Queen Mathilde of Belgium, 52, met with President Rodrigo Chaves-Robles and First Lady Signe Zeikate on Monday at the Presidential House in Zapote, San José.

The Queen, wife of King Philippe Leopold Louis Marie, is the first native-born Belgian monarch. She has four children and is actively involved with UNICEF, focusing on social issues such as education, child poverty, women’s rights, and literacy.

She arrived on Sunday and this is her first visit to Costa Rica as part of a three-day UNICEF mission.

 

On Monday, she visited a coffee plantation supporting the children of seasonal workers, followed by a visit to a community program for vulnerable children.

In a brief statement, the Queen praised Costa Rica’s strong tradition of protecting children’s rights, noting the country’s pioneering efforts in policies and programs that promote the well-being of children and teens, according to UNICEF Costa Rica.

Queen Mathilde, who will leave Costa Rica on Wednesday, is accompanied by diplomats from the Belgian embassy.

She is the second European royal to visit Costa Rica in recent years. In 2023, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, vacationed in Guanacaste.