Royalty at the Rockmount

Monday 13 August 2018

The Queen of Belgium is on a brief visit to the island and last night enjoyed the hospitality of the Rockmount on the west coast.

Queen Mathilde of Belgium is not on an official visit to the island and therefore was able to enjoy a relaxing evening without all the ceromony which comes with monarchal duties, albeit surrounded by body guards and security.

Baptiste Bare, General Manager of the Rockmount and La Reunion said: "We were delighted that the queen chose to eat at the Rockmount, it felt like a great privelage that she came here as we are essentially just a pub."

Queen Mathilde was visiting the island on holiday with her two daughters and had asked the best place to watch a sunset in Guernsey, which had led her to the Rockmount.

Mr Bare said: "The weather was not the best for a sunset, but it had stopped raining. She asked to see upstairs at La Reunion first and had a drink with her daughters. She then came down to eat in the pub with anybody else that was in the bar at the time, she just had a normal dinner.

"She sat with her two daughters and security were on a separate table to her. I was very surprised actually as quite a lot of people recognised her, but everybody was well behaved and just left her to it. She had crab and avocado salad and said she enjoyed the fresh crab from Guernsey."

Queen Mathilde of Belgium is a relatively new monarch. She is the wife of King Philippe, who ascended the throne following the abdication of his father, King Albert II, on 21 July 2013. She is the first Belgian-born Queen. 

Pictured: Queen Mathilde of Belgium.

It is believed Queen Mathilde arrived in the island on Sunday lunchtime and is due to leave on Tuesday.

Mr Bare added: "She had only arrived in the island on Sunday, but said she liked Guernsey and was looking forward to going cycling during her visit.

"We were very surprised but very happy that she chose the Rockmount for dinner."