Visiting South Africa this week, Belgium's Crown Princess Mathilde and Prince Philippe took time out from official duties to pose for a picture together. The tender waterside snap of the royals with their arms around each other in Cape Town will, no doubt, join the family album to be shown to their children.
But although the royal pair looked like any young couple enjoying a holiday, Mathilde was in Africa to share her humanitarian interests with her husband.
Since being appointed UNICEF's Special Representative for HIV/AIDS-affected children the 33-year-old royal has travelled the globe, highlighting the plight of these vulnerable youngsters, with her most recent journey to Tanzania last month.
On this trip the mother-of-three dropped into a project, sponsored by a Belgian charity, which gives kids with HIV access to new technology. The caring princess clearly had a rapport with the children, looking on with interest as one of the pupils showed off his newly acquired computer skills.
As well as chatting with the young people, Mathilde and her husband got a chance to meet one of the country's well-known anti-Apartheid campaigners, Bishop Desmond Tutu. And today the Belgian royals are also meeting with former President Nelson Mandela.
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
