And unlike many royals, he hasn’t left behind a string of high-profile ex-girlfriends.
During her practice, she pursued additional studies in psychology.
It helped that the princess-to-be provided nearly zero fodder for gossip.
“She’s perfect!
She’s the Bionic Princess!”
University of Liege historian Francis Balace toldThe Washington Post.
Surely, the whole thing must have been arranged by the royal household.
Philippe firmly denied these allegations.
“I saw her [Mathilde] from far, and I went to talk to her.
“But no one had a photo or anything yet.
Well, I went to a bookstore.
It would represent a symbolic turnaround for the royal family.
The wedding did not disappoint.
All the bling and pageantry one would expect of a royal wedding were on display.
The large procession of wedding attendants came dressed in Christmasy red velvet.
Of course, no royal wedding would be complete without a long roster of royal guests.
Mathilde set the tone at their first public photo opportunity, where she wore down-to-earth beige slacks.
This was at the couple’s request: They asked guests for charitable donations to support vulnerable populations.
It also set the tone for their future philanthropic work.
In addition, the Queen Mathilde Fund supports initiatives proposed by young people to help other youth.
In Belgium, for instance, the king’s role is largely advisory.
At least those who marry royalty today mostly do so by choice.
But being born into a royal family is no picnic either.
King Philippe knows this from personal experience.
His parents had a difficult marriage and were often absent.
He and Queen Mathilde had no intention of letting their children repeat this cycle.
Unremarkable and unrevealing as the photos were, the family considered them an invasion of their son’s privacy.
Moreover, it’s a nation that’s never been truly unified.
“Belgium’s strength lies in giving meaning to our diversity.”
Queen Mathilde herself is seen as embodying the unity her husband hopes to foster.
