King Philippe and Queen Mathilde Tour South Africa

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King Philippe and Queen Mathilde in Cape Town

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium recently concluded their first royal tour of South Africa with a visit to Cape Town.

Tour Highlights

During their tour, the royal couple visited various locations, including:

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  • Afrigen Biologics, where they learned about Africa’s first COVID-19 vaccine developed in collaboration with two Belgian companies, Univercells and eTheRNA.
  • The University of the Western Cape and the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa.
  • Philippi Village to learn about the area’s diverse group of entrepreneurs and small traders and its sports, education, and cultural facilities.
  • The V&A Waterfront for lunch at Den Anker and a walk along the Swing Bridge.
  • Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, where they strolled along the renowned Boomslang Canopy Trail.

Visit to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden

The Botanical Garden, one of the most beautiful in the world, is listed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is managed by the South African National Institute for Biodiversity, which receives support from the Flemish government. The Belgian Royal Palace’s Instagram page shared photos from the Kirstenbosch visit and a message praising the botanical garden’s essential role in preserving South African flora.

Importance of the Visit

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde’s tour was a valuable opportunity for the Belgian royals to explore South Africa’s diverse culture, natural beauty, and scientific advancements. Their visit to Afrigen Biologics underscored the importance of global collaboration in the fight against COVID-19. At the same time, their trip to Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden highlighted the need to preserve South Africa’s unique flora.

Final Thoughts

Their visit to Philippi Village showcased the vibrancy of South Africa’s entrepreneurship and culture, while the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa highlighted the country’s thriving art scene.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde’s royal tour of South Africa was a testament to the country’s rich history, diverse culture, and natural beauty.

Zola Naidoo is a Cape Town journalist who chronicles the city’s shifting politics and the lived realities behind the headlines. A weekend trail-runner on Table Mountain’s lower contour paths, she still swops stories in her grandmother’s District Six kitchen every Sunday, grounding her reporting in the cadences of the Cape.

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