Emine Erdoğan Welcomes Queen Mathilde in Istanbul

(MENAFN) Türkiye’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan hosted Belgium’s Queen Mathilde on Sunday at Istanbul’s Dolmabahçe Palace during the Belgian royal’s visit connected to an ongoing economic mission, according to reports.

The two met warmly, greeting each other with an embrace and exchanging brief conversation before posing for photographs in front of the palace’s crystal staircase. They later proceeded to the Medhal Hall as part of the official program.

During the visit, they toured an exhibition titled *Century-Old Elegance*, organized by the Maturation Institute. The display focuses on reinterpreting Türkiye’s cultural heritage, presenting traditional craftsmanship as a foundation for contemporary creative development.

Both visitors observed exhibited works featuring weaving techniques and other traditional crafts, with explanations provided about the production processes and artistic methods.

As part of the visit, Erdoğan presented Queen Mathilde with a handcrafted brooch featuring floral motifs including honeysuckle, chrysanthemum, and tulip designs. The piece was created over a week using traditional needle lace and embroidery techniques by instructors at the Maturation Institute.

The pair also examined pieces from the Anatolia collection by Turkish designer Özgür Masur, showcased at the palace. The 100-piece collection was developed over three years through research conducted in women’s institutes across Anatolia, blending regional textile traditions with modern design approaches.

Following the meeting, Erdoğan shared a message on Turkish social media platform NSosyal, saying: “I was pleased to meet with Queen Mathilde of Belgium in Istanbul during her visit to our country. I hope this valuable meeting will further strengthen our countries’ bonds of friendship.”

Belgium’s five-day economic mission to Türkiye began on Sunday and is scheduled to continue until Thursday, according to the same reports.

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