On June 2022, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Minister for Development and Cooperation Meryame Kitir and State Secretary for Scientific Policy Thomas Dermine visited the village of Katanga, close to the Miombo forests near Lubumbashi.
In the village of Katanga, the King and Queen received information on the project “Forest Community” of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). FAO leads international efforts to defeat hunger.
The project encourages the local community to sustainably manage and restore forest ecosystems, thereby limiting the damage caused by deforestation. The Miombo forests, with their rich biodiversity, are the main source of survival for the local population.
This safari suit would have been a much better look for Mathilde had the belt not been so broad and not been worn so high. It looks awkward and painful. In fact I'm not sure why the need for a belt at all, but if one was required, then a thinner strap tie in the same fabric as the jacket would have been the answer. Otherwise the jacket looks very good and is the correct length; the trousers fit perfectly. Hair and sunglasses are on point for a trip into the countryside.
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
Agree totally about the belt, it did not need to be worn at all, too thick, too heavy weight for the heat, humidity of the climate.
DeleteAgree. Why the belt? It is not necessary here.
DeleteYes I had the same thought as in your 1st sentence. However i think a belt is needed. It could have been in the same material as the suit.
DeleteAgree with you all -why wear a belt at all? However, if a belt was necessary a narrower matching one would certainly have been better. Queen looks good
DeleteThis is a long trip for the King and Queen. So nice to see all these people out there and Welcoming them to their country.. They haven't been in the Congo for some years, I am glad they are there. These men jumping through these hoops, let me just say better them than me. I really could not do that.
ReplyDeleteThe last time a Belgian king went to the Congo was in 2010 when King Albert II and Queen Paola were there. The visit has been postponed due to the pandemic. It is a very important visit and of high diplomatic level.
DeleteThis safari suit looks great, serviceable and appropriate. I wonder what the temperature is, I can only assume hot climate at this time of year ?
ReplyDeleteThe idea of this suit is great but it has a lot of errors. The jacket is not made for a belt, it does not have loops, and that is why the belt is too high. The model of the trousers is also odd, it should have been a more fitted straight trousers. It looks to big for Mathilde too.
ReplyDeleteMathilde looks good in safari suit , maybe with thinner belt or without would have been better. I like he natural hair style.
ReplyDeleteAva
Lubumbashi is the second most important CITY of DRC -right after Kinshasa the capital- known for being the mining hub. It’s the capital of the PROVINCE of Katanga. It’s an urban area with hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, universities and paved roads not a village. FYI, there are not only villages on the African continent. Next time please leave your stereotypes behind and do your homework before writing your articles.
ReplyDeleteOn the official website of the Royal Palace "monarchie.be" they write about the village of Katanga. On "Mathilde, reine de la mode" they write also about the village of Katanga (they are copying what the Royal Palace writes on their website). I think you are right but the way it is announced is a bit confusing : the village they are visiting is situated near Lubumbashi in Katanga. The Miombo forests are nearby and are the main source of survival for the local people. The name of the village can be "Katanga" too or it has no name and belongs to the city of Lubumbashi.
DeleteCet ensemble me paraît idéal pour Mathilde mais la ceinture en cuir trop rigide est vraiment trop large ; en effet, elle n'est pas avantagée en la portant trop haut ; cela aurait été beaucoup mieux si elle avait noué -par exemple- un modèle plus fin en léger tissu ou alors rien du tout ; Philippe est parfait ; très rafraîchissant !
ReplyDeleteI like this outfit on Queen Mathilde. The safari suits are often presented with a leather belt like this and QM likes big belts. I understand why she has chosen to wear one. But in her case a smaller one or a belt in a natural fabric (I don't know how it is called) in which belts are made to go with safari jackets or cotton trousers in earth colors (like beige, kaki, light brown, etc.). On her feet she wore loafers of Todd's. The safari look suits QM very well. King Phillipe looks handsome too in his linen blazer and cotton pants. He should put on his sun glasses, can't keep his eyes open and it is not very good for the eyes to go in the sun without sun glasses especially for someone with fair colored eyes.
ReplyDeleteSorry, the region name is Katanga and the village name is also Katanga.. that is correct.
ReplyDeleteHorrid outfit. The colour and material of jacket and trousers seem to be different. Not enough different to make it nice. The trousers seem to be too big. The belt; let's say nothing more about the belt. And even the shoes are not nice.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I like the idea of going to an ex-colony very much, it must be quite difficult at the same time. Many of the pictures look still so very colonial (which is not to blame Philippe or Mathilde).
please people, do make an effort on getting your geographics right before ridiculous criticisms on the dress code of our excellent queen
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