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An unpublished report, on the financial resources of the Royal Family of Belgium by the Professor Herman Matthijs of the VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), declares that the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. 

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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. From Reuters Pictures by REUTERS. 

 

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. 

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<P><LEGENDE>La princesse fait la une de “ Jours de France ” . Elle est une icône des années soixante.</LEGENDE> <CREDIT> news</CREDIT> </P>

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? ”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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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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. From Reuters Pictures by REUTERS.

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.

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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…

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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.

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