This year, 21 July will be truly royal

For two days, on 20 and 21 July, Brussels and the Royal Family will live to the rhythm of National Day. NEVER will National Day have been so... royal. Indeed, this summer coincides with the tenth anniversary of Albert II's reign. To mark the occasion, the Belgian government and usual sponsors have made a financial effort by unlocking one million euros. The result? You will probably see it on the ground because SNCB has planned night trains and discounts of 40 to 60% on its fares. On 20 July, from 11 a.m., the King and Queen will attend the aperitif-concert served by Dirk Brossé at the Egmont Palace (Petit Sablon). At 1:30 p.m., Albert II will give the start of the motorcycle parade (20 km) at the foot of the Atomium. An hour earlier, he will have been emulated by his youngest son. Prince Laurent, accompanied by Princess Claire, will attend the roller parade at the corner of Rue de la Joyeuse Entrée and Rue de la Loi, right opposite the Parc du Cinquantenaire. Preferring the bicycle, Prince Philippe will lead the third parade (20 km) from 2 p.m. departing from Rue Ducale. Shortly before 2 p.m., Princess Astrid, Prince Lorenz and their children will attend the Cirque du Trottoir. A show that will take place along Rue Haute, in the heart of the Marolles. The entire royal family – Editor's note: nothing is yet known about the schedule of Princess Mathilde, who is nearly eight months pregnant – will then meet at the Garden Party organized from 4 p.m. at Laeken Castle. At 8:30 p.m., they will attend a concert at the Centre for Fine Arts (Palais des Beaux-Arts). Decidedly insatiable, Laurent and Claire will punctuate their evening with a walkabout on the occasion of the Marolles popular ball, Place du Jeu de Balle. On 21 July, National Day, the King, the Queen and Queen Fabiola will go to the Te Deum in Brussels (9:30 a.m.), Philippe will be at Saint-Aubain Cathedral in Namur (9:30 a.m.), Astrid and Lorenz at Saint-Salvator Cathedral in Bruges (9:30 a.m.) and Claire and Laurent will travel to Eupen (Saint-Nicholas Church). Then, the royal family will watch the military parade from 12:45 p.m. at Place des Palais. Everyone will then take part in the Popular Festivities: Albert and Paola will stroll through the Park and visit several stands (4 p.m.), Fabiola will visit the Musical Instruments Museum (3 p.m.), Philippe will go to the "Roller Street Park" at the former Prince Albert barracks (3:40 p.m., Rue Pépin) before visiting the stands of civil protection (4:15 p.m., Rue de la Régence) and local and federal police (4:40 p.m., Place du Grand Sablon). While Astrid and her family will opt for the Egmont Palace (circus show at 4 p.m.) and the Grand Sablon (Red Cross stand at 5 p.m.), Laurent and his wife will be at the 101st Airborne camp, Place de la Chapelle (5 p.m.). Finally, the "A à Z" concert on Place Poelaert (from 7:45 p.m., live on La Deux) and the fireworks (11:45 p.m.) on Place des Palais will top off the event. A major surprise is also announced to support Annie Cordy and other Belgian stars who will sing, accompanied by Toots Thielemans on harmonica, a "Happy Birthday" tinged with black, yellow, and red, followed by the Brabançonne.