Belgium Royal Budget increases in 2009
January 22, 2009

The cost the Royal Family of Belgium will increase of 778.000 euros thus its amount will reach 13.843.000 € in 2009.
By R&Co.
An unpublished report, on the financial resources of the Royal Family of Belgium by the Professor Herman Matthijs of the VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), declares that the financial support allowed to the Belgium Royal members will be 13.843.000 euros in 2009 and therefore will substantially increase of 778.000€ compared to 2008.
Princess Astrid honored ‘Royalty of the Year’
January 21, 2009
Belgium's Princess Astrid (R), Goodwill Ambassador of the Roll Back Malaria Partnership, visits the paediatric section of the General Hospital in Livingstone April 24, 2008, ahead of World Malaria Day. The princess has received the 2008 "Royalty of the Year" honor by the Malaria Foundation International (MFI). (Photo : Reuters)
By R&Co.
The Malaria Foundation International (MFI) has announced its “End Malaria Awards” for 2008. Since 2006, its awards recognizes the many people and organizations who are involved into the fight to end malaria.
La Plus Jolie Princesse des “Sixties”
January 17, 2009

La princesse fait la une de “ Jours de France ” . Elle est une icône des années soixante. news
La Nouvelle Gazette – 11 Janvier 2009 – N.C.
La princesse rebelle, anticonformiste, porte la minijupe et sort en boîte
“Miroir, miroir, dis-moi quelle est la plus belle princesse du monde? ”
Challenges await new Belgian leader
December 31, 2008

Herman Van Rompuy, left, was sworn in Thursday by King Albert of Belgium. Van Rompuy has a reputation of being a hard-liner. (Francois Lenoir/Reuters)
Reuter, The Associated Press – December 30, 2008.
Brussels – A Flemish Christian Democrat, Herman Van Rompuy, was named Belgian prime minister Tuesday to head a revived five-party coalition in a country facing recession and a bank crisis.
Van Rompuy replaces a fellow party member, Yves Leterme, who resigned on Dec. 19 over allegations of political meddling in the bailout of Fortis, the stricken bank.
King Albert “received Mr. Herman Van Rompuy this afternoon at the Chateau de Laeken and named him prime minister,” the palace said in a statement. The swearing-in ceremony followed and the parliamentary vote of confidence will take place Friday.
Belgian government offers resignation over bank bailout
December 19, 2008
The Associated Press – December 19, 2008.
BRUSSELS, Belgium - Belgian Prime Minister Yves Leterme offered the resignation of his entire government Friday over the handling of the Fortis bank bailout.
Belgium Crown Prince meets Singapore leaders
November 28, 2008
Xinhua – November 27, 2008.
Visiting Belgium’s Crown Prince Philippe met with Singapore leaders on Thursday, discussing cooperation and investment between the two countries.
Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde, starting their three-day visit from Wednesday, called on Singapore’s President S. R. Nathan and Mrs Nathan on Thursday afternoon.
The king cometh
November 5, 2008
The Economic Times – November 4, 2008.
Belgium can easily be described as a diamond occupying pride of place in the bejeweled crown of the European Union (EU), thanks to the various important hats that it wears with equal ease and elegance. Its relation with India too goes way back and the roots have only gotten well entrenched with time.
Indo-Belgian trade has been rising systematically over the years and the visits by state dignitaries and businessmen, has made sure the ties are strengthened. With the state visit of King Albert II, the Belgian Monarch, starting yesterday, the ties between the two countries are set to be fuelled further.
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Sikh temple raid shadows Belgian royal visit to India
November 4, 2008

Belgium's King Albert II scatters rose petals next to Queen Paola (L) at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat in New Delhi November 4, 2008. Belgium's King Albert II and Queen Paola are on a eight-day official state visit to India.
The European News – November 3, 2008.
King Albert II of Belgium will go to India on a nine-day state visit beginning November 3, accompanied by Queen Paola, Foreign Minister Karel De Gucht, and top businessmen and academics, according to sources in the Royal Palace in Brussels. The royal visit comes on the heels of raids last month from Belgian police on 19 houses in Brussels’s Vilvoorde region including Gurdwara (Sikh Temple) and Tubize (just outside Brussels.) The Sikh community expressed outrage at the handling of the affair at the Sikh Temple, alleging that the police went in with shoes on and forced the reader of the Holy Book to abandon the continued recital that was going on to observe 300 years anniversary of the Holy Book.
Prince Laurent to plant trees in Libya for stopping the desert
October 16, 2008
October 16, 2008 – By R&Co.
According to some sources, the King Albert of Belgium is worried – again – about his son, Prince Laurent of Belgium who wants to plant trees in Libya to stop the desert. The King has reportedly (according to Sud-Presse this morning) shared his worries to the Belgian PM, Yves Leterme…
The financial crisis weakens the Donation
October 16, 2008
Last year, the Royal Donation - Monarchy resources (official website) – which handles many buildings in Belgium like the castles of Belvédère, of Stuyvenberg, Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, the villa Clémentine or the Arboretum de Tervuren has recorded 579.000 euros of losses.