Exclusive: the secretive origins of Queen Mathilde and King Philippe's relationship

Royal insider lifts lid on the mysterious circumstances behind the Belgian royals' relationship

Hello, Royal Clubbers, it’s Millie here. Thanks to everyone who responded in the poll asking for more stories about the esteemed Belgian queen, Mathilde. While I could tell you a fair few things about royals this side of the Channel, I thought it best to speak to an expert who has been following the Belgian royals for years, and so has all the inside scoop.

Royal journalist Wim Dehandschutter is so clued-up on the Belgian king and queen that he’s written a book all about their life behind the palace walls, and he took some time to speak to me this week to share some of his insider knowledge about Queen Mathilde’s early life and secretive courtship with King Philippe.

Read on to discover how and why the couple kept their relationship secret; Phillipe’s incredible gesture when he learnt about the death of Mathilde’s younger sister and grandmother in a tragic accident; which of the popular conspiracy theories around their union is the most credible; and why Mathilde retreated to a bookshop days after their engagement was announced.

First, an extraordinary fact…