Queen Mathilde of Belgium

{{Infobox royalty

| consort = yes

| name = Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz

| image = EU2024BE 240417 Exhibition 'Histoire de ne pas rire. Surrealism in Belgium' - 70 (cropped).jpg

| caption = Mathilde in 2024

| succession = Queen consort of the Belgians

| reign = 21 July 2013 – present

| spouse = {{marriage|Philippe of Belgium|4 December 1999}}

| issue = {{Plainlist|

}}

| house = d'Udekem d'Acoz

| father = Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz

| mother = Countess Anna Maria Komorowska

| birth_name = Jonkvrouw Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1973|1|20|df=y}}

| birth_place = Edith Cavell Hospital, Uccle, Belgium

}}

Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz{{efn|Belgian women do not change their surname upon marriage.{{cite web|url=https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/belgians-abroad/registry/giving-name|title=Giving a name|website=Diplomatie Belgium|date=4 May 2022 |access-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404040223/https://diplomatie.belgium.be/en/belgians-abroad/registry/giving-name|archive-date=4 April 2023|url-status=live|quote=Under Belgian law, marriage does not have any effect on the spouses' surnames. You keep the surname that you had before you were married.}}}} ({{IPA|fr|matild dyd(ə)kɛm dakɔ|pron}}; born 20 January 1973) is Queen of the Belgians as the wife of King Philippe. She is the first native-born Belgian queen, and has four children. She formerly worked as a speech therapist. She is involved with a range of organisations which address social issues including education, child poverty, intergenerational poverty, and the position of women in society and literacy.

Early life and family

Jonkvrouw Mathilde Marie Christine Ghislaine d'Udekem d'Acoz was born on 20 January 1973 at Edith Cavell Hospital in Uccle, Brussels, Belgium.{{cite web | url=https://soirmag.lesoir.be/487991/article/2023-01-11/decouvrez-lenfance-de-mathilde | title=Découvrez l'enfance de Mathilde | date=11 January 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230523134333/https://soirmag.lesoir.be/487991/article/2023-01-11/decouvrez-lenfance-de-mathilde|archive-date=23 May 2023|url-status=live }} Her parents are Count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz (1936–2008), a politician, and his wife, Countess Anna Maria Komorowska (b. 1946).{{cite web |url=https://www.tijd.be/algemeen/algemeen/kroonprins-filip-huwt-belgische-mathilde-d-udekem-d-acoz/5246295.html|title=Kroonprins Filip huwt Belgische Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz|date=11 September 1999|website=tijd.be |language=Dutch |trans-title=Crown Prince Filip marries Belgian Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz|access-date=23 May 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230523133742/https://www.tijd.be/algemeen/algemeen/kroonprins-filip-huwt-belgische-mathilde-d-udekem-d-acoz/5246295.html|archive-date=23 May 2023|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Fietsreporter Wouter Deboot belandt "Met de wind mee" bij gravin Anna, de moeder van koningin Mathilde|trans-title=Bicycle reporter Wouter Deboot ends up "with the wind" at Countess Anna, Queen Mathilde's mother|language=Dutch|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/04/14/met-de-wind-mee-brengt-wouter-deboot-bij-de-moeder-van-mathild/|access-date=14 April 2023 |website=vrt.be|date=14 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421073128/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/04/14/met-de-wind-mee-brengt-wouter-deboot-bij-de-moeder-van-mathild/|archive-date=21 April 2023|url-status=live}} Mathilde has three sisters: Marie-Alix (1974–1997), Elisabeth (b. 1977, a speech therapist){{cite web |url=https://www.hln.be/royalty/in-beeld-bijna-voltallig-gezin-van-koning-filip-aanwezig-op-huwelijk-van-broer-koningin-mathilde~a386398b|title=IN BEELD. Bijna voltallig gezin van koning Filip aanwezig op huwelijk van broer koningin Mathilde|date=3 September 2022|website=HLN |language=Dutch |trans-title=IN PICTURE. Almost the entire family of King Philippe present at the wedding of Queen Mathilde's brother|access-date=23 May 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230523140101/https://myprivacy.dpgmedia.be/consent?siteKey=Uqxf9TXhjmaG4pbQ&callbackUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hln.be%2Fprivacy-gate%2Faccept-tcf2%3FredirectUri%3D%252Froyalty%252Fin-beeld-bijna-voltallig-gezin-van-koning-filip-aanwezig-op-huwelijk-van-broer-koningin-mathilde~a386398b|archive-date=23 May 2023|url-status=live}} and Hélène (b. 1979, a lawyer), and one brother Charles-Henri (b. 1985, a lawyer).{{cite web |url=https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/belgique/le-mariage-de-charles-henri-dudekem-dacoz-et-caroline-philippe-en-normandie |title=Le mariage de Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz et Caroline Philippe en Normandie|date=5 September 2022 |website=Point de Vue |language=French |trans-title=The wedding of Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz and Caroline Philippe in Normandy|first=Paola|last=Dicelli|access-date=23 May 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230523141123/https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/belgique/le-mariage-de-charles-henri-dudekem-dacoz-et-caroline-philippe-en-normandie|archive-date=23 May 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://www.monarquiaconfidencial.com/belgica/Fallece-Patrick-princesa-Matilde-Belgica_0_1038496147.html |title=Fallece a los 72 años Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz, padre de la princesa Matilde de Bélgica |last=Rey y Cabieses |first=Amadeo-Martín |date=27 September 2008 |website=monarquiaconfidencial.com |language=es |trans-title=Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz, father of Princess Mathilde of Belgium, dies at 72 |access-date=13 April 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230414054235/https://monarquia.elconfidencialdigital.com/articulo/belgica/Fallece-Patrick-princesa-Matilde-Belgica/20080927020000005768.html|archive-date=14 April 2023|url-status=live}} Her godfather is her uncle, Count Raoul d'Udekem d'Acoz.{{Cite web |first=Lina |last=El Bakkali |date=25 March 2023 |title=Graaf Raoul d'Udekem d'Acoz, oom van koningin Mathilde, is overleden|trans-title=Count Raoul d'Udekem d'Acoz, uncle of Queen Mathilde, has passed away|language=Dutch|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/03/25/nonkel-van-mathilde-raoul-dudekem-dacoz-is-overleden/ |access-date=29 March 2023 |website=vrt.be|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329095715/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/03/25/nonkel-van-mathilde-raoul-dudekem-dacoz-is-overleden/|archive-date=29 March 2023 |url-status=live}}

Mathilde grew up in the Château de Losange{{Cite web |first=Anne |last=François |date=20 January 2023 |title=La reine Mathilde fête ses 50 ans : portrait d'une femme exceptionnelle|trans-title=Queen Mathilde celebrates her 50th birthday: portrait of an exceptional woman|language=French|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/fr/2023/01/20/la-reine-mathilde-fete-ses-50-ans-portrait-dune-femme-exceptio/|access-date=29 March 2023 |website=vrt.be|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610125257/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/fr/2023/01/20/la-reine-mathilde-fete-ses-50-ans-portrait-dune-femme-exceptio/|archive-date=10 June 2023 |url-status=live}} in {{ill|Villers-la-Bonne-Eau|fr}}. At the age of 17, she lived with her three sisters in an apartment at {{ill|Boulevard Auguste Reyers|fr}}, Schaarbeek.

Education and career

Mathilde attended primary school in Bastogne and then attended secondary school at the Institut de la Vierge Fidèle in Brussels. At the age of 18, Mathilde did voluntary work in the slums of Cairo for six weeks. From 1991 until 1994, Mathilde attended the Institut Libre Marie Haps in Brussels, where she studied speech therapy and graduated magna cum laude.{{cite web |title=Mathilde, queen of Belgium |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mathilde-queen-of-Belgium |website=Britannica |access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414014422/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mathilde-queen-of-Belgium|archive-date=14 April 2023|url-status=live|quote=Mathilde was the daughter of a judge and a countess, ...}} She worked as a speech therapist in her own practice in Brussels from 1995 to 1999. She also worked in several Brussels schools. She earned a master's degree in psychology at the Université catholique de Louvain in 2002 with honours (cum laude). Mathilde became the first member of the Belgian royal family with a Belgian university degree. She also took a ten-day leadership course at Harvard University in 2011.

Mathilde speaks French, Dutch, English and Italian.{{Cite web |first=Sandra |last=Cardoen |date=20 January 2023 |title=Schoenmaat 39, een eindwerk tussen de luiers en "mama Robocop": 50 weetjes over koningin Mathilde die vandaag 50 is|trans-title=Shoe size 39, a thesis between diapers and "mama Robocop": 50 facts about Queen Mathilde who is 50 today|language=Dutch|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/01/10/mathilde-50-jaar/|access-date=29 March 2023 |website=vrt.be|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414060945/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/01/10/mathilde-50-jaar/|archive-date=14 April 2023 |url-status=live}} She is also able to speak basic Spanish. Her mother, who has lived most of her life outside Poland, did not teach her Polish, thinking that it would not be necessary. Therefore, she knows only a few words of Polish.{{cite web|url=http://www.wprost.pl/ar/147405/Krolowa-polsko-belgijska/ |title=Królowa polsko-belgijska |language=pl |website=Wprost.Pl |date=14 December 2008 |access-date=2016-10-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414065442/https://www.wprost.pl/tygodnik/147405/Krolowa-polsko-belgijska.html|archive-date=14 April 2023 |url-status=live}}

Marriage and children

Jonkvrouw Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz met Prince Philippe, Duke of Brabant while playing tennis in 1996.{{cite web|url=https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2017102669594/princess-elisabeth-belgium-facts-biography/|title=Princess Elisabeth of Belgium: Facts about the future queen|website=Hello|date=26 October 2017|access-date=16 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240701091429/https://www.hellomagazine.com/royalty/2017102669594/princess-elisabeth-belgium-facts-biography/|archive-date=1 July 2024|url-status=live}} In September 1999, the Belgian Royal Court announced the engagement of Prince Philippe to Mathilde.{{cite web |title=Philippe, king of Belgium|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Philippe-king-of-Belgium |website=Britannica |access-date=October 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414070659/https://www.britannica.com/topic-content/page/14224/2|archive-date=14 April 2023|url-status=live}} Mathilde was presented to the press and public at the Castle of Laeken on 13 September 1999. The announcement of Mathilde's engagement to the Belgian heir-apparent Prince Philippe came as a surprise to the country. Mathilde married Philippe on 4 December 1999 in Brussels, civilly at the Brussels Town Hall and religiously at the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. Mathilde's bridal gown was designed by Édouard Vermeulen. She was made Duchess of Brabant and a Princess of Belgium on 8 November 1999 (published on 13 November 1999 and effective from 4 December 1999). The couple reportedly spent their honeymoon in the Maldives and India.

Upon her marriage to Prince Philippe in 1999, King Albert II of Belgium elevated the d'Udekem d'Acoz family from the baronial to the comital rank, hereditary in the male lineage.{{cite web|title=Royal Decree of 8 November 1999|url=http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/1999/11/13_1.pdf#Page85|website=www.ejustice.just.fgov.be|access-date=9 April 2023|date=14 July 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410051239/http://www.ejustice.just.fgov.be/mopdf/1999/11/13_1.pdf|archive-date=10 April 2023|url-status=live}}

The couple have four children:

Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, born 25 October 2001 at Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels
Prince Gabriel, born 20 August 2003 at Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels
Prince Emmanuel, born 4 October 2005 at Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels
Princess Eléonore, born 16 April 2008 at Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels

Princess Elisabeth, the couple's eldest child, is the first in line to the throne and ahead of her younger brothers and sister, who are second, third, and fourth in line to succeed, owing to a change in Belgian succession laws in 1991, allowing for the eldest child to succeed, regardless of sex.{{cite web|url=https://www.monarchie.be/en/for-children/the-king-the-queen-and-their-family |website=Monarchie.be |publisher=The Belgian Monarchy |title=The King, the Queen and their Family |access-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414071030/https://www.monarchie.be/en/for-children/the-king-the-queen-and-their-family|archive-date=14 April 2023|url-status=live|quote=In the past, only boys could become Kings. The Constitution was changed in 1991: Princesses can now also ascend the throne and become Queen. Princess Elisabeth, who is the eldest of four children of King Philippe, is therefore the heiress of the Belgian monarchy. When she succeeds her father King Philippe, Princess Elisabeth will be the first woman to become Head of State in Belgium.}}

Queen Mathilde is a godmother to Princess Alexia of the Netherlands and Princess Isabella of Denmark.{{cite web|url=https://www.royal-house.nl/members-royal-house/princess-alexia|title=Princess Alexia|website=Dutch Royal House|date=14 January 2015 |access-date=15 July 2022|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230414072335/https://www.royal-house.nl/members-royal-house/princess-alexia|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/monarkiet-i-danmark/begivenheder-i-kongehuset/kirkelige-handlinger/fodsler-og-dab/h-k-h-prinsesse-isabellas-dab/#|trans-title=HRH Princess Isabella's christening|title=H.K.H. Prinsesse Isabellas dåb|website=Danish Royal House|access-date=15 July 2022|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230414072634/https://www.kongehuset.dk/monarkiet-i-danmark/begivenheder-i-kongehuset/kirkelige-handlinger/fodsler-og-dab/h-k-h-prinsesse-isabellas-dab/%23|url-status=live}} Queen Mathilde is also a godmother to girls named Hyle-Mathilde Blakaj, Zaineb Tebbi and Madinah Mohammed Ibrahim, the seventh daughters of families from Charleroi and Ghent.{{cite web|url=https://www.telesambre.be/la-petite-hyle-mathilde-est-la-premiere-carolo-devenir-la-filleule-de-la-reine-mathilde|title=La petite Hyle Mathilde est la première carolo a devenir la filleule de la Reine Mathilde|trans-title=Little Hyle Mathilde is the first Carolo to become Queen Mathilde's goddaughter|first=François |last=Grossard|location=Charleroi|date=8 October 2020|access-date=18 March 2023|language=French|archive-date=14 April 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230414074514/https://www.telesambre.be/la-petite-hyle-mathilde-est-la-premiere-carolo-devenir-la-filleule-de-la-reine-mathilde|website=Telesambre|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/royalty/koningin-mathilde-schenkt-gentse-metekind-zilveren-schaal~a176cb49/|title=Koningin Mathilde schenkt Gentse metekind... zilveren schaal|trans-title=Queen Mathilde presents Ghent godchild... silver bowl|language=Dutch|website=HLN|date=13 April 2017|access-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230414080215/https://www.hln.be/royalty/koningin-mathilde-schenkt-gentse-metekind-zilveren-schaal~a176cb49/|archive-date=14 April 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hln.be/gent/zevende-dochter-op-rij-van-dit-gents-gezin-krijgt-koningin-mathilde-als-meter-misschien-komt-er-nog-een-achtste~a3633e2c/|title=Zevende dochter op rij van dit Gents gezin krijgt koningin Mathilde als meter: "Misschien komt er nog een achtste"|trans-title=Seventh daughter in a row of this Ghent family will have Queen Mathilde as godmother: "Maybe there will be an eighth"|language=Dutch|website=HLN|date=9 July 2021|access-date=4 April 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230601092612/https://www.hln.be/gent/zevende-dochter-op-rij-van-dit-gents-gezin-krijgt-koningin-mathilde-als-meter-misschien-komt-er-nog-een-achtste~a3633e2c/|archive-date=1 June 2023|url-status=live}} Belgian tradition stated that the seventh daughter from an uninterrupted line of girls has the privilege of asking the Queen to be her godmother.{{cite web|url=https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2021/07/09/koningin-mathilde-wordt-meter-van-gentse-madinah-1/|title=Koningin Mathilde wordt meter van Gentse Madinah|trans-title=Queen Mathilde becomes godmother of Ghent Madinah|first= Jeroen |last=Desmecht|website=vrt.be|date=9 July 2021|access-date=27 February 2023|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230414082649/https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2021/07/09/koningin-mathilde-wordt-meter-van-gentse-madinah-1/|archive-date=14 April 2023|url-status=live|language=Dutch}}

Queen Consort

King Albert II announced on 3 July 2013 that he would abdicate in favour of Philippe on 21 July 2013.{{cite news|last=Price|first=Matthew|title=Belgium's King Albert II announces abdication|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23167525|access-date=3 July 2013|newspaper=BBC News|date=3 July 2013}} Approximately one hour after King Albert II's abdication, Prince Philippe was sworn in as King of the Belgians.{{cite news|title=Belgium's King Albert II gives up throne to son|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/21/world/europe/belgium-new-king/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|access-date=21 July 2013|newspaper=CNN|date=21 July 2013}} Upon his accession, Mathilde became the first queen consort of native Belgian nationality. (An earlier Belgian king, King Leopold III, had a Belgian second wife, Lilian, Princess of Réthy, who was not given the title of queen). Their eldest child, Princess Elisabeth, became heir apparent and is expected to become Belgium's first queen regnant.

Activities

Queen Mathilde is involved with a range of social issues including education, child poverty, intergenerational poverty, the position of women in society and literacy.{{cite web|url=https://www.monarchie.be/en/royal-family/the-queen|title=The Queen|work=The Belgian Monarchy Official Website|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230414015423/https://www.monarchie.be/en/royal-family/the-queen|archive-date=14 April 2023|url-status=live}}

Since 2009, Queen Mathilde has been the honorary president of Unicef Belgium. She serves as the World Health Organization's Special Representative for immunization.{{cite web|url=http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-publish/information-for-the-media/sections/latest-press-releases/princess-mathilde-of-belgium-to-visit-albania-as-who-special-representative-focus-on-frontline-health-workers-and-immunization|title=Princess Mathilde of Belgium to visit Albania as WHO special representative: focus on frontline health workers and immunization|date=21 March 2012|website=Euro.who.int|access-date=22 October 2016}} She also the honorary president of the Breast International Group, a non-profit organisation for academic breast cancer research groups from around the world.

She set up the Princess Mathilde Fund (now the Queen Mathilde Fund) in 2001, which promotes the care of vulnerable people and awards an annual prize for good works in a particular sector.{{cite web|url=http://www.monarchie.be/monarchy-today/royal-initiatives/princess-mathilde-fund|title=The Belgian Monarchy|website=Monarchie.be|access-date=22 October 2016}} The sector changes each year: examples include early years education, women's health, and protecting young people from violence.[http://www.kbs-frb.be/call.aspx?id=209800&LangType=2060 KBS] {{dead link|date=October 2016}}

Queen Mathilde deploys the Queen's Charities to offer help to citizens who are struggling to cope with financial hardship in their daily lives and often turn to her as a last resort. The Queen is the honorary president of Child Focus, a foundation for missing and sexually exploited children.

Queen Mathilde is also a patron of the Queen Elisabeth Music Competition, an international competition founded in 1937 as an initiative of Queen Elisabeth and Belgian composer and violist Eugène Ysaÿe.

In 2018, Queen Mathilde became the honorary president of the Federal Council for Sustainable Development. According to the royal tradition, Queen Mathilde became an honorary member of the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium.

Queen Mathilde is a member of the board of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship. She was a United Nations Emissary for the International Year of Microcredit 2005, which focused in particular on financial inclusion and financial literacy. The Queen also attends the annual World Economic Forum in Davos.

Queen Mathilde was named a United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Advocate in 2016, promoting the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (an agenda for global sustainable development).{{cite web|url=https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdgadvocates/|title=Sustainable Development Goals Advocates|last=Martin|access-date=19 December 2018}}{{Cite web |title=SDG ADVOCATES 2019–2020 |url=https://www.unsdgadvocates.org/members |access-date=21 August 2020 |website=United Nations}}

The Queen also presided at the ceremony awarding the King Baudouin International Development Prize. She also received an Honorary Doctorate from Hasselt University on 30 May 2023.

Honours

{{see also|List of honours of the Belgian royal family by country}}

=National =

{{flag|Belgium}}: Grand Cordon of the Order of Leopold{{cite news |date=22 December 2001 |title=Royal Decree |url=https://etaamb.openjustice.be/fr/arrete-royal_n2001015137.html|publisher=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Trade and International Cooperation |access-date=9 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230410043753/https://etaamb.openjustice.be/fr/arrete-royal_n2001015137.html |archive-date=10 April 2023 |url-status=live}}

=Foreign=

{{flag|Denmark}}: Knight of the Order of the Elephant, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.dk/monarkiet-i-danmark/ordener-og-medaljer/modtagere-af-danske-dekorationer/#oversigt-over-modtagere-af-danske-dekorationer|title=Modtagere af danske dekorationer|website=kongehuset.dk|access-date=2019-01-29|language=da|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610123553/https://www.kongehuset.dk/monarkiet-i-danmark/ordener-og-medaljer/modtagere-af-danske-dekorationer/#oversigt-over-modtagere-af-danske-dekorationer|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=live}}
{{flag|France}}: Grand Cross of the National Order of the Legion of Honour, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/belgique/philippe-et-mathilde-de-belgique-deroulent-le-tapis-rouge-pour-brigitte-et-emmanuel-macron|title=Philippe et Mathilde de Belgique déroulent le tapis rouge pour Brigitte et Emmanuel Macron|trans-title=Philippe and Mathilde from Belgium roll out the red carpet for Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron|website=Point de Vue|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610130601/https://www.pointdevue.fr/royal/belgique/philippe-et-mathilde-de-belgique-deroulent-le-tapis-rouge-pour-brigitte-et-emmanuel-macron|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=live|language=French}}
{{flag|Finland}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the White Rose of Finland{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
{{flag|Germany}}: Grand Cross Special Class of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
{{flag|Greece}}: Grand Cross of the Order of the Redeemer 2 May 2022{{CN|date=June 2023}}
{{flag|Holy See}}:
Dame Grand Cross of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem{{cite web|url=http://www.sudpresse.be/actualite/belgique/2010-06-14/une-grande-chretienne-789185.shtml |title=Archives – sudinfo.be |website=Sudpresse.be |date=2010-06-14 |access-date=2016-10-23}}
Dame of the Collar of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem 17 November 2015{{Cite web|url=https://ordredusaintsepulcre.be/Le-Roi-et-la-Reine-sont-devenus-chevaliers-de-collier/|title = Le Roi et la Reine sont devenus chevaliers de collier}}
{{flag|Japan}}: Grand Cordon of the Order of the Precious Crown{{cite web|url=https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ms/po/page25_000288.html|title=外国人叙勲受章者名簿|trans-title=List of Foreign Conferment of Decorations (2016)|website=Ministry of Foreign Affair of Japan|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610132940/https://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/ms/po/page25_000288.html|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=live|language=Japanese}}
{{flag|Jordan}}: Grand Cordon with Brilliants of the Supreme Order of the Renaissance{{cite web|url=http://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2016-05-18/duelo-reinas-rania-jordania-matilde-belgica_1202279/|title=Nuevo duelo de reinas: una Rania muy demodé no puede con una Matilde sublime. Noticias de Casas Reales|website=Vanitatis.elconfidencial.com|date=18 May 2016|access-date=22 October 2016}}
{{flag|Lithuania}}: Grand Cross of the Order of Vytautas the Great 24 October 2022{{cite web | url=https://www.baltictimes.com/lithuanian_president_confers_state_awards_to_king_and_queen_of_belgium_ahead_of_visit/| title=Lithuanian president confers state awards to King and Queen of Belgium ahead of visit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610134725/https://www.baltictimes.com/lithuanian_president_confers_state_awards_to_king_and_queen_of_belgium_ahead_of_visit/|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=live}}
{{flag|Luxembourg}}:
Knight of the Order of the Gold Lion of the House of Nassau, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://monarchie.lu/fr/actualites/visite-etat-roi-reine-belges-luxembourg-premiere-journee|title=Visite d'Etat de LL.MM. le Roi et la Reine des Belges au Grand-Duché de Luxembourg – Première journée|trans-title=State visit of TM The King and Queen of the Belgians in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg – First day|website=Luxembourg Grand Ducal Court|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610134537/https://monarchie.lu/fr/actualites/visite-etat-roi-reine-belges-luxembourg-premiere-journee|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=live|language=French}}
Grand Cross of the Order of Civil and Military Merit of Adolph of Nassau{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
{{flag|Netherlands}}:
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Netherlands Lion, 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/staatsbezoeken/inkomende-staatsbezoeken/staatsbezoek-koning-en-koningin-van-belgie/maandag-28-november-amsterdam|title=Staatsieportret voorafgaande aan staatsbanket|trans-title=State portrait prior to state banquet|website=Dutch Royal Court|date=28 November 2016 |access-date=2019-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610140021/https://www.koninklijkhuis.nl/onderwerpen/staatsbezoeken/inkomende-staatsbezoeken/staatsbezoek-koning-en-koningin-van-belgie/maandag-28-november-amsterdam|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=live|language=Dutch}}
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Orange-Nassau{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Recipient of the King Willem-Alexander Inauguration Medal
{{flag|Norway}}: Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav{{cite web|url=https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995&q=Mathilde&type=27117&aarstall=|title=Tildelinger av ordener og medaljer|trans-title=Awards of orders and medals|website=Norwegian Royal Court|access-date=2019-01-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230610134305/https://www.kongehuset.no/tildelinger.html?tid=28028&sek=27995&q=Mathilde&type=27117&aarstall=|archive-date=June 10, 2023|url-status=live|language=Norwegian}}
{{flag|Oman}}: Member Special Class of the Order of Oman, 2024.{{Cite tweet |author=The Royal Reporter |user=saadsalman719 |number=1864021727958687783 |title= Sultan Haitham has appointed The Queen of the Belgians to be a Member of the Order of Oman.}}
{{flag|Poland}}:
Knight of the Order of the White Eagle
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland{{cite web|url=http://www.monarchie.be/sites/default/files/imagecache/ImageDetail/images/fr_pol.jpg|title=The Belgian Monarchy|website=Monarchie.be|access-date=22 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://prawo.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/DocDetails.xsp?id=WMP20050090162|title=Postanowienie Prezydenta Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej z dnia 18 października 2004 r. o nadaniu orderów|website=prawo.sejm.gov.pl|access-date=19 December 2018}}
{{flag|Portugal}}:
Grand Cross of the Military Order of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 2006.
Grand Collar of the Order of Prince Henry, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.vanitatis.elconfidencial.com/casas-reales/2018-10-22/matilde-de-belgica-portugal-cena-gala-visita-estado_1634263/|title=La reina Matilde de Bélgica, una burbuja Freixenet en su cena de gala en Portugal|date=23 October 2018|website=El Confidencial|access-date=19 December 2018}}
{{flag|Spain}}: Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic 12 May 2000{{cite journal|access-date=1 August 2018|date=13 May 2000|periodical=Boletín Oficial del Estado|title=BOE núm. 115|url=http://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2000/05/13/pdfs/A17722-17722.pdf}}
{{flag|Sweden}}:
Member Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}
Recipient of the 70th Birthday Badge Medal of King Carl XVI Gustaf{{Citation needed|date=July 2021}}