On December 20, 2024, Queen Mathilde of Belgium helped with the lunch shift at Les Restos du Coeur in Saint-Gilles, Brussels. During her visit, Queen Mathilde met with beneficiaries and the charity's teams. Since 1985, Les Restos du Coeur has been distributing hot meals and food packages to people in need in Belgium.
Les Restos du Coeur (Restaurants of Love) is a French charity founded by comedian Coluche (1944–1986). The first Resto du Coeur opened on December 21, 1985, ahead of Christmas, and soon spread across the country. The first campaign netted 5,000 volunteers. Today, there are 16 Restos in Belgium: 12 in Wallonia, two in Flanders, and two in Brussels.
I love the queen‘s slightly flirtatious smile, actually I have never seen photos like these, she looks visibly relaxed, which is probably difficult under „normal“ circumstances.
ReplyDelete🌞 Virginia
Apparently you don't know Queen Mathilde very well. Lightly flirtatious smile ? Queen Mathilde is a friendly person who smiles a lot. She is friendly not only to children but also to elder people to poor people and to rich people. As well to women as to men. When serving meals she is asking the people what they want to eat and how much slices of meat they want. In the meantime she keeps on smiling. If you wish to call it flirtatious you must do it, but it doesn't sound very respectful to me. Queen Mathilde is always relaxed. I rarely saw her not relaxed and that is when she visits together with King Philippe a place where a disaster took place. There has been floods in Belgium too a couple of years ago. People lost their house, their family, their store, their workplace, their job,.....And earlier there has been an explosion on Brussels air-port with many victims and on the same day in the subway in Brussels. It were terrorist attacks. Then she is not relaxed, we all were not relaxed. I am living near the air-port and my grand-son's school is there too. Because the terrorist(s) were supposed still being in our municipality and recommended by the municipal police, the children were kept inside during the whole day, they could not leave the class rooms, they stayed longer in the cantine than usual, they could play a bit in the gym room. They could not go into the playground to play outside. When I went to his school to collect him at 4 o'clock, my grandson had a migraine and was relieved that he could go outside in the fresh air. On these days Queen Mathilde was not relaxed at all.
DeleteI don’t see any harm or disrespect in Virginie’s comment. Please don’t overreact.
DeleteAnonymous 16:18, I’m sure Virginia didn’t mean to offend. A flirtatious smile can just mean a little more intimate and relaxed and we don’t see that often with most royals due to when the photographers are present in events and which small moments they capture. Sorry for all your problems you’ve written about - seems a heavy period for you.
Delete@ 06:07
DeleteI am not having a heavy period, I just cannot stand that it are always the same people on this blog who have their opinion on any queen. Now even the way someone is smiling is analyzed here. "I have never seen photos like these, she looks visibly relaxed, which is probably difficult under "normal" circumstances" that is what Virginia said. So all the other times Queen Mathilde is smiling and even laughing she is not relaxed but she is acting ? What do you consider as difficult under normal cicumstances ? Since the beginning of her marriage she showed she is quite capable of being a queen, she doesn't have to perform a show. Being friendly to anyone is in Queen Mathilde's nature and beliefs.
All the problems I've written about happened in the past, they were not my problems alone, they were the problems of our nation and of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. I just told it to give an example in what circumstances Queen Mathilde or anyone was not "relaxed". These were not "normal" circumstances.
On December 19, Queen Mathilde and King Philippe visited the shelter called "Open deur" (Open door). They were both very relaxed, she took a child on her knee and they ate the same food as the children and their parents.
OMG! Besides being a wonderful, heartwarming engagement she looks so great! Love her longer (and less strictly styled) hair here, & her youthful and sincere smile!
ReplyDeleteDear No Name 18:18, My remarks were positive, the queen moved me, your dramatic reaction is beyond me.
Delete🌞 Virginia
Yes Virginia, the (increasingly common) overreaction responses can feel pretty startling when aimed at you!
DeleteDélicieuse Mathilde qui sait mettre la main à la pâte !
ReplyDeleteYes one can see she is a mother of 4. She did this before, maybe when she is in her vacation house on Ile d'Yeu (France) where she cooks the meals herself. Love her wine red blazer and black with white and red scarf.
ReplyDeleteGreat in every sense!
ReplyDeleteYes, absolutely! Wonderful!
DeleteLovely woman!
ReplyDeleteWhat a good thing to do - and she looks amazing here - really relaxed and happy
ReplyDeleteShe is such a gracious lady, will wear a hair net, wear appropriate clothes and fits right in with the people. I aspire to be such a lovey lady as her. Great role model
ReplyDeleteShe truly sets a wonderful example of grace and humility! It's inspiring to see someone so down-to-earth and respectful of others. I’m sure many, like you, are motivated to embody those same qualities.
DeleteQueen Mathilde’s visit to Les Restos du Coeur in Saint-Gilles highlights her continued commitment to supporting those in need. Her hands-on involvement in the lunch shift not only brought attention to the important work the charity is doing but also gave her the opportunity to connect directly with both the beneficiaries and the dedicated teams behind the organization.
ReplyDeleteOh, how wonderful she is. What a fabulous organization. This is fantastic. She assimilates with everyone she meets, what a great support network she is! She looks great. Well done Ma'am well done.
ReplyDeleteDear No Name 16:18, My remarks were a compliment, nothing else, the queen delighted me. Your reaction is incomprehensible.
ReplyDelete🌞 Virginia
@ Virginia
DeleteYour remarks were weird, not a normal way to express yourself.
For Anonymous 16:18
ReplyDeletePost a Comment
(We will not publish anonymous comments that were posted without stating a name or nickname)