Belgian State Visits: general discussion, suggestions, reflections

[An Ard Ri]

I might be wrong but I don't think Albert II made a State Visit to the UK during his 20 year reign?

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

I might be wrong but I don't think Albert II made a State Visit to the UK during his 20 year reign?

You are right. The last full Belgian state visit was Baudouin’s in the early 1960’s.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by maria-olivia

King Albert I was Knight of the Garter only after WW1!
I wonder which British Decoration King Philippe has as he was Child during Queen Elisabeth II State Visit to Belgium..

King Philippe doesn't have any British order. King Albert is a Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order .

[Duc_et_Pair]

The current government is demissionair (without mission), a caretaker Government. That means for the coming months (the formation will take long time) no announcements of future State Visits.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Duc_et_Pair

The current government is demissionair (without mission), a caretaker Government. That means for the coming months (the formation will take long time) no announcements of future State Visits.

But it was repoerted (from belgian journalists) that a belgian State Visit to Luxembourg is planned for autumn this year. So lets see if this takes place or not.

[theroyalfly]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

King Philippe doesn't have any British order. King Albert is a Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order .

Yes! None of King Albert II's children have any British order.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by theroyalfly

Yes! None of King Albert II's children have any British order.

The only one who will get an british Order is King Phulippe if there will be a british/belgian State Visit. Even if there would be a british State Visit to Belgium none of KIng Philippe's siblings will get a british order.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Stefan

The only one who will get an british Order is King Phulippe if there will be a british/belgian State Visit. Even if there would be a british State Visit to Belgium none of KIng Philippe's siblings will get a british order.

I believe Prince Albert received the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order while his brother was still king. Was it during Queen Elizabeth's 1966 state visit to Belgium ?


EDIT: I found the picture below which I think is from the 1966 state visit. King Baudouin is wearing the Order of the Garter and Prince Albert wears the RVO. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are wearing the Order of Leopold. The bottom line is that, while QEII does not decorate foreign queens consort, she is known to have awarded the RVO to male consorts or crown princes, e.g. Prince Claus, Prince Henrik, Prince Albert and Prince Felipe.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

I believe Prince Albert received the Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order while his brother was still king. Was it during Queen Elizabeth's 1966 state visit to Belgium ?


EDIT: I found the picture below which I think is from the 1966 state visit. King Baudouin is wearing the Order of the Garter and Prince Albert wears the RVO. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are wearing the Order of Leopold. The bottom line is that, while QEII does not decorate foreign queens consort, she is known to have awarded the RVO to male consorts or crown princes, e.g. Prince Claus, Prince Henrik, Prince Albert and Prince Felipe.

Bu then it would Princess Elisabeth who get the Royal Victoria order but none of King Phjilippe's siblings: And did she also give it to Crown pricne Haakon at her State Vitist to Norway in 2001?. Don't think so as he wore the order of St. olav at the norwegfian offical Visit to the Uk in 2005.

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Stefan

Bu then it would Princess Elisabeth who get the Royal Victoria order but none of King Phjilippe's siblings: And did she also give it to Crown pricne Haakon at her State Vitist to Norway in 2001?. Don't think so as he wore the order of St. olav at the norwegfian offical Visit to the Uk in 2005.

I don't think she would decorate anyone other than King Philippe because it would be an incoming visit to the UK and only Philippe and Mathilde would be in attendance.


I am inclined to believe that there won't be anpther outgoing visit from the UK to Belgium in the present Queen's reign as the Queen doesn't travel outside the UK anymore. When Charles is king, nobody knows what his policy will be. If he visits Belgium as king, he may change his mother's policy and decorate both Queen Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth, or he may not. We will have to wait and see.


Prince Felipe received his GCVO at the 1988 state visit from the UK to Spain and I think Prince Albert got his at the 1966 state visit to Belgium. Queen Elizabeth made a state visit to Norway in 1981 when King Olav V was still on the throne but CP Harald had already been decorated before with the GCVO in 1955, when he was not even the heir to the throne yet. There has been no further state visit to Norway since then and that is why Haakon never got a British order. The 2001 visit to the UK was not technically a state visit, I think, although it had a white tie dinner.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Mbruno

Prince Felipe received his GCVO at the 1988 state visit from the UK to Spain and I think Prince Albert got his at the 1966 state visit to Belgium. Queen Elizabeth made a state visit to Norway in 1981 when King Olav V was still on the throne but CP Harald had already been decorated before with the GCVO. There has been no further state visit to Norway since then and that is why Haakon never got a British order. The 2001 visit to the UK was not technically a state visit, I think, although it had a white tie dinner.

There was a State visit from Queen Elizabeth II. to Norway in 2001 a few months before the Wedding of Crown Prince Haakon. The norwegian Visit to the Uk was in 2005. So why did Crown Prince Haakon not get the Royal Victoria Order in 2001 when Felipe got it in 1988?

[Mbruno]

Originally Posted by Stefan

There was a State visit from Queen Elizabeth II. to Norway in 2001 a few months before the Wedding of Crown Prince Haakon. The norwegian Visit to the Uk was in 2005. So why did Crown Prince Haakon not get the Royal Victoria Order in 2001 when Felipe got it in 1988?

Sorry, I missed that one. There was indeed a state visit to Norway in 2001. I don't know the answer to your question. Maybe Royal Norway does.


Here is Prince Felipe wearing the RVO in 1988 .

[maria-olivia]

Queen Fabiola refused to wear all the foreign Orders , not easy !
Queen Paola wore the foreign Orders but was never seen with the Order of Leopold.
Queen Mathilde wore the Order of Leopold such as before Queen Elisabeth.

[An Ard Ri]

Where do visiting Head of State stay when on a State Visit to Belgium?

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Where do visiting Head of State stay when on a State Visit to Belgium?

My guess is that there are guests suits at Laeken Castle

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by Stefan

My guess is that there are guests suits at Laeken Castle

I thought that too but wasn't 100% sure.

[maria-olivia]

King Albert I received the Sash of the Order of the Garter for his Behaviour during WW1.
Only King Baudouin ( State Visit ) and his Grandfather had the Sash of the Order of the Garter.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

I thought that too but wasn't 100% sure.

Could also be at the Royal Palace but not sure. Or that there are Guest Apartements in both Palaces.

[eya]

If things go well (aka corona) a State Visit to my country comes in April 2022!!


https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...EYfL95INpozXpJ

[doro]

Any incoming state visit guessing to Belgium for 2023?