too. The guild’s chairman then replied he doesn´t have to look far and asked him to send his wife Mathilde. Et voila, that´s how she got the honorary membership in this illustrious and more than 600 year old gild. Medieval tradition obliges somehow. :cool: The guild is a posh males only club (exception: honorary memberships for female royals) but on the occasion of Mathilde´s visit the member’s wives are allowed to show up too. Alas, there will be no archery – due to security reasons. Not sure if they are concerned about Mathilde´s security or rather about their own security once Mathilde gets her hand on the arch. It seems King Baudouin was the last royal who did some shooting. He was an honorary member of the guild too, just like King Albert, Queen Paola, Queen Fabiola and Prince Philippe.

The St. Sebastian Guild is also prominently linked to the British Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and Prince Andrew are amongst the honorary members too and most British monarchs during the last centuries have been. It all started with King Charles II. who spent some time in exile in Bruges (1656) and was appointed as patron of the St. Sebastian Guild. IIRC the Queen even honours the Guild by granting audiences so now and then.
 
Since in Belgium holidays are almost over and school is starting again for the kids, the royals also start there activities again

Planned Activities for Filip and Mathilde

09/09/2008: Filip and Mathilde will visit "studio 100" (studio100)

11/09/2008: Mathilde will visit VZW BEBE ACCUEIL and VZW SOS Enfants

16/09/2008: Mathilde will visit the project “Binnenste Buiten" in Antwerp
 
Do you know if the Belgian royal children will be escorted by their parents to school, and if so on which date? Feel free to start a new thread about it in the main forum, I think the interest in it should be big enough.
 
Yes indeed, last year the kids returned to school on september 3rd. It would surely be nice to see them all! :wub:

It's also good to hear that Mathilde will be back to work next month, I surely missed her out and about!
 
School starts on 1 September this year. It's tradition that they are escorted, so we'll probably be able to find some cute pics Monday. :wub:

Looking forward to it!!
 
Great, I started this thread about it, so post all the pictures/ questions/ other remarks & information about it here.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

iceflower
Crown Prince Haakon & Crown Princess Mette-Marit Current Events 4: January 2024 -
Replies
5
Views
2K
iceflower
iceflower
Hans-Rickard
Crown Prince Christian, News and Current Events Part 1: January 2024 -
2
Replies
47
Views
8K
An Ard Ri
An Ard Ri
iceflower
Gender & Names for Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa's first child 2024
Replies
13
Views
1K
maria-olivia
maria-olivia
iceflower
Crown Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa are expecting their first child: Summer 2024
Replies
14
Views
2K
Biri
B
Marengo
Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant News and Events 2, Feb 2024 -
2
Replies
30
Views
7K
Prinsara
Prinsara

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom