All About Royal Families

Back in 1990, I was just eleven years old and already fascinated by royal families. That year was truly special in Belgium’s royal history: King Baudouin celebrated his 40th anniversary on the throne, he and Queen Fabiola marked 30 years of marriage, and in September, the King turned 60. Plenty of reasons to pick up a pen and write my very first royal letter. It was my first attempt at connecting with royalty,  the very first step on what would later become a lifelong passion and eventually this blog. I carefully crafted my message and sent it off to the Belgian Royal Palace. To my absolute delight, I received a royal reply in return! For a young royal enthusiast, it meant the world. However… that precious card went missing not long after. For 35 years, it remained lost and with it, the chance to truly "document the journey" from the very beginning. Fast forward to 2025. My parents are moving and over the past few weeks, they’ve been sorting, selling, and clearing out decades...

Located along the banks of the River Meuse, in the charming Belgian town of Dinant, stands one of the most fascinating natural landmarks of Wallonia: the Rocher Bayard (Bayard Rock). This striking needle-shaped rock formation, reaching about 35 meters in height, has not only inspired legends but also attracted royal attention. We had the chance to visit this special royal destination on a very warm day in May 2025. A rock shaped by history and legend The Bayard Rock is closely tied to the old Ardennes version of the legend of the Four Sons of Aymon (De Vier Heemskinderen). According to the tale, the magical horse Bayard split the rock to allow the four brothers to escape. This mythical association still enchants visitors today. Historically, the rock served as a natural barrier at the southern entrance of Dinant. A first attempt to cut a passage through it failed in the 17th century, but during the Nine Years’ War, the French army of Louis XIV managed to create a three-meter opening s...

President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania of the United States will pay a state visit to the United Kingdom from September 17th. till September 19th. 2025 ✨ I wondered how and when the previous state visits of American Presidents to the United Kingdom took place. So, I made a short overview from the most interesting visits.  Early encounters The first official visit of a sitting U.S.A President to the United Kingdom was by Woodrow Wilson in December 1918, just after the end of World War I. Though not a formal state visit hosted by the monarch, Wilson’s trip marked an important moment: the United States had emerged as a global power, and Britain welcomed its wartime ally with enthusiasm. Post-War diplomacy The first true State Visit of an American President to Britain took place in 1959, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower was hosted by Queen Elizabeth II. This visit came at a time when both nations were working closely in NATO and in the Cold War context. The pomp of Buc...