Belgian Royal Family’s Stay in Lithuania Ended With a Visit to Kaunas
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, who were on a Royal Visit to Lithuania this week, also visited Vytautas Magnus University (VMU) on 26 October.
On Wednesday, First Lady Diana Nausėdienė, Queen Mathilde, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania Petro Beshta, and VMU Rector visited the Centre of Ukraine established at the VMU Education Academy in Vilnius, and met with its staff and visitors. First Lady Diana Nausėdienė and Queen Mathilde visited the exhibition of Ukrainian children’s drawings as well as the premises of the Centre of Ukraine, and got acquainted with the educational and cultural activities that are carried out at the Centre.
During the visit, Mrs. Nausėdienė and Queen Mathilde interacted with the centre’s visitors – women and children who fled the war in Ukraine, taking an interest in their emotional state as well as their life and employment in Lithuania. During a conversation with Ukrainian women, the First Lady and the Queen learned about their experiences of fleeing the war and integrating in a foreign country. During their visit to the VMU Centre of Ukraine, the First Lady and the Queen also watched a special musical performance by Ukrainian children in which they demonstrated their talents.
Photos of the Office of the President of the Republic of Lithuania/ Eitvydas Kinaitis
In the afternoon, the Royal Family arrived in Kaunas. At the Historical Presidential Palace in Kaunas, Member of the European Parliament and VMU professor Liudas Mažylis presented to the Belgian monarchs the original Resolution of the Council of Lithuania on the restoration of an independent State of Lithuania, signed on 16 February 1918 in Vilnius. He also presented the painful historical experience of Lithuania’s Soviet occupation that followed, and the exile of the signatories and other Lithuanian citizens.
Belgian Royal Family’s visit to Kaunas. Photo by Kaunas Municipality
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium also visited the Rectorate building of Vytautas Magnus University, where they met with the leadership of VMU and signed a bilateral cooperation agreement with the Rector of the University of Namur Prof. Dr. Annick Castiaux.
The Royal Family also visited the exhibition “5X5®” – “Stories of Design Innovation: from Kortrijk to Kaunas” at the renovated VMU Teacher Training Centre, which presents 5 Belgian and 5 Lithuanian design stories.
The Royal Family was accompanied to Lithuania by a large Belgian delegation comprising representatives of business and academic community, including the rectors and presidents of 9 Belgian universities and institutes.
King Philippe of Belgium and his wife visited Lithuania at the invitation of President Gitanas Nausėda, on the occasion of the centennial of the establishment of relations between Lithuania and the Kingdom of Belgium.
