King Philippe and Queen Mathilde are beginning a five-day State Visit to South Africa. It will be the first Belgian State Visit to a country in Africa since King Baudouin visited in 1979. Interestingly, the largest Belgian community in Africa is in South Africa, with about 10,000 Belgians living there.
Although we don’t have a detailed agenda yet, we do know this. The South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa, will host a reception and a state banquet Thursday night. Tiara watch!
Also, Garde Robe Royale will always have the latest, if we aren’t fast enough!
Day One
It’s a long flight to South Africa, but the Queen looked fresh for both her departure and arrival. The white coat over the black dress is a sharp ensemble, and it is no surprise that it is by Armani. You can see both pieces well here.
🇧🇪🇿🇦This morning King Philippe & Queen Mathilde left for South Africa! #statevisit pic.twitter.com/IMno71o3l2
— Queen Mathilde Blog (@BlogMathilde) March 22, 2023
The print skirt and shirt she wore for arrival are re-wears by Natan. You can see some of the previous appearances here and here.
🇧🇪 Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrived in South Africa.
🇿🇦 They will pay a 4-day State Visit (Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town).
🌍 First Belgian State Visit to Africa in 19 years (King Albert and Queen Paola in 2004, Marocco), first one ever to South Africa. pic.twitter.com/8F7hHflYx5
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 22, 2023
Day Two
This is the first full day of official activities. The South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister of Social Development of South Africa Lindiwe Zulu greeted the King and Queen in Pretoria. The Queen’s pink dress – from Natan, and a rewear – is lovely in that light, but it’s the return of the sideways saucy saucer hat that grabs my eye.
The banquet was downsized from the original plans, and one of the the things to go was the tiara, alas. However, the Queen did manage to tuck a brooch in her updo. The sequined gown is also by Natan, and was worn in Luxembourg in 2019. (You can catch glimpses of the brooch at 6, 10, and 32 seconds in).
🇧🇪🇿🇦 Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrive at the state banquet @ Day 1 of the State Visit to South Africa
📍 Official residence of president Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria pic.twitter.com/ZvDXVqOBTE
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 23, 2023
Love Lindiwe Zulu’s hat – whole ensemble is zazzy, actually!
Here is some information on the downsizing of the state banquet.
🇧🇪🇿🇦 Downsized state banquet in South Africa for King Philippe and Queen Mathilde:
👉 President wanted it “more intimate”, perhaps because of protests against him.
👉 Relocated to smaller place: his residence.
👉 Number of Belgian guests reduced: 65 > 20. pic.twitter.com/YO7OocmIwX— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 24, 2023
Day Three
The day began with a visit to a Soweto day care for the Queen, wearing what is described as an “South African-inspired dress”. Garderoberoyale believes it might be by Odile Jacobs, but has not confirmed that yet.
🇧🇪🇿🇦 Dressed in African-style: Belgian Queen Mathilde in South Africa.
👶 Day 2 of the Belgian State Visit starts in a day care center in Soweto, a township of Johannesburg.
📚 In a few moments, in a classroom, she will read a book to the little children. pic.twitter.com/SCOtTcuwme
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 24, 2023
To thank the South Africans for their hospitality, the King and Queen hosted a jazz concert in the evening. The Queen wore a Dries Van Noten floral evening gown.
Out of gratitude for the South African hospitality, the King and Queen organise a jazz concert with 🇧🇪 and 🇿🇦 musicians.
Tomorrow, the Belgian delegation travels to Cape Town! 👋 pic.twitter.com/ahoZpL9H1U— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) March 24, 2023
Day Four
The couple has arrived in Cape Town for the final leg of their visit. The Queen is in a repeat Esmeralda Ammoun separates ensemble.
☔️ Arrived in Cape Town, South Africa’s second-largest city! It serves as the country’s legislative capital, being the seat of its Parliament! 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/bZo2ZvGFro
— Belgian Royal Palace (@MonarchieBe) March 25, 2023
They visited the Afrigen Biologics and Vaccines company in Cape Town and Zeitz Museum. The Queen is in another Natan re-wear, and her Fabienne Delvigne hat.
They ended the day with a cocktail reception. The Queen pulled out a favorite re-wear, a dress previously worn on an Indian tour. It is an ivory sheath with an embroidered tulle cape and is handmade by Bernard Depoorter.
🇧🇪🇿🇦 Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde arrive at Zeitz Museum in Cape Town to conclude Day 3 of the State Visit to South Africa. pic.twitter.com/xfmXh6otrH
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 25, 2023
Day Five
Another day in sunny, beautiful Cape Town.
🇧🇪🇿🇦 Photoshoot with Belgian King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in Cape Town, with Table Mountain in the background.
🗓️ Day 4 of the Belgian State Visit to South Africa.
👨🍳 Now they have lunch at Den Anker, a well-known Belgian restaurant. pic.twitter.com/bsZmfbyRt0
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 26, 2023
We knew the King was a painter but hadn’t seen him in action before.
🇧🇪🇿🇦 Belgian King Philippe finished a wall/container painting, adding a Belgian flag and his name.
🧑🎨 Artist name: Pilip. He is an amateur painter.
🗓️ Visit to Philippi Village (the name of the township in Cape Town, South Africa, and the one of the King = co-incidence 😃). pic.twitter.com/mzqhZ2jULP
— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) March 26, 2023
The duo traveled to the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town. The Queen is wearing a new to use designer, Belgian Caroline Biss.
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You know how this unfolds – we’ll update with official photos as they are available.