Fête du Roi / Koningsdag

On 15 November, the Chaplain-President had the privilege of representing the Anglicans of Belgium at the King's Day celebrations, first at the Te Deum in the Catholic cathedral in Brussels (at which Mgr Luc Terlinden preached), then at a series of speeches in the House of Representatives in Parliament. The speeches were given by the Presidents of the House of Representatives and the Senate and by the Prime Minister. King Albert and Queen Paola represented HM the King and HM the Queen. A particularly lovely and moving aspect of the celebrations was an exhibition of paintings on the Belgian monarchy painted by children who attend schools for children with learning difficulties: by far the loudest applause was reserved for these children when they were introduced to the House of Representatives.