French State Visit to Belgium Begins

At the invitation of Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, the President of France Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron started today, Monday November 19, a two-day state visit to Belgium.

The King and the Queen officially received the President and his wife with a welcoming ceremony held in the courtyard of the Royal Palace in Brussels. The King with President Macron inspected the guard of honor and then were played the national anthems. Inside the Royal Palace the guest book was signed and the official picture were taken.

Dag één van het Staatsbezoek van Frankrijk start met een ceremonieel welkom aan het Paleizenplein en een verwelkoming in het Koninklijk Paleis.@EmmanuelMacron #StateVisit #Belgium #Belgique #België #France #Frankrijk #BELFR2018 #BelgianRoyalPalace #MonarchieBe pic.twitter.com/1cSbJpXwMM

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 19, 2018

La première journée de la visite d'État de la France commence par une cérémonie d’accueil sur la Place des Palais et une bienvenue au Palais Royal.@EmmanuelMacron #StateVisit #Belgium #Belgique #België #France #Frankrijk #BELFR2018 #BelgianRoyalPalace #MonarchieBe pic.twitter.com/JhJSqGMLDA

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 19, 2018

In the afternoon the Royal Couple and the Presidential Couple went in Ghent, a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium, where they paid a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts. At the Museum they were informed about the restoration of the fifteenth century painting “The Lamb of God” by the Van Eyck brothers.

Afterwards the King and the Queen, along with the President and his wife, attended a reception held at the City Hall of Ghent at the presence of members of the municipal and provincial government.

Visite de la ville de Gand, du musée des Beaux-Arts et de l’atelier de restauration de « l’Agneau Mystique » de Van Eyck. Ensuite, visité du magnifique hôtel de ville avec sa façade de style gothique et signature du livre d’or. #BELFR2018 #MonarchieBe pic.twitter.com/DYHzEntU5w

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 19, 2018

In the evening took place the State Banquet hosted by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde at the Laeken Castle. Princess Astrid, Prince Lorenz, Prince Laurent and Princess Claire were present among the guests.

King Philippe began his speech saying that “the Belgians know and love France, as one of the most beautiful countries in the world” and added that “France and Belgium have enormous assets to meet the challenges of our time. In both countries there is great dynamism and endless creativity, each from its own nature”.

Banquet d'Etat en l’honneur de son Excellence M. Emmanuel Macron, Président de la République française et de Mme Brigitte Macron, au Château de Laeken.@EmmanuelMacron #StateVisit #Belgium #Belgique #België #France #Frankrijk #BELFR2018 #BelgianRoyalPalace #MonarchieBe pic.twitter.com/4gdYGQmiCD

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 19, 2018

Staatsbanket ter ere van Zijne Excellentie de heer Emmanuel Macron, president van de republiek Frankrijk en Mevrouw Brigitte Macron, in het Kasteel van Laken.@EmmanuelMacron #StateVisit #Belgium #Belgique #België #France #Frankrijk #BELFR2018 #BelgianRoyalPalace #MonarchieBe pic.twitter.com/jLwzJmcqAJ

— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) November 19, 2018

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