Queen Elizabeth welcomes Belgium’s king and queen

Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde paid their English counterpart a visit Thursday when the royal couple made their first official trip across the Channel to Buckingham Palace. England’s Queen Elizabeth welcomed the new king and queen to London, inviting them to a private luncheon at her residence. 

The trip was rather rushed as the Belgium’s royalty arrived late due to fog in Brussels. However, the couple was able to cram in a day of visits, which included stops at the Houses of Parliament, where they met with the Speaker and Lord Speaker, and Westminster Abbey, where they laid a wreath in commemoration of the First World War.

The visit was King Philippe’s sixth official voyage outside of Belgium since he took the throne last year.