Belgian King and Queen Begin State Visit to South Africa

At the invitation of the President of the South African Republic, Cyril Ramaphosa, Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde started today, Thursday March 23, a four-day state visit to South Africa.
Arrived yesterday evening in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital, the King and the Queen were officially welcomed by President Ramaphosa in a ceremony held in the courtyard of the Union Buildings in Pretoria.The Minister of Social Development of South Africa, Lindiwe Zulu, was present as well.
The King and the President inspected the guard of honour and the national anthems were played.
Inside the building took place a meeting and then the King and the Queen paid a visito to Freedom Park, a centre that celebrates South Africa’s heritage.
At Freedom Park the Royal Couple laid a wreath at the Memorial to those killed in the South African Wars, World War I, World War II and also during the apartheid era.
The King and the Queen continued the afternoon with a separate agenda. The King, along with the President and the Belgian delegation, attended a business forum titled “Building Sustainable Partnerships” and held at the CSIR International Convention Centre.
In the meantime the Queen, at the Headfield Campus of the University of Pretoria, attended a roundtable meeting titled “Strengthening the validity of social entrepreneurship as a model for change and the corresponding role of universities”.
The first day ended with a state dinner hosted by the President.

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Filed under Belgium
Tagged King Philippe of the Belgians, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, South Africa, State Visit.